Explore the charming village of Giverny and skip the long lines to Monet’s house and gardens. Discover the inspiration behind Monet’s iconic paintings and learn about the Impressionist movement.
- Giverny - Meet your local guide for a walking tour of the village of Giverny, then enter through a special entrance to bypass the long lines to visit Claude Monet’s gardens and house.
Claude Monet’s house in Giverny is a must for any modern art history enthusiast, or anyone who simply enjoys beautiful surroundings.
Your tour guide will tell you the story of Monet’s life and how he led the Impressionist movement from 1883 to 1926. In Giverny, he was joined by artists like John Singer Sargent, Paul Czanne, and Mary Cassatt. By 1887, the sleepy little village found itself somewhat of an artists’ colony. Monet’s house with its pink facade is surrounded by enchanting ponds and magnificent gardens, two of the central features of his paintings.
Wandering through the village of Giverny, as well as Monet’s house and gardens, is like stepping inside one of Monet’s paintings. The street featured in Claude Monet’s Wedding March has remained practically unchanged since the artist depicted it with his master brushstrokes. The same goes for the Japanese footbridge that crosses over a pond decorated with luscious lilies.
- Fondation Claude Monet - Today, Monet’s house and gardens are maintained by the Foundation Claude Monet. The gardens are enchanting; from April to October, they overflow with wild roses, hollyhocks, poppies, and fragrant honeysuckle. The water lilies, weeping willows, and Japanese bridge in the Oriental Water Gardens are instantly recognizable from his classic paintings.
The artist’s house features a cheerful and lively kitchen, as well as Monet’s collection of 18th and 19th century Japanese prints. In the village, visitors can pay their respects to the great painter, whose grave is in the cemetery of Giverny’s church.
![](https://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/attractions-splice-spp-720x480/06/73/d4/0f.jpg)
- Local tour guide
- Entrance fees to Monet’s house and its gardens
- Pick–up and drop off
- Tips
- Food / Drink
Wander through the quaint village of Giverny, where you’ll encounter the final resting spot of Claude Monet in the local churchyard. Subsequently, bypass the extensive queues to enter Monet’s home and gardens where you’ll gain insight into the artist’s life and his foundational role in the Impressionist movement, centered in this village from 1883 to 1926.
Understand how renowned artists like John Singer Sargent, Paul Cézanne, and Mary Cassatt flocked to this peaceful village and unofficially formed an artist’s haven. Be captivated by the beautiful ponds and gardens that served as inspiration for his masterpieces, and observe the renowned Japanese bridge and lilies of the Eastern water garden.
Relish the fragrant aroma of in-bloom flowers such as wild roses, hollyhocks, poppies, and honeysuckle. Appreciate the recognizable water lilies and weeping willows from his iconic artwork and step into the thatched-roof house to explore the vibrant kitchen and his elements of 18th and 19th century Japanese prints.
- The tour will start promptly at the scheduled departure time. Latecomers run the risk of missing the tour. Please be at the meeting point 15 minutes before the scheduled time.
- The gardens are wheelchair and stroller accessible, but the house is not.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.