Giverny

My last weekend in Paris I decided to get out of Paris and go to the country. So I took the 45 minute journey to the house and gardens of Claude Monet in Giverny.

Giverny is a beautiful little village. All of the house and gardens there are spectacular. The weather on the day I chose was in fact the worst weather I think I had during the whole two months of being there, but it did not ruin the experience at all. Monet's house itself is gorgeous. It's not oversized, although his studio was quite something. The walls throughout the house are adorned with his paintings as well as Japanese art, which he was particularly fond of and his contemporary Impressionists. The kitchen was covered with blue and white Dutch tiling and the brass pots hung along the wall in size order. It was just perfect and you could imagine how Monet created his masterpieces there.

However, the main spectacle was the famous gardens that we all know from the infamous paintings that Monet completed over his long life. The gardens directly behind the house are excellently kept and the lavish plumes of colourful flowers lined the narrow pathways. As you followed the unfortunately crowded pathways you find the passageway that leads to the momentous water lily pond that inspired Les Nympheas. even in the rain this pond is glorious with amazing reflections of the trees and the clouds that Monet captures in his paintings. The Japanese style bridges that imitates the bridges he saw and fell in love with on his travels.

I think it is safe to stay that I thoroughly enjoyed my visit although I did not stay long, I would recommend it although perhaps not in peek season as the several tour groups made it somewhat hard to move at times.