G is for Giverney, France

Giverny, France ( French pronunciation: ​[ʒi.vɛʁ.ni]).  Got that?  How about Zhi-vahr-nee?  However you say it, I say 'Magnifique!'  Claude Monet lived in Giverny from 1883 until his death in 1926.   

I visited there in April of 1999.  April in Paris.   I decided to make the trip when I saw airfares advertised for $300 round-trip.  I always said that I would run off to Paris in a minute if given the chance and here was my chance to do just that. 

On previous trips to France, Giverny was not on my radar.  This time it was 'all art, all the time' and the side trip made sense.  I am so glad I went. 

Before our trip to Giverny we visited the Musee de l'Orangerie and the Musee d'Orsay in Paris to see the Monet paintings hanging there.  The trip to his home in Giverny was to be the 'piece de resistance' of our art tour in France.

Giverny is about 50 miles from Paris and easily accessible by train.  It is a small community; when we visited in 1999 the population was 524.

If it was not enough for Monet to have incredible artistic talent, he had this estate to inspire him.  He and his family lived in this large home on two beautifully landscaped acres.

There is a lovely water lily pond with a bridge that is covered in wisteria vines. (see background)

The pond was landscaped all the way around.

It was April so the tulips were in bloom.  If you slightly close your eyes you can see the colors merging into an Impressionist painting of your own.

Monet was an Impressionist painter, the term coming from his painting 'Impression Sunrise'.



The estate has an adjunct building where items are for sale. 

And if you just want to sit and enjoy the view, there is a lovely area that allows you to do just that.

While there are beautiful gardens in Paris and wonderful old buildings, for an afternoon of nature, this is the place to go.  The next time you find yourself in Paris, head to Gare St. Lazare, buy your ticket to Vernon where you can catch a bus and head to Giverny.

G is also for Greece, Grand Tetons, Grand Canyon, Great Britain, Gettysburg, Glacier National Park, Glen Canyon, Golden Gate, Georgia