Giverny, France – Just step there to understand it all. All it takes is a few minutes walking around Monet’s Gardens, in Claude Monet Foundation, in Giverny, France, to see why the pictures by the painter were so colourful and light. An impressionist, the French master lived at the site, currently open to visitation, for 43 years, currently open to visitation. The inspiration is obvious and great. It is impossible not to get home further appreciating flowers and plants. Located 88 kilometres away from the city of Paris, the site is truly worth a one-day visit.
The author of paintings like “Impression, Sunrise”, Monet lived in Giverny between 1883 and 1926. A curiosity: the term impressionism, which named an entire school of painting, comes exactly from this work, with artists who liked showing sunlight on the landscape in all its nuances, letting impressions flow freely.
Stimulated by beautiful landscape, the master of canvas used to say that he had probably become a painter because of flowers. In his garden, tulips, roses and gladiolus of all colours are not lacking. There are many other options, and the chances of finding a variety you have never seen before are not small, as variety is so great. The combined tones also call attention, escaping the obvious. Here, a bed of blue and pink flowers, there, red and white ones form another group. Get your camera ready for many clicks.
The lake with the bridge covered in flowers, and an arbour are another great site for pictures. And they immediately bring to mind the artist’s paintings. Even the lonely canoe, in dark wood, is still there. A live, ready landscape by Monet.
After walking slowly through the plants, don’t forget to enter the artist’s house. Painted in pink and with green windows and doors, it is no less delicate than the outside. With a broad kitchen, decorated in yellow, capable of inspiring even those who don’t appreciate pans. In the furniture, bookshelves and beds looking like a farm, all very inviting.
Once at the house, it is possible to see copies of Monet’s paintings. To check out the originals, the best site in the world is in Orsay Museum, in Paris. Installed in a former train station, with a view to the Seine, the site is capable of satisfying even lusting fans of impressionism. Go one day prior or one day after visiting Giverny, to maintain the climate.
To get to the garden, leaving from Paris, it is necessary to take a train to Vernon, from Saint Lazare. The trip is around 45 minutes and tickets may be bought on the spot with no difficulty. On getting to Vernon, all you have to do is take the shuttles that leave all the time. An important warning: go early. As early as you can. After lunch, at around 2:00 pm, the site becomes crowded with visitors. Another option is to hire a travel agency to organize an outing. Any tourist information booth in the French capital city can help you find companies for such. Whatever way you choose, do not forget to charge your camera, so you can guarantee many pictures. And have a light soul to relax your eyes and heart in Monet’s flower paradise.
Further information
Claude Monet Foundation – Giverny
www.fondation-monet.fr
Museu D’Orsay
www.musee-orsay.fr
*Translated by Mark Ament
