Day Two
My friends had planned a day out of Paris today to see the house and gardens of Monet. It would take around 90 minutes to get there by metro and overground train. Once off the train there is a shuttle bus that takes you directly to the house and gardens. As there was a queue to enter we decided on lunch first. There were many places to choose and all looked so quaint. We settled on one by the entrance and I had the largest omelette, cannot imagine how many eggs were used.
‘My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece. I can only draw what I see. Everything I have earned has gone into these gardens. It took me time to understand my waterlilies.“
Monet’s House
Claude Monet lived in his house in Giverny for forty-three years, from 1883 to 1926. You can see and feel his passion for gardening as you walk through the beautifully planned gardens and especially the water gardens.
The windows of the house all look out onto the garden and I could imagine sitting there with a summer breeze gazing out onto this spectacular array of colour.
Looking Out
Looking In
Exquisitely decorated rooms, my favourite was the kitchen with the blue tiled fireplace.
After we had wandered through the house we ventured out into the gardens and down to the water gardens.
“I am following Nature without being able to grasp her… I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers.“
I must have flowers. Always and always. Water Lilies’ is an extension of my life. Without the water the lilies cannot live, as I am without art.
“The richness I achieve comes from nature, the source of my inspiration”
Finishing up in the gardens we had a wander through the village just outside the grounds. We saw some beautiful ivy clad houses, including the mayor’s. There were many art galleries as you would expect displaying all of Monet’s works.
The famous Hotel Baudy, once a humble grocers and cafe owned by Angelina and Gaston Baudy. In 1886 Willard Metcalfe, a young American painter living in Paris, came looking for accommodation but was turned away by Mrs. Baudy as she only had the one bed. Many months later he returned with a group of artists and Mr. and Mrs. Baudy gave up their house and stayed with a neighbour. Realising they had a new potential business on their hands they turned their house into a hotel. Over the years this hotel housed many famous painters such as Paul Cézanne and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
We had an incredible day here and I’m so glad my friend made the suggestion. It wasn’t something that was on my agenda and was a wonderful surprise.
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Wow! Ali, I am amazed by the beautiful gardens – what inspiration for his paintings. Besides that, the city is just gorgeous too. Thank you for sharing the home of an artist I’ve always admired.
Thanks Kellye, it was a very special place and glad I got a chance to visit ☺️
Ali thank you so very much for this post especially the pictures of the green bridge and the water lilies. I’ve admired the works of Monet, a lot! When they brought in some of his paintings here in Singapore, I went to see them 3x! How interesting to see the inside of this house. His house looks huge.
Thanks Amor, it was a wonderful place and yes the house was huge
What a talented man he was
What a great experience.
Yes it was very special 😊
Oh, the memories, Ali. We spent the most beautiful day there on our Silver Wedding anniversary. So many of the same photos, plus a little rain 🤗🩷
Oh lovely Jo, what a beautiful place to have a wedding anniversary 💝
It looks delightful Ali. Don’t think I’ve been there.
Something for your list!
We kept meaning to visit Giverny but can never tear ourselves away from Paris! One day soon…. It looks beautiful!
This is a place which is very high on Michaela’s wish list – even more so after showing her this post!
Thanks Phil, easy for you two and looks like there’s some lovely walks around. You can actually stay in Hotel Baudy!
No wonder he found such inspiration from this area- absolutely beautiful! 🙂
Thanks Meg, it was such a lovely day 😊
Your post and photos brought back so many memories except you were lucky enough to visit on a sunny day. It was raining but the gardens were still beautiful. My favorite room was the kitchen as well, the bright yellow and the lovely blue tiles.
Thanks for your visit and comments Karen 🙂
My pleasure indeed.