Claude Monet’s House & Garden, Giverny

“My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece.” Claude Monet.

For almost 43 years, from 1883 to 1926, Claude Monet lived in Giverny, Normandy. There he combined his passion for colour, flowers and gardening and created one of the now most famous and well known historical gardens in World. A garden that most people know having seen reproductions of his wonderful paintings.

Anyone visiting Paris or north western France should not pass on even the slightest possibility to visit Claude Monet’s house and gardens in Giverny. It really is very easy to get to, for details follow this link: How to Get to Giverny.

A Brief History
Monet died on 5 December 1926, leaving the property and art housed therein to his only surviving son Michel Monet. Michel was not, however, interested in the family residence, and so Blanche Monet Hoschedé, Alice’s daughter and widow of Monet’s elder son Jean, took care of the house and garden. When Blanche died in 1947, the house and gardens were all but abandoned.

Michel Monet died in 1966, leaving the property and collections to the Académie des Beaux Arts. Funds did not allow for any much needed restoration. The roof was repaired so as to protect the ‘Japanese Estampes’, and the remaining art was removed to the Musée Marmottan in Paris.

In 1977 the Académie des Beaux Arts hands over the restoration of Monet’s house and garden in Giverny to Gérald Van der Kemp, famed for his restoration at the Château de Versailles. After three years of extensive renovations to both the garden and the house and the founding of the Fondation Claude Monet, the property is opened to the public on 1st of June. Today it welcomes over 400 000 visitors a year, second only in Normandy to Mont Saint Michel.

Opening Times
Monet’s house and garden is open seven days a week from the 1st of April to the 1st of November (Except 26 April 2010, when it is closed), from 09h30 am to 18h00, with the last admission at 17.30.

Admission Prices
Adults: 6,00 €
Children under 12: 3,50 €
Children under 7: free
Students: 4,50 €
Disabled: 3,00 €

As this is the second most popular attraction in Normandy, after Mont Saint Michel, to avoid queues it is now possible to book entry tickets online, click here.

One of the ponds created by Monet in Giverny, now open to the public from April to November each year.