Giverny and nearby

The estate sits 1.2 miles (2 km) from Giverny as the crow flies, on the Epte, the river that feeds Claude Monet’s water lily pond. Here is what you need to plan your visits, from Giverny to Vernon and along the Seine valley.

The Epte, Monet’s river

Monet found part of his inspiration on the Epte. In 1891, working from a boat fitted out as a studio, a little upstream from Giverny, he painted more than twenty canvases of the poplars lining the river; when the town put the trees up for sale, he bought them with a timber merchant so he could finish the series. We like to think it is no coincidence: by the Epte, the mind settles, and ideas come.

Monet’s house and gardens

Claude Monet moved to Giverny in 1883 and lived there until his death in 1926. His house and gardens are open to visitors every year, usually from April 1 to November 1.

• The Clos Normand, in front of the house: flower beds in bold, solid colors, laid out like paint on a palette.
• The water garden, across the road and reached through an underground passage: the Japanese bridge and the water lily pond. In 1893, Monet bought this land to create a pond, fed by the Ru, a small branch of the Epte.

Tickets are timed, and booking online is strongly recommended. For 2027 dates, opening hours and prices, see the Claude Monet house and gardens website.

In the village, the Musée des impressionnismes Giverny is also open during the warmer months.

When to visit

Each month has its own blooms:

• April: tulips and daffodils;
• May: irises, peonies and wisteria;
• June: the month of roses, with the first water lilies at the end of the month;
• July: water lilies in full bloom;
• August and September: dahlias, and nasturtiums spilling over the main path;
• October: the last dahlias and asters.

To avoid the crowds, go on a weekday, early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Getting there from Paris

• By train: from Paris Saint-Lazare to Vernon-Giverny station, about 50 minutes. The gardens are 4 miles (6 km) from the station: during the season, a shuttle bus gets you to Giverny in about 20 minutes, timed with the trains from Paris.
• By car: Giverny is less than 60 miles (100 km) from Paris, about an hour on the A13 highway. The village has free parking.

On foot and by bike

• The Vernon-Giverny greenway: 3 miles (5 km) along the Seine, part of the Seine à Vélo bike route. There is a bike rental right next to Vernon station.
• The Epte valley greenway: from Gasny to Gisors, on a former railroad line, connecting to the Avenue Verte London-Paris.
• Trails: hiking loops start from Giverny and from Gasny. Further upstream, you can also canoe on the Epte.

Vernon

Across the Seine, Vernon is easy to explore on foot:

• the Collégiale Notre-Dame, begun in the late 11th century;
• the Old Mill, perched on the remains of the old bridge, best seen from the outside;
• the Château des Tourelles, a medieval keep on the Vernonnet bank;
• the Château de Bizy, an 18th-century château with its park and fountains;
• the Musée Blanche Hoschedé-Monet, with Impressionist views of the Seine, from Monet to Bonnard, and a collection of animal art.

The Seine valley

• La Roche-Guyon, one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France, and its château: keep, cave rooms and kitchen garden.
• Château-Gaillard in Les Andelys, the fortress Richard the Lionheart built in 1198 above a bend in the Seine.

Where to eat

Giverny and Vernon have places for lunch between visits. Our favorite spots will be in the welcome guide we share with our guests.

Where to stay near Giverny

Domaine des Rives de Giverny is rented as a whole, for up to twelve guests: a 3,000 sq ft (280 m²) house on the banks of the Epte, with an indoor pool and a hot tub under a walnut tree, 1.2 miles (2 km) from Giverny as the crow flies. A place for family and friends to stay together, close to Monet’s gardens.

The estate opens in spring 2027: get notified when we open.