Vernon France – Exploring Monet’s Garden at Giverny

The Viking Spirit arrived in Vernon at 6AM, and we docked such that the shore excursion to Giverny, could begin at 8:45AM. We were excited to be able to visit Monet's home and famous garden!

Note: Vernon, France is on the west side of the River Seine and it is where the Viking Sprit docked. Monet's Garden is in the village of Giverny, which is on the east side of the River Seine. As this was our Viking day trip, we rode the tour bus from the docking area to the Monet Estate.

Monet's Garden, located in the picturesque village of Giverny, France, is a horticultural masterpiece that served as the primary source of inspiration for the renowned impressionist painter Claude Monet. This exquisite garden, which Monet lovingly cultivated for over four decades, is a living work of art. It is divided into two main parts: the Clos Normand, a meticulously landscaped flower garden filled with an array of vibrant blooms, and the Water Garden, famous for its iconic Japanese bridge and water lilies.

Today's Viking bus tour, is to travel by bus from where the ship is docked to Monet's Garden Museum - The museum itself is set within a beautifully preserved building & estate, adding to the overall charm of the experience. It serves as a remarkable bridge between the art world and the natural world, where visitors can immerse themselves in the visual delights that once stirred Monet's creative spirit.

After yet another delicious breakfast, everyone proceeded to the tour bus. Viking does a great job of allocating passengers to each tour bus, so as you turn in your cabin key (so they know you are off the ship), they give you a receipt for the keys and also provide you with a "bus number" key, which identifies which tour bus you are assigned to.

The drive from Vernon to Giverny was brief (5.6Km) and once we arrived, there was a short stroll through the village of Giverny to Monet's Garden.

The famous "Japanese Bridge" (image # 1 above), also known as the "Water Lily Bridge", which stands elegantly over a meandering pond adorned with water lilies and other aquatic plants - became famous because it appears in Monet's 1899 painting “The Japanese Bridge”. The bridge was inspired by by Monet's collection of Japanese prints, which can be viewed in Monet’s house. Monet never visited Japan, even though he obviously had high regard for Japanese works of art.

The bridge serves as a focal point, drawing the viewer's gaze towards the tranquil water surface, where reflections of the bridge, plants, and the sky merge harmoniously. It is a symbol of tranquility, serenity, and the connection between man and nature that Monet cherished and sought to convey through his art.

it is estimated that Monet produced over 250 paintings focused on his water lilies series as a whole, many of which include the iconic Japanese Bridge.

• There are 66 different species of flowers and trees growing in Monet's Garden.
• There are 31 different flowers growing around Monet's Garden Pond
• Monet's Garden attracts over 750,000 people per year (2023 total).
• Monet painted his water lilies over 250 times.
• Monet's grave (Tombe de Claude Monet) is located near the estate, on the Rue Claude Monet.
• The Claude Monet Foundation in Giverny is responsible for the care & maintenance of Monet's Estate.
• Monet was much more than just a painter, when he was fifteen, Monet was a caricaturist and sold charcoal drawings.
• Monet's Garden is comprised of two components; The Clos Normand located right in front of the house where Monet lived out the remainder of his life. And The Water Garden which can be accessed through an underground passage, and was inspired by sketches of Japanese gardens that Monet collected. It is complete with two ponds fed by the Ru (a stream running into the Epte, which is itself a tributary of the Seine) with the Japanese bridge shaded in wisteria vines and weeping willows, and of course, Monet’s famous water lilies.

• When is the best time to visit Monet’s Garden in Giverny?

  The gardens are most vibrant from late April through October, with peak blooms in May and June. Each season offers different colors and moods, from spring tulips to summer water lilies.

• How far is Vernon from Paris?

  Vernon is about 75 km (47 miles) northwest of Paris. By train, the journey takes around 45 minutes from Gare Saint-Lazare, making it an easy day trip. By car it is 74 kilometers (via A-13 and A-14) from central Paris. We arrived on a Viking River Cruise tour, and Giverny was our first stop.

• What else can I see in Vernon besides Monet’s Garden?

  Vernon itself has a charming medieval center, a picturesque riverside, and the Old Mill on the Seine, which is one of the town’s most photographed landmarks.

• How do I get to Monet’s Garden from Vernon?

  From Vernon station, shuttle buses and taxis run directly to Giverny. Many visitors also enjoy renting a bike for the scenic 4 km (2.5 mile) ride along the Seine to the gardens.

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