Giverny — where Monet painted.

Why go

Claude Monet lived at Giverny for over forty years, and turned its garden into his greatest subject. Today you can walk the water garden with its lily pond and famous green bridge, the colourful Clos Normand flower garden, and tour the painter's pink-and-green house. In June the gardens are at their absolute peak — which is exactly when the Armada runs.

What to see

• The water-lily pond & Japanese bridge — the scenes from the Musée de l'Orangerie, in real life.
• The Clos Normand — banks of irises, roses and poppies in front of the house.
• Monet's house & studio — the famous yellow dining room and blue kitchen.
• The village — the Musée des Impressionnismes and a few good lunch spots.

Getting there from Rouen

Giverny is about 45 minutes by car south-east of Rouen. By public transport, take a train to Vernon, then the seasonal shuttle bus (or a bike/taxi) for the final few kilometres. The gardens are open seasonally and get very busy — pre-book your entry to skip the queue.

Combine it with the Armada

Giverny pairs perfectly with a Jumièges stop on the Seine, or as a calm morning before an afternoon back on the quays. See how it fits a longer trip in our itineraries.

Book a Giverny trip →