tlhughes

I will be staying in Paris, mid April, intend to visit Monet's gardens in Giverny.
Appreciate advice on how to reach the gardens from Paris together with other useful tips on the gardens.

ira

Hi t,

Look up <giverny> under "search this forum"

frogoutofwater

And while you're in Paris, you should visit the Musee Marmottan, in the 16th arr. It has the world's largest collection of Monets (as well as a lovely collection of illuminated manuscripts). When you visit Monet's house in Giverny, mostly what you'll see are copies of paintings on the walls - and the real paintings are at the Marmottan.

Oscar_James

We rented a car and drove to Giverny. It was a wonderful place to visit. Visit our web site to see our agenda's... emilyandjim.info

avalon

A visit to the Orangerie is a Monet Must!

AGM_Cape_Cod

This is what I wrote about our trip there last June. "This was the highlight of the trip. We dragged ourselves out of bed to get to Gare St Lazare for the 8:15 train to Vernon for a visit to Giverny. The trip wasn’t that long and we arrived in time to stand in line for the bus with all the other people who thought they would beat the crowds. Maybe we did but it seemed that there were a lot of people there. The grounds were gorgeous as was the pond with the water lilies which were just starting to bloom. We were lucky enough to be standing in Monet’s bedroom when the skies opened. By the time we had finished the tour of the house it had stopped raining. We walked down the street and had lunch at the Antiente Hotel Baudy. Unfortunately we didn’t get time to tour the rose gardens or the American Impressionist museum (except to stop in, ask about the train schedule and buy a neat black apron with poppies on it!). We took the 4pm train back and that made for a full day. That night we ate at the hotel again. " I am sorry we didn't get to see the American Impressionist Museum so I think we would take a later train back to Paris if we were to do this again.

schnauzer

As mentioned previously take the train from Gare St Lazare, wait for the bus at Vernon with everyone else! There probably won't be that many in April, the bus stop is just outside the railway station.

We decided to make a full day of it, the train times don't coincide exactly with the bus times from Giverny. They want you to spend an hour in Vernon I think. Fair enough. So be prepared for that.

We absolutely enjoyed the American Impressionist Museum, don't miss this. Allow plenty of time for wandering around the village and having a great lunch at Hotel Baudy (I think that it is) right at the end of the village. If the day is pleasant sit outside and have one of their lovely salads. We had the most perfect weather in September we just sat and relaxed, wandered around the whole village, saw the Am Impressionist Mus. and then had afternoon tea back at Hotel Baudy and then caught the bus about 4.30 ish to Vernon and then the train at about 6.00pm back to Paris, getting back about 7.pm from memory. Don't rush this day, take your time to see everything. have a look at the shops in Vernon whilst you are waiting for the return train.

Schnauzer

itsmesophia

Im going to Paris in April too!

Bookmarking

cls2paris

One tip on the trains - there are slow trains (make lots of stops) and fast trains (make only a couple of stops). When you look a the schedule, look for the train that takes about 45 minutes. From Giverny back to Paris, be sure you know what time the train leaves and allow plenty of time to return to the station. You can take a cab or the bus. The trains do not stop for very long.

I would also suggest getting on the earliest train you can so you get in before the tour busses start to arrive. If you can get there early, visit the waterlily ponds first and work your way back. Most people will start with the house or gardens. I've done this and have had the wonderful experience of being amongst only 4 people around the ponds and bridges. It was great. By the time we left that area, hordes of people were heading in.

Here's my tip - after paying and making your way out of the store and into the garden, you'll want to head to the opposite corner of the gardens, this is where the entrance to the waterlilies is. So, kind of veer left and as I told my niece "run like the wind" to the far corner where the entrance to the waterlily ponds is.

I have also gone later in the day, plan to arrive around 3 or 4. Then you will miss many of the tour busses. I believe the gardens are open until 6.

Have fun, I love visiting Giverny and have been there 4 times!