train to giverny (vernon) and then where else?!!!
 

Hi,
I'll be traveling alone to Paris for three days before joining a painting class in the Dordogne region. I'm an art teacher and have always wanted to visit Giverny! I plan on taking the first train in the morning from Paris to Vernon and spend the morning in the garden and enjoying the town. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on another town I might want to stop in for the afternoon? Do other trains connect at the Vernon station? I've been to Paris before and will be spending two days there and would like to explore another part of France if I can.Your thoughts would be very much appreciated! !!
Thanks,
Joanna

Here is a link to the Vernon train line. Vernon is only the second stop. From there the train continues to Rouen and Le Havre. IMO rather than continuing on, you might want to just make a day of Giverny and then either go to Versailles another day or maybe even just explore St Germain en Laye by RER or something. With only 3 days, I am not sure the places you can go to from Vernon or worth it. But of course you are the only one who can decide that.

Here is link to both the intercities train map and the current timetable:

http://medias.sncf.com/sncfcom/pdf/c...intercites.pdf

http://www.sncf.com/ressources/312-p...havre_ar_1.pdf

Roen would be a natural choice since it is just a bit beyond Vernon on the same rail line - Monet of course famously painted the famous cathedral's facade here is many different varying lights.

But besides that which may perk your interest if you are a Money fan Rouen is also a historic town (Jeanne d'Arc was burnt alive here!) but a typical bustling French regional town.

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I agree that Rouen would be a good choice. But if you decided to take a separate daytrip out of Paris with a different artistic theme, you might want to check out Auvers-sur-Oise, where Van Gogh and his brother Théo are buried. Or the Ile des Impressionistes, where Renoir painted "Luncheon of the Boating Party." Both are very nice, short daytrips from Paris.

I second St-Cirq's recommendation o fAuvers-sur-Oise - I liked it even more than Giverny - reproductions of Van Gogh and Cezanne and other Impressionsits have been set up where they put those images on canvas - especially evocative are some of Van Gogh's last paintings, of a corn field above which are hovering flocks of black crows in dark skies - some say this painting show Van Gogh's mental distress and darkness brooding at the time - he shot himself here and died in his room at the Auberge Ravoux and you can still see his small chamber and bed in which he died - quite needlessly for the lack of prompt medical help.

Auvers is easily reached by RER from Gare du Nord or RER via Pontoise/Cergy.

Auvers also has a magnificent château that has a marvelous exhibition of the history of the Impressionist movement.

Auvers also has a magnificent château that has a marvelous exhibition of the history of the Impressionist movement.>

Would this be the same show that I saw about a dozen years ago - re-created train ride to Giverny along the now abandoned rail line (now a nice hiking path from Vernon - a lovely but longish 4-mile or so walk by farms and the Seine down below - and other sights and sounds of the Impressionist age?

I personally liked that show but many seemed to call it kitsch and wonder if it is still the same.

It does have a room that is designed like a train car from the period (a lot of the narrative at the château has to do with how train travel made it possible for artists - and others - to escape Paris and get to places where the light was different/softer). And there's a room devoted to the absinthe culture and its effect on the Impressionists. And some really marvelous holographic exhibits. I didn't find it hokey at all, but really interesting and informative.

I loved Rouen, I thought it deserves at least a full day, if not two. If you are willing to spend a night or two there, it might be perfect for your interests!

Thank you all!

If I decided to go to rouen after visiting Giverny should I buy a ticket to Vernon and then a ticket from Vernon to Rouen and then A ticket from rouen back to Paris? Or is there a way to just buy a ticket from Paris to Rouen and stopover at Vernon on the way?

You need separate tickets for separate trips.