I have been dreaming about visiting Claude Monet’s home and garden for over 12 years. It finally happened and the experience was completely magical. Monet’s Home at Giverny was everything I had hoped it would be.
Monet’s Home at Giverny
On an early Sunday morning, my cousin and I made our way to Saint-Lazare Paris train station (la Gare). If traveling by car or on foot the address is 13, Rue d’Amsterdam 75008 Paris. As Giverny is a popular tourist destination I opted to purchased our train tickets well in advance from an online website HERE. At the time of the purchase, I thought the ticket prices were a bit high. Once we arrived at the station I learned why. The company had sold us 4 tickets when we only needed two. I was able to get the other two tickets refunded but I recommend that you pay close attention when purchasing from this site.
“Saint Lazare Station in Paris, Arrival of a Train” ~ Claude Monet, 1877
As the gardens open at 9:30 am we opted for the very first train departure from Paris to Vernon (a town close to the village of Giverny.) After a 45-minute train ride, we took a tour bus from the Vernon station to Monet’s home/gardens for a nominal fee.
“By the River at Vernon” ~ Monet, 1883
I had also purchased advanced tickets to tour Monet’s home and garden on the Giverny website HERE. I strongly recommend that you do this so you can avoid at least one long line. (But tickets are available for purchase at the site itself.) Upon entering the site we noticed there was already a queue (line) to visit the interior of the home so we joined in and we’re quite thankful we did as the line quickly grew three times as long. While we waited in line my cousin and I took pictures of one another in front of the famous pink farmhouse with green shutters.
A Lovely Tour
There is no photography allowed inside the house. All of the following photo’s are from the Giverny site. But lest you think you can skip the tour please know that the pictures do not do the space justice. You must see the magnificent colors in person.
“Garden Path at Giverny” ~ Monet, 1902
Monet first rented the farmhouse and then later purchased the property. He lived in the home for 43 years from 1883 until his passing in 1926. He enlarged the home to fit his growing family which included his two sons, Jean and Michel, whom he had with his first wife, Camille, who died shortly after their second child was born. A family friend, Alice Hoschedé, moved in with her 5 children to help care for the two boys. At the time she was pregnant with her sixth child by her husband, Ernest, who had all but abandoned her. Claude and Alice would eventually marry in 1892 after Ernest’s death. Monet considered Alice’s children to be his own and one daughter, Blanche Hoschedé Monet, grew to be a fine painter in her own right. She married Monet’s eldest son, Jean, in 1897.
“In the Woods at Giverny: Blanche Hoschedé at Her Easel with Suzanne Hoschedé Reading”, 1887
~Blanche Hoschede Monet
Monet also created a studio in the barn next to the house. Chickens can still be found there today.
However, he preferred to paint outdoors which is a technique known as “en plein air”.
The Blue Sitting Room
Monet chose all the colors for the home. He did not care for the traditional deep and heavy colors favored by most Victorian’s. The tour begins in the blue sitting room.
Throughout the house, there are colorful cement tile floors that were popular during Monet’s era as well as lovely wood floors. Although some of the flooring is covered by beautiful large carpets such as those found in his studio within the house.
I absolutely adored the sunny yellow used in the dining room
Judging by the glorious light streaming through the windows it was easy to see why Monet chose this home.
Monet even selected all of the china that was used in the home.
“The Tea Set” ~ Monet, 1872
Oh, but it was the kitchen with its cheerful blue tiles and gleaming copper pots that truly was a delight.
That stove! Be still my heart.
Even the curtains were charming. Of course, they also provided a glimpse into the stunning gardens.
What do you think of the colors Monet chose for his home?
Laura
Great post. Fun to see that I have very similar kitchen chairs. I painted mine a boring black! Looking forward to see the gardens. Thanks for all the posts about France. They are nice to read and very informative.
No boring beige for Le Maitre! Glad to see that my love of color in decorating is endorsed by the best. Thanks!
Jealous, or verde with envy
Dear Laura, thank you so much for this post on your travels to Giverny…a dream come true. The studio is my favorite room!
xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena
I love those colours. The yellow dining room might be a little intense, but oh, so cheerful!
I last went to Monet's gardens in 2001 or 2002 for a school art trip. I don't remember much about the house, but remembered more gardens being on the other side of the road, as if we went through a tunnel. There were the ponds, more gardens and that famous bridge he painted. I was 15 or so at the time and crowded amongst too many people, you were lucky it doesn't seem as if it was as busy for you.
What a wonderful virtual vacation you took us on. Thank you so much.
Madonna
MakeMineLemon
I'm taking a guess that none of the original artwork is in the house because of it's value. I love the house because it shows the man truly lived his art in every aspect of his life. His home became another canvas to paint.
How amazing! You should have these photos put into one of those photo books! What a gorgeous place to see in person! WOW! Sweet hugs, Diane
Simply Suzannes at Home
Hi Laura!
I'm new to your blog, via StoneGable's The Scoop. So happy that I came by this morning.
This post is just amazing. I love all the photos and taking a look into art history. It's so incredible that you were there . . . walking the same floors that he did many, many years ago. So happy that your dream came true :0)
Thanks for sharing with us!
Have a beautiful week,
Suzanne
Oh my, Laura. So thrilled the home was all you dreamed. That kitchen! Oh my goodness. How gorgeous and so bright and cheerful. Loved all. Susan
Oh I love Giverny, that was a fabulous post!
Thanks for such a beautiful and inspiring post! So lovely.
I love them! What a surprise to me to see it decorated in that way! I never would have known if I hadn't read this post, Laura. I am a yellow girl, so I think the dining room is my favorite. I love the sweet picture of the kitty right out side the kitchen window. La Chat. Ann
Oh, my word, Laura! What a wonderful trip! Thanks for giving us the tour. 🙂
I'll be in France for the next couple of weeks. We'll be close to Giverny, but I don't know if we'll actually make it there, since I'll be traveling with my husband and three sons. Who knows? Maybe we'll have a day devoted to impressionism! I'd also love to see the cathedral at Rouen. Love Monet's paintings of that!
Oh my God… after looking at these pictures I want to visit that place. Such beautiful paintings!
-Tanya
http://tanyaanurag.blogspot.com/
So beautiful! Thank you for sharing. You are one of the features tonight at the Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House. Here is the link to the party. http://www.thededicatedhouse.com/2014/07/make-it-pretty-monday-week-108.html Hope to see you again at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
Beautiful! Thanks for taking us along!
Sherry
Beautiful, Laura! My Quimper Soleil matched Monet's kitchen wall color! It's so bright! I love how he was inspired to go against the darkness of the Victorian group-think. Beautiful.
Rita
I have never been to Giverny (it's on the bucket list). What a pretty place!