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CRUISING TO NORTHERN FRANCE:
GIVERNY MONET HOUSE AND GARDENS page two |
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Visiting Giverny
For today's visitors, there are three components to the Monet property.
First, there is the house in which the Monet family lived. It is a long, low house, not particularly distinguished architecturally. Its importance lies in the fact that Claude Monet lived there. Inside, the house has been restored to look like it did in the late 19th century with period furnishings. Visitors can see Monet's office/studio, the bedrooms, the bathroom, the kitchen and the pantry. Copies of Japanese prints hang on the walls as do copies of paintings by Monet and by his friends such as Cezanne and Renoir. (All of the remaining original Monet works were transferred to museums after his death. However, some original Monets are exhibited from time to time at the Impressionist Museum Giverny, which is just down the street from Monet's property). Adjoining the house is a building constructed in 1914 to act as a studio for creating the large canvases of Monet's Water Lilies series. It is now the property's shop. The second component of the Monet property is the Clos Normand. Lying in front of the house, this is a formal garden laid out in a geometric patterns. In the Spring and Summer, its beds are full of blooming flowers. After traveling through an underpass, you reach the third component of the Monet property. In contrast to the Clos Normand, this appears to be a much more naturalistic garden. However, its exotic plants and layout are the product of careful design by Monet and his gardeners. The key feature here is the pond with its Japanese bridge. Even if you have never been to Giverny, it will look familiar if you have seen Monet's paintings. Although Monet is sometimes cited as a forerunner of abstraction, it is remarkable how well the paintings captured the look and feel of reality. For more information on visiting, see the Foundation Claude Moent website. |
Above: The exterior of the house.
Below: Blanche's bedroom. 
Above: The kitchen is decorated with light blue tiles.
Below: Monet's office/studio. 
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CLICK BELOW TO GO TO OUR PAGES ON:
NORTHERN FRANCE OVERVIEW USEFUL LINKS PARIS THE D-DAY BEACHES THE ALABASTER COAST HONFLEUR, DEAUVILLE AND MONT SAINT MICHEL BAYEUX ROUEN |
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Cruise destination - Northern France - Giverny - Monet House and Gardens - page two