The village of Giverny is the gateway to Normandy on the right bank of the Seine. It is known and visited particularly because Claude Monet lived there with his family for 43 years.
He moved into the "Maison du Pressoir" (the "Press House"), in 1883 because of the colours of the landscape he had seen when passing through the region by train. Seven years later, Monet became the owner of the house and could then start to convert the gardens as he wished. He stayed in Giverny until his death in 1926.



The garden adjoining the house, called the Norman orchard, abounds in various coloured flowers (100,000 plants are changed every year!). In 1893, Monet bought a nearby piece of land, diverted a branch of the Epte river and made a pond in which he grew different sorts of water lilies. It is also in that water garden that stands the famous Japanese bridge Monet enjoyed painting so much.


"These landscapes of water and reflection have become my obsession. They are far greater than the ability of the old man I am but I still want to manage to translate what I feel. I destroy some… I start again… and I hope something will finally come out of all my efforts."
Claude Monet


Monet spent many long days in his gardens trying to catch the ever-changing faces of nature.
"A cloud passing by, the breeze freshening up, the seed threatening and falling, the wind suddenly blowing, light coming and going; all these causes, imperceptible for the uninitiated eye, transform the colours and distort the water beds." Claude Monet


Not long after his arrival, Monet gained followers as many American painters came to Giverny to try impressionism and outdoor painting. Giverny's charm remained the same for these artists until the beginning of World War I. The works of these painters are gathered in the American Museum of Giverny, next door to Claude Monet's house.


For more information:


A short autobiography of Claude Monet, written for one of his exhibitions in Paris on the request of a journalist from Le Temps.
Everything there is to know about Giverny : a biography, works and quotes by Monet, the painter's gardens (maps, flowers, blossoming dates), the American Museum and other useful information. A very thorough website!
The Monet foundation presents the painter's house, the gardens, his collection of etchings and welcomes you to discover them.
Following in the Impressionists' footsteps : a five-day circuit through the Seine Valley, Normandy and the Cotentin region.