On the last day in Paris, we drove out to Giverny – Claude Monet’s house and gardens. Dogs are not allowed but I went for the ride as the driver was happy to walk me while the hoomans visited.
But I did get to visit Monet’s grave which is located at Église Sainte-Radegonde de Giverny, a short 15 minute walk from the gardens. The Monet family grave is behind the church, a white marble structure with lots of flowers, topped by a cross.
“Here lies our beloved Claude Monet, born 14 November 1840, died 5 December 1926; missed by all.”
May’s comment: Giverny, Monet’s garden and house. What a feast for the eyes!
It’s a garden curated through the eyes of an artist. Monet planned the garden, planted the flowers with meticulous consideration. He sowed seed for his favourite annuals: poppies, sunflowers, and nasturtiums. In the Spring he would plant daffodil bulbs, primroses and willow herbs. So when some withered, others would bud, just in time to provide fresh combinations of primary and contrasting hues.
These pictures do not do justice to the magnificence of the coordinated flower beds.
Color is my daylong obsession, joy, and torment. – Claude Monet.
We wandered further to find the water garden and the famous Japanese bridge. We were too early for the wisterias. There were other smaller bridges, weeping willows, a bamboo wood.
And of course the water lilies. Again, we were too early – there were brown patches where they would eventually come to live.
Claude Monet lived in his home at Giverny for forty-three years, from 1883 to 1926.
The outside walls were painted in pink with green shutters – that was his favourite colour combination.
The most dramatic room of the house was the kitchen! Painted in two tones of yellow and the walls are filled with Japanese engravings – that he had collected over fifty years.
The blue and white kitchen with a row of copper pots.
The bedrooms were on the upper floor and from there the view of the colourful gardens …
And a little reminder that Darcy was very much with us …
While we were wandering through the gardens and house, George stayed with the driver. At least he got to come for the drive.
It was absolutely stunning but makes me think that we should come every season to see the different flowers in bloom.
Thank you Meg. Lovely to have shared this with you.
3 Responses
Thank you for taking us to the beautiful colours of Giverny! We think of Monet’s lovely paintings of colourful flowers, but never think of him actually creating the flowers themselves with planting the seeds! What an extraordinary artist!
Looks amazing!! Thank you for sharing! I can’t wait to start traveling overseas again!!
Thank you for taking me on a tour of Monet’s home and gardens, the colors are a feast for the eyes! If we ever get back to Paris, a trip to Giverny will be a must do!