Following In Monet’s Footsteps In Giverny

Have you ever tried to follow in the footsteps of your favorite artist? Have you visited the real locations that are depicted in famous paintings? As an art history major, I never miss a chance to do so. This time I will tell you about the garden of Claude Monet (1840 - 1926) in Giverny, one of the most charming ones in the world.

After seeing Monet's masterpieces at Musee D'Orsay in Pa[ris](https://www.livetheworld.com/post/your-first-trip-to-paris-ville-lumiere-n4b0), I could not hesitate to come to the real Monet's garden in Giverny, a village in Normandy that is not too far from the capital. As it was an easy day trip from Pa[ris](https://www.livetheworld.com/post/all-cultures-in-the-heart-of-paris-dw1x), it took me only half a day to visit Monet's house and his garden (I booked an English-speaking guided tour online. That way it was more convenient than using public transportation to get to Giverny).

At the first moment of my arrival in Giverny on a summer day, I was not as pleased as I had expected due to the tourist crowds. Still, It was way less busy than Paris. The highlight of the trip was the Japanese garden where there was the famous water lily pond. Although it was not ideal to take photos because strangers would get into my pictures, I still enjoyed the serene beauty of the nature there. The air was so fresh I wished I could have spent more time there. In spite of visiting Giverny during a busy time, admiring the real Monet's garden was a delightful and memorable experience.

When to visit

To me, the best time to visit the garden would be in the summer as water lilies are in full bloom in July. That way you will feel Monet's famous paintings of the Japanese water lily pond come to life. However, the downside of visiting Giverny in the summer is that it is often terribly crowded. Therefore, springtime would be a good occasion to enjoy a relaxing time at the garden. Although water lilies are not in bloom, plenty of delightful spring flowers, for example, the flowers of the apple tree and the cherry tree (in April) and tulips (in May), will no doubt please your senses.

Fun fact: A romantic scene in the American movie Midnight in Paris (2011) was set in Monet's Japanese garden.

Following In Artists' Footsteps series

Apart from Giverny, Arles in Southern France is another fascinating city for art lovers. Do you know that Van Gogh lived there for a while? For more art inspirations, check out my story "Following In Van Gogh’s Footsteps In Arles."