For more convenience you also can take the train to Vernon, and from there GHiverney (and the Monet House) is only a short distance (maybe one mile).

BP Chuck

Should be nice at that time. If you drive, the auroroute exit east of Vernon is well marked, as are the signs to Giverny when you cross the river. However, if you don't exactly retrace your steps to the same exit, but instead try for the on ramp to the autoroute west of Vernon, watch out ! You have to drive through Vernon, and the signs in many places are not so good, so be prepared to get lost several times. Although, I must say, getting lost is not a bad excuse to hit a promising restaurant or a boulangerie/patisserie.

`Last time I was at Giverny it was about that time (midApril) ands there were plenty of flowers.

I am going to Paris in mid-April and have never been to Giverny. Are the flowers in bloom by then or is it much later. I'm afraid we are going to be too early. L

As you can see from Mara-s note that the Monet hous is closed by November. Even if it would be open, by November most if not all flowers are gone. Late spring is about the best time to go.

BP Chuck

from the website - giverny.org

CLAUDE MONET'S HOUSE AND GARDENS

Fondation Claude Monet, rue Claude Monet 27620 Giverny. Open daily except Mondays from 9.30 am to 6.00 pm from April 1st to November 1st. Exceptionnally open on following Mondays : Easter Monday, Whit Monday.

Can anyone inform me as to the state of the flowers (if any) for a early or mid-November visit. My wife has never been there, and wants to know if it is dreary time there in November.

July, if you do not like crowds, and have not been to Givernay, I think it is a good time to go at the end of September. Also the weather may be still nice, and you can avoid the hot summer months. Enjoy!

BP Chuck

Just found out we will be there the end of September (September 18-October2), so maybe something will be blooming. If not, it's ok. In all my trips and sojourns in France I have never been to Giverny. . I tend to not like the crowds that throng places. So I'll catch the end of the season this time....thanks for all of your input.

Julie

Julie, the "no crowd" part applies particularly in October (the later the smaller the crowd), however the gardens are naturally not as nice, as the would be in the spring or early fall, but this is ballanced with the number of people present.

BP Chuck

Sounds good---especially the "no crowds" part. I'm a painter, so seeing the gardens is sort of a pilgrimage,,,water lillies or no....

Julie

I went to Giverny in October a couple of years ago and thought it was wonderful. I took an 8 and change train from Paris and was one of the first to enter. The gardens were still full of flowers and fairly free of crowds. The only problem was no waterlilies.

I think the house was one of the highlights with all the Japanese prints. Probably one of the reasons I was influenced to go to Tokyo this past winter.

Then I went to the American Museum down the street which was quite wonderful as well.

Yes -- and it's lovely. The garden is VERY different than in the spring. BUT -- there are fewer crowds.

Has anyone been to Giverny in September???

julie

Mimi-- I meant to say wisteria!!!!! I had just watered my plants and had bougainvillea on my brain! I have rolls and rolls of film of Giverney in May, when the wisteria was blooming. That really is the time to see the bridge. The thing that really struck me about Giverney was the way I felt like I was literally walking (actually I was rolling) around in Monet's paintings. It's so beautiful I could just cry thinking about it.................

Best to see the bridge in spring when the Wisteria is blooming.

Early May is a really good time of year to go. There's not as many tourists and the Spring flowers are breath taking. I like to be there when the bougainvillea is in bloom!

I visited Giverny two weeks ago, when everything was in bloom, and, as indicated in postings before, you must make sure that you arrive at the earliest possible time. If you are not the first group admitted, the ability to walk through the gardens or house unimpeded or even to take pictures will be problematic.

You are most welcomed Nathalie, you will love Monet's Garden
Be sure to have your photo taken on the famous bridge, but it is usually crowded.
Very best to you.

just a quick 'merci' to cap10mike for the websites listed - i am going to paris with my sister in july and want to visit somewhere different this time - monets garden it shall be ...

OK, let us face it, it really is not much of a walk from the train station to the Monet hous and Gardens. I walk more each day.

BP Chuck

Dear Rose (izzat your name?)

The above quote by you is luck of the draw. That the bus was standing waiting for you is not always the case. Once my wait was so long that even back-packers were willing to share a cab.

Giverny is always our last lunch in France (before the next day at CDG at Brasserie Flo) because we spend the night with friends nearby. We like The Anciente Hotel Baudy where the American impressionist painters came because of Monet. It is now A restaurant and Museum. They have a beautiful picture I took made into a card. The other is a charming hotel also with a terrace, The Jardin de Giverny. Much more formal

Lucky me, I went out to Giverny on May 6th and had a most splendid visit-my first Spring trip. The information on the trains below is accurate.
Funny, I went to Gare du Nord by mistake and the lady at the info booth told me I should go to ger salazar (that's what it sounded like). It took a few beats to realize that she meant Gare St. Lazare. So much for my school book French!

One thing I can add: there is a bus standing just outside the arriving train in Vernon and it is as easy-as-pie to take that out (EU 1.50 if I remember correctly).

Also across from the station is a cafe that RENTS bikes (it is perfectly flat and about five miles out of town). TEL 02 32 21 16 01 Rate is 12 EU a day.

Once at Giverny there is a cafe-restaurant across the st. in the American Art Museum (which now has a Dennis Hopper exhibit). There are a few other places to eat and an ice-cream stand.