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🇫🇷 France · Places to discover

What to see in Giverny ?

18 places curated by Hozy - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.

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Giverny owes almost everything to a single man: Claude Monet, who settled here in 1883 and spent the last forty years of his life in this Norman village. Located an hour from Paris, it has remained remarkably unchanged-a few streets, half-timbered houses, fields of poppies in spring. It's less an artistic pilgrimage than a place where you understand concretely where the paintings came from.

The ideal period falls between May and June, when the Claude Monet Foundation gardens are in full bloom without yet being overwhelmed by heat. Allow half a day on site, a full day if you're visiting the Musée des Impressionnismes as well. Arrive by car or shuttle from Vernon-direct buses from Paris are rare. Avoid July and August weekends: the garden paths become impassable and the famous Japanese bridge disappears behind cameras.

Landmarks & heritage (6)

Museum of Impressionism GivernyWikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SA

Museum of Impressionism Giverny

Landmark

A museum dedicated to the Impressionist movement and its connections with Giverny, featuring high-quality temporary exhibitions. Lesser-known than Monet's house but often more peaceful.
House and Gardens of Claude MonetWikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SA

House and Gardens of Claude Monet

Landmark

Monet's pink and green house with its celebrated flower-filled gardens, the inspiration for his Water Lilies series. Essential viewing, but visit early in the morning to avoid the crowds.
Church of Sainte-Radegonde at GivernyWikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SA

Church of Sainte-Radegonde at Giverny

Landmark

A small 12th-century Romanesque church where Monet and several family members are buried. A quiet place of reflection that many visitors overlook.
Old Hôtel BaudyWikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SA

Old Hôtel Baudy

Landmark

A former café and grocer's shop that became the meeting place for American painters who came to Giverny in the late 19th century. The studio and rose garden remain visible today.
Tomb of Claude MonetWikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SA

Tomb of Claude Monet

Landmark

The modest grave of the master of Impressionism in Giverny's cemetery, surrounded by his family. An intimate pilgrimage away from the bustle of the gardens.
Chapel of Giverny SeminaryWikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SA

Chapel of Giverny Seminary

Landmark

A discreet little chapel nestled in the upper reaches of the village, offering an unobstructed view over the Seine valley. Rarely mentioned in guidebooks.

Nature & parks (7)

Seine-Epte ConfluenceWikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SA

Seine-Epte Confluence

Nature

A remarkable geographical point where the Epte river joins the Seine, just a short walk from the village. A landscape of meanders and weeping willows worthy of an Impressionist canvas.
Banks of the Epte at GivernyWikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SA

Banks of the Epte at Giverny

Nature

The Epte river winds along the village's edge through a characteristically Norman bocage landscape. Monet walked here regularly, drawing inspiration from its quiet beauty.
Water Garden and Japanese Bridge at MonetWikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SA

Water Garden and Japanese Bridge at Monet

Nature

The water lily pond with its iconic arched green bridge, immortalised in dozens of canvases. The morning light on the water is absolutely magical.
Vernon State ForestWikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SA

Vernon State Forest

Nature

A large forest easily reached by bike from Giverny, with marked trails winding through ancient beechwood. The perfect antidote to the crowds at the gardens.
Cliffs and hillsides of GivernyWikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SA

Cliffs and hillsides of Giverny

Nature

The limestone slopes dominating the village offer spectacular panoramas across the Seine-Epte confluence and the winding Norman river courses. Access via a footpath from the village centre.
Orchards and poppy fields of GivernyWikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SA

Orchards and poppy fields of Giverny

Nature

In May and June, the surrounding fields burst into a blaze of red poppies, recreating exactly the landscapes Monet painted. A free and deeply moving natural spectacle.

Ru Stream and Giverny Wetland Meadow

Nature

The modest stream that once fed Monet's water-lily pond meanders through a preserved wetland meadow at the village's edge. A tranquil, discrete ecosystem at its loveliest at dusk.

Viewpoints (2)

Panorama from the Chemin des ClosWikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SA

Panorama from the Chemin des Clos

Viewpoint

An elevated farm track affording sweeping views down over Giverny's rooftops and the Seine's alluvial plain. The sunset from here is quite exceptional.
View of the Seine Meanders from Giverny HeightsWikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SA

View of the Seine Meanders from Giverny Heights

Viewpoint

Following the hill path behind the village reveals a sweeping 180° panorama across the Seine's winding course and the Moisson forest. Among Normandy's finest viewpoints.

Activities (3)

Open-Air Painting Workshop at GivernyWikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SA

Open-Air Painting Workshop at Giverny

Activity

Seasonal workshops offer the chance to paint en plein air in the landscapes that inspired Monet. An immersive experience organised by local artists' associations.
Bicycle Hire at GivernyWikipedia (fr) - CC BY-SA

Bicycle Hire at Giverny

Activity

Several rental points allow you to explore the Norman countryside by bike: Vernon, the banks of the Seine and surrounding villages are all reachable within an hour.

GR2 Walking Trail – Giverny Loop

Activity

The GR2 runs alongside the Seine's banks and climbs the hillsides surrounding Giverny. This 10 km loop delivers breathtaking vistas over the river's meanders and chalky limestone cliffs.
What to see in Giverny - France? 18 places · Hozy