Visiting Claude Monet’s Home & Gardens

Sometimes you add something on your bucket list after you’ve done it. Visiting Claude Monet’s home and garden was one of those times.

I had some time to kill while in Paris and learned that Monet’s famous water lily gardens was just a train away in Giverny, France. I am sucker for European train rides, the ease, the large windows to take in the scenic countryside of the country and the ample free time to read, sketch, journal.

I fell in love with Giverny the minute I got there. It felt like walking into a magazine spread of the French countryside, a period piece, a French book. It felt as though time hadn’t changed it at all.

Monet’s garden was buzzing with butterflies, flowers on end under a beautiful summer day.

It was a bit surreal to stand on the bridge overlooking the water lilies Monet couldn’t get enough of. He painted them so often. Constantly chasing the different light that landed on them.

The inside tour of the home would’ve been more enjoyable if it had some of Monet’s artworks there but it doesn’t. Also it got a bit crowded where you had to walk in a single file to tour the home. It felt like you had to quickly take in the home.

Whenever I see a Monet painting, I’ll think of this visit.