Monet’s Giverny & Rouen

Giverny, located on the right bank of the Seine is a charming city known all over the world through the famous paintings of Claude Monet, who lived in the village from 1883 to his death in 1926. The house and gardens formerly owned by Monet have since been turned into a museum. The house has been restored in pink and green, and contains reproductions of the painter’s works, collection of Japanese prints from the 18th and 19th centuries and pieces of china. The adjacent flower garden replanted according to the original design of Claude Monet, is a spectacular display of colors. After the visit, you’ll have free time before your drive to a countryside restaurant for lunch.

Rouen is the capital of Higher Normandy with a skyline of towers and spires, and its heritage of fine buildings and many museums offers visitors a wealth of artistic delights. Follow your guide through the historical part of the city. See the Old Market Place where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431 and the modern Joan of Arc Church completed in 1979. Other sites you’ll find during your walking tour are the Gros Horloge Street with its belfry and a sculpted archway on which rests a Renaissance lodge decorated with clock faces that still indicate the time of the day, the phases of the moon and the days of the week. Discover the Law Courts, the seat of Normandy’s Parliament and the cathedral, made famous by Claude Monet’s paintings of its façade.