The Colours Behind the Canvas: A Guide to Monet’s Giverny
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About the Tour
About the Tour
A walk through Giverny is like stepping into one of Claude Monet’s paintings. This walking tour takes you along quiet village paths that inspired some of the most iconic artworks in history.
The tour starts in front of the Fondation Monet in Giverny, the artist’s flower-filled former home. From there, you’ll explore the Clos Normand garden and legendary lily pond, with its arched Japanese bridge that inspired the Nymphéas. Along the way, you’ll hear stories about how a caricature artist from Le Havre became the father of Impressionism, and how he shaped his gardens not just as a gardener, but as a painter working in three dimensions.
With every step, you’ll discover the philosophy behind Impressionism, and learn how light and colour became the tools of an artistic revolution. You’ll stroll through the village, where American painters once flocked in search of inspiration, en route to the church where the tour ends, Église Sainte Radegonde de Giverny. Along the way, you’ll find out why gardening is such a beloved French tradition, what makes the light in Normandy so special, and how Monet turned flowers into a language of his own.
On this 75-minute tour, you’ll have a chance to:
- Pay your respects to the artist at the Tombe de Claude Monet
- Stand beside the water lily pond where he created his ”landscapes of water and reflections” during World War I, as distant artillery echoed across northern France
- Hear how Monet’s friendship with Clemenceau shaped Water Lilies’ journey to the Orangerie
- Visit Ancien Hôtel Baudy, once the hangout of Renoir, Cézanne, and American Impressionists
- Explore Giverny’s quiet streets which still buzz with artistic energy
Whether you’re an art lover, a nature enthusiast, or simply curious, this tour offers a chance to slow down, look closer, and experience Giverny the way Monet did – one brushstroke of beauty at a time.
By the end of this tour, you’ll feel like you’ve wandered through a living painting – sensing what Monet saw, hearing what inspired him, and maybe even wanting to paint a few flowers of your own.
Please note
The tour does not include entry to the Museum. This needs to be purchased separately.
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
Sixpence
Moving to Paris from Hong Kong in 2015, I left behind my life as an editor at a cultural magazine. Since then, I've spent the last decade exploring the city both as a local and as a perpetual tourist—wandering through quiet streets, discovering hidden corners, stumbling upon stories tucked away from plain sight.
As a journalist, I was trained to look at the world through a cultural lens—to see not just buildings or streets, but the layers beneath them, rich with history, meaning, and memories. Paris, to me, feels endlessly generous, always revealing something new just when I think I know it by heart.
I’ve spent the past ten years walking the city, blending into its rhythms and uncovering forgotten corners, overlooked details, and hidden stories. My tours are inspired by these discoveries, by the quiet poetry tucked behind familiar facades, the gentle whispers of lives lived and moments passed.
My hope is to show you a Paris beyond postcards and clichés—a city alive with quiet wonders, secret courtyards, hidden echoes of history, and beauty that waits patiently, just out of sight. Come with me; let’s see what this city has kept hidden just for us.
Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 2
The East Garden and Cordon Apple Trees
By now, you’re probably knee-deep in flowers, or at least surrounded by them.
This is the Clos Normand—the fron... Read More
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Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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Fondation Monet in Giverny
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Museum of Impressionism Giverny
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Restaurant Baudy (Ancien Hôtel Baudy)
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Tombe de Claude Monet
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Église Sainte-Radegonde de Giverny
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
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Start location84 Rue Claude Monet, 27620 Giverny, France
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Total distance2km
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Final location53 / 55 Rue Claude Monet, 27620 Giverny, France
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Distance back to start location753.62m
Directions to Starting Point
If you already have your ticket, you’ll enter through the side entrance. Just walk down the little alley and look to your left—you’ll see the gate where the tour begins.
Be sure to book your ticket in advance, especially during peak season—it can get busy. Once inside, turn left and follow the path straight ahead to the East Garden. That’s where our journey begins to unfold.
Show Directions
Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
🌸 Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny
Just a short walk from Monet’s garden, this museum hosts rotating exhibitions that explore Impressionism and its legacy. It’s beautifully curated and often much quieter than the main house.
🍷 Hôtel Baudy
Once the hangout of Renoir, Cézanne, and Rodin, this former inn is now a cozy restaurant. You can stop here for lunch, a drink, or just to soak up the artistic history. Don’t miss the preserved glass-roofed studio in the back garden.
☕ La Capucine
Near the entrance to Monet’s house, this part café, part boutique is perfect for a relaxed coffee or light snack. Its garden setting makes it feel like a continuation of Monet’s own paradise.
🛍️ Local art galleries and craft shops
Scattered throughout the village, many small galleries sell original paintings and artisan crafts inspired by the light and nature of Giverny.
🌳 Walks and open spaces
You can stroll along the chemin du Roy toward the church and cemetery in peace, surrounded by countryside views. It’s a great place to slow down and reflect before reaching Monet’s final resting place.
Best time of day
You can enjoy this tour from April to October, when the gardens are open to the public and Giverny is at its most vibrant. Each month brings a different palette—tulips and irises in spring, roses and peonies in early summer, dahlias and sunflowers in late summer and early autumn. Au fil du temps, the scenery changes like a living painting.
The water garden, with its lily pond and Japanese bridge, is enchanting in all weather—even in the rain, when the reflections shimmer and everything feels hushed and poetic. So don’t let a cloudy forecast stop you.
For a quieter experience, aim for early morning or late afternoon, when the crowds thin out and the light is softer—just like Monet loved it. Weekends and midday hours can be busy, especially in peak season, but you can buy skip-the-line tickets online to save time and breeze past the queues. Go early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the crowd.
Precautions
First, wear comfortable walking shoes. The paths through Giverny and the gardens are mostly flat, but some are gravel or cobbled, and you’ll be on your feet for a while.
Be sure to bring water, especially during warmer months, and consider packing sunblock and a hat, as there’s limited shade in parts of the garden and village. In spring or autumn, a light jacket or umbrella can make a big difference if the weather turns—rain isn’t uncommon, but it only makes the water garden more magical.
Lastly, keep in mind that some village paths and parts of the cemetery have uneven ground. If you have reduced mobility, certain areas—like the steps to Monet’s grave—may require extra caution or assistance.
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