Giverny

Anybody been? Thinking of taking a day trip from Paris around the17th July. Is it a simple train journey and is as beautiful as I am hoping?

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I tried to go a few years ago, booking the train ticket was easy, but when my wife and I got on board the train, we heard an announcement (in French) that there was a wildcat strike/work stoppage on the tracks outside of the city, and that the train was cancelled.

We decided not to be mad, and just chalked it up to the French penchant for strikes. Such strikes occur somewhere, somehow in France about every 11 seconds.

:-)

Someday we%26#39;ll get to Giverny!

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We were there the last weekend in May. We enjoyed it but I sure wouldn%26#39;t make a special trip. It just happened to be right on our way from Paris to Rouen. We got there when they opened and the crowds weren%26#39;t bad. In fact, we got a terrific parking place. Within a half hour or so the place was absolutely packed! The bridge at the lilly pond had two or three people at a time early on and then all of a sudden it was shoulder to shoulder people and it didn%26#39;t stop. When we went back to the car there was no parking anywhere and there were people all over.

So, if you can get there first thing it is a fine place to visit as long as the transportation works out.

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You can easily take the train to Vernon and then a bus to Giverny. I think it%26#39;s well worth the effort if you are interested in Monet and his works, and the gardens are exceptionally beautiful. In the house we especially liked the collection of Japanese wood-block prints, from which Monet--and other Impressionists like van Gogh--drew some inspiration.

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We went a few years ago in August....by train. We thought it was great....we made a day trip out of it....yes it was crowded but not that bad...I enjoyed looking thru the rooms of the house and just sitting in the gardens...there were so many sunflowers blooming when we were there....I bought the poster of the little girl in the sunflower garden...if you go study up on Monet%26#39;s life and you will just imagine he and his family at the dining table. We also like the American museum across the road....lots of great art. I think we got back to Paris in the late evening...a long day but worth the trip in my opinion.

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We stopped at Giverny on our way from Rouen to Paris. It was a beautiful sunny day, and the crowds were large. I think it is worth a visit if you are interested in Monet, gardening, or the American artists whose art is exhibited at the nearby American Artists Museum. These American artists were those who lived for a time at Giverny.

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Hi -

I%26#39;ve been twice. Once in early May and once in October. Both times were great. Neither time was the crowd too overwhelming, but in both cases I was there before opening time. In the summer I think the bus traffic arrives earlier than in spring and fall.

There is very little difference in the gardens until almost November, I have been told.

It%26#39;s not a trip I would make in high tourist season simply because of the increased traffic.

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This is one of the easiest...and best... D-I-Y day-trips from Paris that you can do.

Simply take the early morning train (08:16 AM) from PARIS-Gare Saint Lazare to VERNON station (approx 47 mins--r.t. fare 23,40 € ). From just outside the doors of VERNON station, take the #18 regional bus to Giverny (15 mins--3,50 € r.t) to the gates of Monet%26#39;s Home %26amp; Gardens at Giverny. The reason you want to take the early train is that it will get you to Giverny before the gardens open for the day at 09:30 and allow you to get in and have some time there before the place gets too crowded.

Depending on how your day is going, you have a few options. You can remain in Giverny, have lunch, visit the Musée des Arts Americain, just down the road...OR...you can make your way back to VERNON station by bus to arrive just before 13:00 (1:00 PM) to either take the direct train back to Paris...OR...an onward train along the same linge to the old city of ROUEN (approx 45 mins) for lunch and an afternoon there before heading back to Paris in the evening (approx 70-90 mins). It%26#39;s good to have choices and all of them are easy.

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P.S. Monet%26#39;s Home %26amp; Gardens are CLOSED ON MONDAYS (July 17th).

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I went twice.. the first time in 1993. We did not know they were closed on Mondays. We did walk around the outside of the fence and even took a few pictures through the chain-links. The second time, in 1996, we went on a day it was open... early in the morning. I%26#39;m a great fan of Monet so I really enjoyed the lily pond, the Japanese bridge and the gardens outside his house. We drove there so I don%26#39;t know about train/bus connections. It%26#39;s worth the trip. The children%26#39;s book %26quot;Linnea in Monet%26#39;s Garden%26quot; is actually a great way to get an idea of what you will find in Giverny. Have fun!!!

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Just returned from Paris, including a lovely day at Giverny in the rain. Gardens were still spectacular.

Train was fine, but the bus that covers the 6 miles from the train station took us TO Giverny, but did not bother to come back to pick up at the times that were published in the schedule (and tickets purchased were round trip!). About 30 people left standing in a chilly rain. Someone called the bus company who said they weren%26#39;t sending any more buses.

A number of buses went by but didn%26#39;t come to the stop in the parking lot. Several of us finally went into the road and stopped a bus by standing in front of it. Though the driver didn%26#39;t run us over, he was totally indifferent to our plight. We finally found a way to call a taxi, but many others ended up hitch-hiking. To their credit, many locals stopped to pick up stranded tourists. So my advice - go if you love gardens, but have taxi info in hand!