Monet's Garden is the colourful garden of an artist, by an artist. This is the garden created from 1883 to 1926 in the Valley of the River Epte by Claude Monet, one of the world's best loved artists. He was the leader of the Impressionist painters, the term being derived in 1874 from his landscape Impression Soleil Levant.

Monet liked painting a subject in the open air at different times of day to show variation in light. This garden was thus a picture itself besides a subject for painting. His garden will have special appeal for artists and photographers.

The estate was authentically restored in 1976 for l'Acadamie des Beaux Arts (there are even turkeys, in a small enclosure).

This beautiful garden of ethereal colour harmonies and contrasts at Giverny is divided into two distinct parts by a road. Access between the parts is through a tunnel. On one side of the road, standing well back at the top of the garden, backing onto the village street, is Monet's characteristic pink house with green shutters and festooned with roses. On the walls inside his simply appointed house hang his collection of Japanese prints. In front of the house a cornucopia of colour inhabited by bees and butterflies stretches down to the wall by the road. Through the tunnel lies a different scene. The stylistically eastern water-garden with its famous wisteria, willows and water-lilies still appears to await the dazzling eye of the master for a final canvas. You walk beside Monet's famous slowly-flowing, shallow, water-lily ponds with their wonderful play of light and shadow, inspiration for his immortal paintings.

You will find a good choice of Monet souvenirs in the visitors' centre. Also in this delightful village is the Musee Americain Giverny which was opened in 1992. Funded by the Terra Foundation for the Arts in America, the museum enables the visitor to explore the historical connection between French and American artists throughout the Impressionist and other 19th and 20th century periods.

More Information about Monet's Garden on the Sisley Website.

Written by  Tony Sissons.

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