Visiting Monet’s Garden at Giverny was the main reason for our week in Normandy.
Day 3: Monday 30th June 2025: Giverny
The satnav delivered us to the car parks for the gardens. We were surprised at how empty the car park was. We followed the signs and went through the underpass to the road leading to the gardens.
We were early before the gardens opened and our tickets were for the first available times into the gardens. There was already a queue by the signed buildings. After a long wait we watched as staff began to put signs out. Then we discovered that this queue was for non-ticket holders. Our entry was in a side gate a couple of hundred yards away down a narrow side street. This was now signed when we walked back!
The house at Giverny
After passing through the ticket collection and navigating another long queue we were finally in the gardens. By now all the paths were full of folks who had already entered through the ticket only gate. We headed straight for the house before the queues grew anymore.
The Lily pond
At the bottom of the Clos Normand garden in front of the house we followed the signs to the other garden, back under the road to the lily pond and the Japanese Bridge.
The gift shop
From the now very paths around the lily pond we walked back to the other garden and walked to the buildings at the side of the house.
Leaving Giverny
I could have spent a fortune buying souvenirs in the gift shop. I settled for a guide book and a ubiquitous ‘fridge magnet. The exit from the gardens was out through the building where we had started our day queuing.
We stopped at a cafe on the right of the road for a drink and a rest before walking back to the car and heading back.
