Giverny and Monet

Impressionism is an art movement founded in the 19th century that ran counter to the accepted artwork of the day, and its painters were considered radicals. The Academie des Beaux-Arts dominated the art scene in France and preferred realistic subjects painted in restrained colors with very precise brush strokes; in contrast, Claude Monet and his cohorts used short strokes and an explosion of colors with the emphasis to emote feeling and capture light. During this full-day, small group tour you will visit the home of Claude Monet, long considered the Father of Impressionism.

Board the air-conditioned minibus for a picturesque, comfortable ride designed for your small group to Giverny where Monet lived and worked. Tour his pink stucco house where his everyday life with eight children is on display. Walk through the drawing room, pantry, bedroom, study, dining room, kitchen and, of course, his studio. Once back outside, take time to meander around Clos Normand, the extensive flower gardens as you walk under the flower-laced metal arches he had erected on the property. Admire the Japanese cherry trees as well as the carefully manicured flower beds full of tulips, roses, and nasturtiums.

Discover in the romantic water garden the Japanese bridge crossing the pond, featured in Monet's Water Lilies series, with your very own eyes. Monet acquired the property in 1883 and spent countless hours cultivating the gardens which became the subject of some of his most famous works.

After some free time for lunch (at your own expense), make your way to the Giverny Museum of Impressionism for a historical account of this beloved, world-wide art movement. Inside you will find The Garden by painter Mark Rudkin and "Monet Around", the permanent exhibit that offers to resume "the influence of the art of Claude Monet and his contemporaries and the generations that followed him." Take some time to explore Giverny with its church, galleries and the Old Hotel Baudy before your return trip to port.

This trip to Giverny is a must-do for Monet fans and those who love Impressionism, book now.