10 Things to Do in Giverny in Summer
Fall in love with Giverny, the welcoming place that has inspired great artists, at its best time of the year: summer. You'll feel like you're inside a work of art!
Camino a casa de Monet |©Veronica Reverse
Are you thinking of visiting Giverny, the village that is world famous for having been the greatest source of inspiration for the famous painter Claude Monet? You are probably wondering what you can do to make your visit a unique experience and not miss anything.
During your trip you will find a number of plans to enjoy Giverny. This place, even long before Monet made it his home and place of relaxation and inspiration, already possessed a charm that attracted dozens of artists and residents alike in search of peace, rest and motivation.
1. Visit Monet's house and see his gardens at the best time of the year
Discover all the enigmas of the Impressionist master and his works by visiting the house where he lived for 43 years, its gardens and the water lily pond, which inspired Claude Monet to paint his most famous paintings. You will be able to enjoy and contemplate the gardens that Monet took so much care of and in which he found his inspiration without worrying about bad weather.
It will be impressive to experience first hand all the variety of flowers found there, which vary with the seasons under the effect of the light, but I assure you that in summer you will be able to contemplate the most vivid colours to the maximum.
Without a doubt, one of the most photographable places is the pond where Claude Monet painted his famous water lilies, which Monet himself planted, as well as being a painter, he was also a gardener and with the eye of an artist he had, he achieved an incomparable harmony.
There are different ways to enjoy this tour, with different types of guided tours, or activities that in addition to showing you the tour, will offer you another type of experience. Choose the one you like best!
Practical information
- Timetable: 9.30am-6pm, with the last tour at 5.30pm all week.
- Price: The approximate entrance fee is around €9.50,
2. Take a bike ride in Monet's Gardens
What better way to get some fresh air than on a bike ride! It's a different way to get to know and explore it, while you relax as you pedal, feeling the warm wind on your face.
This way, you will feel a greater connection with nature, as you will enjoy all the landscapes and natural surroundings, while doing a healthy physical activity, activating all your senses; the smell, sounds and colours of the environment.
Of course, this activity is quite popular and there are even many tourists who take the opportunity to combine the visit with the nearby Vernon in this vehicle, as well as excursions that leave from Paris and go along the river bank.
For this reason, if you are going to do the tour on your own and not with a tour, it is advisable to rent your bike in advance.
3. The Chamber Music Festival
Every year, between the end of August and the beginning of September, the outstanding Chamber Music Festival takes place in Giverny, where around twenty international musicians of the genre, conducted by Michel Strauss, the famous French cellist.
The Festival is an exceptional opportunity to listen to masterpieces from the classical period or more contemporary works, performed in the heart of the Impressionist city. You can enjoy the music of famous classical and romantic composers such as Mozart, Schumann or Brahms among other admirable musicians.
Definitely, the magical splendour of this wonderful place is ideal to be captivated by the charm of classical music.
Practical information
- Dates: late August to early September
- Venue: in various parts of the city, although the auditorium of the Musée des Impressionistes is the main venue.
- Price: varies depending on the stage and the performance
4. Enjoy dinner under the stars
A natural occurrence that is common in summer is the increased visibility of the stars at night. It seems that there can't be a summer without them and they really make this time of the year a special one.
Just visualise a dinner by the light of the moon and the stars, where the hot season will allow us to spend a pleasant evening surrounded by the natural spectacle that Giverny offers us.
So choose a good wine and choose your dinner, as this could be the perfect setting for a romantic date in the open air, an evening with friends or why not, with yourself.
5. Lunch at the Moulin de Fourges
There's nothing like enjoying a gourmet lunch on your city tour. One unforgettable place I recommend you stop at is the well-known restaurant Moulin de Fourges. This restaurant is one of the most elegant in Giverny, so it will be well worth a visit.
Whichever option you choose, I assure you that you will love any dish, plus the place has the option of enjoying your meal with a beautiful view of the river, so taking advantage of the genuine warmth of the season, I suggest you choose this alternative.
This place, besides being an excellent option to eat, has accommodation services. Here, its residents also have other options to make the most of the summer: canoeing on the Epte, cycling on the trails, taking painting classes, among other recreational activities.
6. Take a balloon ride and see art from the sky!
Supervised by a civil aviation professional, this hot air balloon tour is 100% safe. Only 4 passengers are allowed per balloon. The pilot is extremely friendly, he will make you fully enjoy the trip, explaining every detail and solving any doubts you may have, with great kindness.
The tour goes from the borders of Ile-de-France and Normandy, 45 minutes from Paris, you will also fly over the Seine Valley, the Regional Natural Park of French Vexin and Giverny; you will see magnificent valleys with their picturesque villages.
7. Don't miss the Impressionists' Museum and stroll along its terrace in the summer sunshine
Although it's also a must if you're visiting Giverny in winter, it's when the good weather arrives that you'll be able to enjoy the outdoor gardens of this museum the most.
It's an open-air construction with terraces filled with heather plants and various types of flowers and trees, so the summer brings out the true shades of green in each of them. Just imagine strolling through the museum: while you're learning about history and culture, you'll have a magnificent tribute to nature in the background. And since impressionism is all about plein air, what better place to enjoy impressionism than where the artists set up their easels to paint their masterpieces?
It has 2 collections. The first is a permanent collection called Around Claude Monet which revolves around Monet's works and his influence on other artists who followed in his footsteps.
The second is made up of two or three temporary exhibitions that change from year to year, which you can consult on their website so that you'll be aware of what will be on display on the days of your visit. The Impressionist paintings presented in this collection are of both French and foreign origin.
Practical information
- Address: 99 rue Claude Monet
- Price: around 16 euros
- Opening hours: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, daily. Last admission is at 5.30pm.
8. Take an open-air walking or cycling tour to Vernon
Spring and summer in this part of France are not only ideal for avoiding bad weather, they are also the times when nature is at its best. If you are in Giverny, I recommend you take the opportunity to visit nearby Vernon, considered one of the most beautiful villages in the country.
The route, which can be done by bike in about 20 minutes or on foot in just over an hour, runs almost entirely along the Seine River. For that alone, it's worth the effort.
When you get to Vernon there are a couple of must-see attractions: the impressive Château de Tourelles and the small but unmissable Vieux Moulin, or Old Mill.
9. Visit the place where the artists used to picnic and sample the food on a shaded terrace
Another place to enjoy the summer recipes of the area is the Hôtel Restaurant Ancien BAUDY. This has been a famous stopping place for many French and American painters. It is considered as a great source of inspiration for many artists.
It is only 5 minutes away from the Claude Monet Museum and the Impressionist Museum, so it would be ideal to stop by after a visit to one of them.
You can enjoy your meal inside the restaurant or on the shaded terrace, with a nice view of a beautiful wooded park.
It offers a wide variety of starters, main courses and desserts available a la carte, as well as a charming period décor, making it a warm and cosy place to dine.
10. Seek shade at the Sainte-Radegonde church
It's a village church, around which lies the final resting place of Monet, who is buried there with his family, including his wife Alice and son Michel.
It is a good idea to bring him colourful and bright flowers as he liked them, as a sign of respect and admiration.
Built about 500 years ago, the church of Sainte-Radegonde has a beautiful altar, stained glass windows and statues. It is worth a short visit.
Summer weather in Giverny
During this season, the weather is mostly warm. However, it is likely that there will be other types of weather occasionally, such as rain and cold winds in the evenings. As the months go by, the temperature will rise and therefore the heat will intensify.
In these summer months, the temperature is pleasant with little rainfall, which should be taken advantage of as the days in Giverny tend to be rainy. On average the highest temperature in the summer is 24°C.
Temperatures may be a little high, but it is certainly the best time of the year to visit Giverny to admire the beautiful colours of nature at its best, and to feel like you are inside a real painting.