We take you on a journey to a beautiful area located one hour north west of Paris in The Vexin Regional Natural Park, a hilly unspoiled protected region with cliffs overlooking the great landscapes/scenery of the Seine River between Paris and the Atlantic ocean, a stroll through history and natural beauty immortalized by painters like Claude Monet and Vincent Van Gogh. Giverny is classified by the French as part of the “plus beaux villages de France” (most beautiful villages in France), indeed, you are caught by its charm as soon as you arrive. The fact that Monet lived and worked there 43 years of his life adds to its magic. In fact, it is because of its beauty and picturesque location that he settled there, bringing it out of the shadow forever into the light. On the way to Giverny, driving along the picturesque “Route des Crêtes”, you will discover the exceptional panorama of the Seine Valley,, you will pass through the village of Vétheuil where Monet lived for 3 years before settling in Giverny and the village and château of La Roche Guyon (that became the headquarter of general Rommel during WWII) and above it an ancient watch tower of the 10th century, Upon your arrival in Giverny, you will stop at the local church (that Monet painted several times) that leads to the village graveyard where you will have a close look at Monet’s tomb. A little later, you will pass by the former café Baudy, the residence of many American Impressionists (Whistler, Metcalf, Robinson, Mary Cassatt…) and friends of Monet that stayed there when they visited him (Renoir, Rodin, Cezanne..). these artists used as a studio in winter the barn behind the café, Further down the street, you will pass the Museum of Impressionism that houses temporary exhibitions before arriving to Monet’s house and garden. Your guide will enter with you on the side entrance ( no lines) and start your visit at the WATER GARDEN that Monet created 10 years after settling in Giverny on a piece of land neighboring his property and crossed by a small brook, the Ru . It is inspired by the Japanese gardens that Monet knew from the prints that he collected avidly. You will find the famous Japanese bridge covered with wisteria, weeping willows, a bamboo wood and above all the famous nympheas that bloom all summer long. Monet shaped his subjects in nature there before painting them. He found his inspiration there for more than 20 years. Leaving the water garden, you will arrive to the FLOWER GARDEN (called Le Clos Normand) full of perspectives, symmetries and colors. It is divided into flowerbeds where flower clumps of different heights create volume. Monet did not like organized nor constrained gardens. He married flowers according to the harmony of their colors and let them grow freely. At the end of the Flower Gardens you will arrive for a visit to MONET’S HOUSE (BLUE ROOM, FAMILY LIVING ROOM, MONET’S BEDROOM, ALICE’S BEDROOM, DINING ROOM and KITCHEN) After leaving Monet’s house, you will finish your visit at his last STUDIO ( that he had built especially to paint the large Water-Lilies Paintings that are at the Orangerie Museum in Paris) , it houses a gift shop. For lunch (not included), your private guide can suggest a place by a river like the Moulin de Fourges, an old mill built in 1790, turned into a restaurant in the 90's, a place that seems to be part of a painted scene inspired by The Queen Marie Antoinette's Hamlet in Versailles After that bucolic break and before heading back to Paris, your private guide will drive you to the Domaine of Villarceaux, a peaceful site founded in the 11th/12th century. At first a benedictine convent, the place was transformed into an elegant residence in the 16th century with remarkable gardens and pools redesigned according to the Italian Renaissance style. (The gardens are classified among the Notable Gardens of France by the French Ministry of Culture). OR WE CAN SUGGEST AN ALTERNATIVE ITINERARY ONCE COMPLETED THE VISIT OF GIVERNY If you want a perfect balance between artistic and medieval heritage, between Claude Monet, William the Conqueror and the Vikings we suggest you an alternative itinerary not focused only on the Impressionist painters but also on the Dukes of Normandy, the descendants of the Vikings. After your stop in Giverny, your private guide will take you to another part of the Vexin Regional Natural Park to enjoy the site and the left overs of the most impressive medieval Fortress : Château Gaillard built by the King of England and last Duke of Normandy Richard Lion Heart in 1196 to bar the way to Rouen to the King of France. During that stop you will have an outstanding view over the Seine Valley. In this itinerary, for lunch, your private guide can suggest you a place in the little town Les Andelys down the fortress by the Seine river. Then it will be time to head back to Paris, This tour is available from April until the end of October. (Entrance tickets to Monet's house and gardens included). Extra charge for a pick up and/or a drop off outside Paris PRICES 1 TO 2 PERSONS - 980€ 3 TO 4 PERSONS - 1050€ 5 TO 6 PERSONS - 1210€ 7 TO 8 PERSONS - 1325€