The Claude Monet gardens in Giverny are the centre of attention for tourists visiting this historical house, but the Monet house is an colourful high light. The Impressionists home of Claude Monet is painted in bright colours which reflect the garden and is just as interesting and unique.

The Monet house is a journey of colour and light brightly painted and a historic look in to the life of Claude Monet and his family. If you are Visiting the Normandy area of France this would also be a fantastic place to visit.

Lets take an in-depth look and photographic tour of the Monet house in Giverny

Some of Monet’s house has only just finished being renovated in 2013, we went along to explore Monet’s colourful home.

You can visit the Maison & Jardins de Claude Monet in Giverny France all on one ticket.  

Where is Monet’s house in France?

The Claude Monet House and Gardens are situated in the town of Giverny in France just 50 miles from Paris. It takes 1 hour 15 minutes by car or 2 hours 40 minutes by train.

If you are looking to drive it is easily done by car and you can stay in the beautiful town too if you are lucky enough to be able to book a room.

After a visit to the famous water lily gardens and the Normandy walled garden you will also take a tour of the extraordinary pink and green home once occupied by Monet himself.

You enter the Monet house in Giverny via the middle front door and take a journey though his home before exiting via the kitchen door to the right.

Tour the impressionist gardens of Monet here

Have you been to the Normandy D Day beaches? Click here for a one day Itinerary

Monet’s Little Blue sitting room

You will first come across the Little blue sitting room or reading room. The blue sitting room of Claude Monet is adorned with his collection of Japanese Ukiyo-e wood block prints. The walls and furniture are two blends of pale blue and teal with an appealing contrast of pink floral.

This is the first room where you are hit by a wall of colour the blue furnishings somewhat like out of a Disney film or Mickey mouses house in Walt Disney world. The blue grandfather clock stands proud in the corner next to the chintzy sofa and chairs and would of been the perfect place to serve tea.

 In this Quirky blue room with painted the furniture and Monets favourite Japanese prints you get an insight in to Monet’s love of colour.

The floor of the Sitting room is an intricate terracotta patterned tile which follows through into the pantry.

“Try to forget what objects you have before you – a tree, a house, a field, or whatever. Merely think, ‘Here is a little square of blue, here an oblong of pink, here a streak of yellow,’ and paint it just as it looks to you, the exact color and shape, until it gives you your own impression of the scene before you” –Claude Monet

The Pantry in the Monet House

The small parlour or pantry is  a cool room and where all of the perishable food would of been stored. This sits just next to the sitting room with a storage box for eggs on the wall. The eggs were collected from the kitchen gardens own chickens. 

Visit Monets studio in Giverny

Passing through the pantry you come to Claude Monets studio with walls adorned with many paintings on every spare space of wall. 

A large area with wide open windows and there are comfortable chairs and a desk are dotted around the room. Throughout the house are also black and white photos of Monet and his garden and home back in the day.

Monet preferred to paint outside which many great French impressionists did. Boudin introduced him to painting outdoors.

Are the paintings in Monets House real or copies?

Although Monets collection of prints and ornaments are still on display the much rarer paintings are in museums and the paintings you see today are copies of the originals. The real masterpieces are in museums all over the world. The paintings have been replicated and placed in the same places closely as possible to where they would of originally been. You still get a real idea of how the house would of looked at the time and it is absolutely fascinating.

Monet’s bedroom

On the first floor above the studio we find the private apartments and Monets bedroom. This room has been reconstructed from original photos and looks pretty much as it did when Claude was alive.

There is more hand painted furniture and a gorgeous antique desk sits in the corner of the room. He had two large windows overlooking the garden and single bed. The sun beams in through the windows perfectly framing the view of the glorious gardens. Claude had separate bedroom to his wife Alice in keeping with the aristocracy of the time. Here you will find more paintings gifted from his friends such as Cézanne, Renoir, Signac and Caillebotte. There were even once two Reniors hanging in the hallway. 

Another thing I noticed was each room was full of mirrors which bounce more light around each room.

“The light constantly changes, and that alters the atmosphere and beauty of things every minute.”- Claude Monet

The dressing rooms

The bathroom dressing rooms are towards the centre of the house with ornate washstands. Plenty of mirrors adorn the room with again more windows letting in light. Monet’s dressing room was a cool mint and pink with yet more paintings on the walls such as Cezzanes, Dagas and Pissarios. There are no toilets in the bathrooms these would of been outside in an outhouse.

Monet’s wife Alice’s bedroom 

The visit continues through their dressing rooms and on to Alice’s bedroom. Claude Monet and Alice Hoschedé got married on 16 July 1892 after both of thier previous partners had passed away.

Blanche Hoschedé-Monet’s bedroom

Blanche Hoschedé-Monet was the stepdaughter and the daughter-in-law of Claude Monet. His daughter in law took over his household after the death of her mother when Monet became depressed. She was also a painter and most of her work was done in Giverny also. Her room is at the far end of the house and is adorned with a pretty dressing table and floral walls.

There is a tiny sewing room with an old sewing machine and a bisque cat sits in the fireplace.

Monet’s dining room

One of the most stunning rooms is the dining room with its walls painted in a bright sunny yellow. The floors of terracotta tiles make a beautiful contrast to the walls with the accents of blue and green ornaments.

He loved to host and welcomed many artists into his home, this room would of been bustling with chatter and Monet and Alice’s 8 children.

The cupboards contain more Japanese art works and ornaments along with many more on the walls. Not only are the walls yellow but the furniture is too. The yellow french dresser looks like the armoire from Disneys Beauty and the Beast.

There is also a biscuitware cat “The Japanese Cat” that was once owned by monet in the dining room. It has kindly regained its place in the home by its previous owner Monsieur Hideyuki Wada.

The Blue kitchen in the Monet House

The kitchen was painted blue so that when seen by guests in the dining room it was a striking contrast against that of the dining room. In fact looking through the doors from each side they contrast perfectly and yet still are in harmony.

The tiles on Claude Monets kitchen walls are from Rouen and the traditional copper pots contrast with the blue and white tiles. There are plenty of cupboards as well as worktops with a huge oven in the corner. The same blue paint as the sitting room is used in here and blue gingham curtain line the windows.

How did Monet die?

Claude Monet died in his bedroom in Giverny of lung cancer in 1926.

Where is Claude Monet buried?

You will find the headstone of Monet in the Giverny church cemetery this is his final resting place just 10 minutes from his home. You can also visit his grave when you are in Giverny.

When is the best time to visit the Monet House and garden?

The best time to visit the gardens are between April and October. Spring is also a lovely time to visit with many tulips and daffodils on display likewise the autumn is lovely to visit when all of the dahlias are rearing their heads. Claude Monets House and gardens close on the 1st of November.

How much time do you need in Giverny?

You need approximately 2 hours to visit the Monet house and gardens. Around an hour for the gardens 45 minutes for the house and then some time for the shop. The house may not take as long depending whether you read all the information in the rooms. 

Can you stay in Claude Monet’s house?

No you can not stay in Claude Monets house but you can stay in one nearby that was owned by him the Blue House. The blue house  was a house that Claude Monet once owned in Giverny. This house is now available to rent from Airbnb and was once used for his good friends.

The Blue House is located in the heart of Giverny, the village of Claude Monet. The house belonged to him and is only minutes from the museums and gardens of Giverny.

Where can I book tickets to the Monet house?

You can book tickets direct in advance on the Giverny website which will take you through to Ticketmaster.

Thank you for reading about Inside the Claude Monet house 

More homes of famous people to visit here-

The homes of Hendrix and Handel

The home of Charles Dickens in london

D x