Jo’s Monday walk : the village of Giverny

Isn't this perfection?

Isn’t this perfection?

I took so many lovely images on my visit to the Monet garden in Giverny.  It was quite hard to leave.  But I had little idea of the other treats that lay in store for me in the village.  I thought that this Monday you might like to join me in a gentle stroll in the Normandy sunshine?  You won’t even need hiking boots!  Sound promising?

Shuttered windows peep from behind a Russian Vine covered hedge

Shuttered windows peep from behind a Russian Vine covered hedge

Claude Monet lived in the village of Giverny from 1883 to 1926 and there is no doubt that it has prospered hugely as a result of this. Still it remains a very charming place and it’s not difficult to see what drew Monet and his artist friends here.  There were only 300 people living in the village when Monet first spotted it from the window of a passing train and decided he wanted to live there.  Today Rue Claude Monet is the principal street of the village.

A legend among the ivy

A legend among the ivy

Normally I save food for the end of my walks but you may remember that I’d already travelled from Paris and spent a couple of hours at the Monet garden.  The Musee des Impressionismes has a very pleasant restaurant and gardens and is just a few steps further along Rue Claude Monet. We had a combined ticket with Monet’s garden, saving a few euros, but you didn’t need to enter the museum to eat in their restaurant, or to see the garden.

I was very happy with my Caesar Salad and vin blanc
While somebody decided he’d earned a big beer
The venue was rather nice
And we even found time to admire the garden

Of course, we had to check out the paintings too, and then it was time to venture into the village. We wandered along, admiring the shuttered windows. They looked so French!

White against soft grey stone
Gentle green on pink, with neatly tied nets
Smart and efficient looking
Smothered in green
Neat and rather stylish
Or carried away on a tide of flowers

 

This artists gallery beckoned me inside

This artist’s gallery beckoned me inside

I stopped a little further along Rue de Claude Monet to peer inside a gallery.  “Come in, come in” beamed the proprietor (in French, of course), patting his head to indicate that I should keep mine low.  I would have loved to start snapping the sea of canvases in the tiny space, but it didn’t seem polite.  I had the impression that we could have become lifelong friends and that I’d take breakfast in the cafe next door.  Fortunately I was rescued by another customer descending the steps, and the ‘patting of head routine’.  A true show of French gallantry.

‘Le Coin des Artistes’ at no. 65 was first a grocery store, then a cafe-bar in Monet’s time, and is now a smart looking bed and breakfast. At no. 81, Hotel Baudy has been recently restored and was also a popular meeting place for artists . A few steps further, Eglise Sainte Radegonde dates from the Middle Ages and is the burial place of Monet and many of his family.

Hotel Baudy
A peep inside
Village life!
The view across the fields to the river
Sainte Radegonde church
Monet’s grave

The village is long and slim and at the end you can turn down to Chemin du Roy to complete a circuit back to your beginnings.  I was much taken with the narrow interconnecting lanes, which reminded me a little of the Wynds in Yorkshire.  Following my nose led to Rue du Milieu (Middle St.) looking over garden walls as I go.  I do like to be nosy!

The prettiest of my 'Wynds'

The prettiest of my ‘Wynds’

A quiet courtyard garden
Over a garden fence
A map of the village

Giverny lies on La Route Normandie Vexin, midway between Rouen and Paris, in the midst of chateau territory.  With the Seine on its doorstep, boat trips are also an option.  I took great delight in this village, which offered me far more than I had expected.  I hope you found it a lovely place to ramble, too.  Indulge me with a last few shots from the Monet garden?

What can you say?

What can you say?

 

And borders full of delight
Joyfully extravagant
And wildly flamboyant

walking logo

I enjoyed my time in France so much!  There may still be a post or two to come but I think that next week’s Monday walk will be back in the UK.  I try to keep them seasonal and the Yorkshire Moors are in full bloom at the moment.  I do hope that you’ll join me but I will have limited time to respond to you as I’ll be back in the Algarve by Monday evening.

There won’t be a Monday walk on 8th September, but I’ll remind you about that next week. Meanwhile, are you ready for a good read?

I think most of you will find Drake’s style much more relaxing than mine  :

Few steps, large atmosphere

While Paula shows us exquisite beauty in Istria  :

Macabre Fresco

I took the hint this week- no steps to  climb!  Here’s a lovely flat walk from Jude  :

A walk along the Dee

Does fun in the sun in Texas appeal?  It will if you join Amy!  :

Lake, river and trails in Austin

Or come and have a hug, and a little history, with Sue’s Mum  :

Canada’s Battle of Batoche-Louis Riel’s last stand

Finally a walk recommended to me by my dear friend Meg.  Have you been to Ethiopia?  :

Walkabout to the Blue Nile Falls

That’s it till next week.  Happy walking!

147 comments

    1. Oh dear- sorry, Linda! It’s a Bank Holiday here so no work for most people. But the weather’s nothing like so nice as it was at Giverny! Have a good week and thanks for your company 🙂

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  3. Ah, that was especially lovely Jo!! Your pictures are so very evocative. My sisters and I have plans to visit Paris for the younger one’s 50th next year. I hope to include a short detour to Giverny then. Fingers crossed 🙂

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    1. What time of year will it be, Madhu? Not that I can imagine the garden looking anything less than lovely at any time 🙂 We watched a programme about the Head Gardener not so long ago. Dream job! 🙂

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  4. Thank you for that great walk and experience. I got a real sense of the village and its history from your account and, of course, the photos were lovely. What a nice way to have a stroll on a Monday morning without having to leave your chair. Now. where’s my coffee 🙂 ?

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  11. Pingback: Step back time | Le Drake Noir

  14. I’m having such a lovely time on this wet bank holiday Monday, firstly, your super shots of Giverny – great to see more than the garden, and then the link to Sara because I’ve always wanted to go to Ethiopia!

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    1. Raining down there, Gilly? We’re not doing too badly up here (yet!) It poured Saturday and I didn’t expect it to. 🙂
      Hoping to get down the Moors this afternoon after I’ve fed departing son. That’ll be the kiss of death to the weather. Lovely of Meg to introduce me to that Ethiopia blog. Looks beautiful. Glad I can keep you amused 🙂 Hugs!

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  15. A really lovely walk, Joe. Giverny is definitely on my ‘Bucket List’, after seeing all your amazing photos. Those flowers are exquisite. Enjoy your Portugal trip. You’re always off somewhere, aren’t you? 🙂

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    1. If I possibly can be, Ad! 🙂 Driving through France really appeals to me, but sadly not to ‘the mister’. He doesn’t mind driving a little in Portugal though. What can I do? Gotta keep him happy 🙂 (and isn’t that just the pot calling the kettle? 🙂 🙂 ) Hugs!

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  16. Lovely, Jo…you’ve made me want to get back over that channel. I’ve seen a lot of France, always took our car in the past and explored the back roads. Ah well!

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    1. It’s something we never did, Sue. Easier from up here to hop on a plane and head for Greece or Italy. All our driving was done in the UK but Mick’s not so keen these days. We’ll be ‘golden oldies’ doing the coach tours next! 🙂 🙂

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    1. It’s a beautiful place, isn’t it, Viv? A few times, looking out of the train window, I thought to myself, ‘Viv lives in a village like this- how lovely’. Funny how we end up where we do! How did you choose? 🙂

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  18. Wow, Jo …. What a fantastic post and your images – it has the romantic aura as Monet’s paintings.
    I agree that it’s a very romantic spot and the France I love so much.
    You have woke up some fantastic memories here – but I only visited the Monet garden and home. We never had walk around in the village. I wish I had now.
    I was there in the middle of September – hundred years ago *smile – 31 years ago
    And there was nearly no flowers left to enjoy.
    Rouen is a very nice city – been there a couple of time … through my work in UK, with some wonderful old buildings – from the 3 musketeer’s time. *smile – always thought about their story when I visit. They have France oldest building in Rouen – that today is an excellent restaurant.
    So glad you have started to use galleries so we can enjoy more images ….. This time the steps is my favorite and the artist gallery.

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    1. Fletch just suggested that we should take the car and go driving in France. 🙂 I’d go driving anywhere…. however did we make it to 25 years? 🙂
      Oh, D’Artagnan… Don’t start me off! 🙂 I’d like to see Rouen too!
      Thanks, Vivi! I didn’t know you’d been to Monet’s garden. Happy travelling hugs! 🙂

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      1. Jo, when I had my German fiancé –we went to France for holiday every September, but he hated Paris – so we never went there together. But we saw most of France together. I tell you to drive around in France is balm of any soul.
        Not leaving until next Tuesday, Jo. Are you trying to get rid of me??!!!

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    1. I doubt very much that there’ll be a next time for us and France 😦 Maybe that’s why I enjoyed it so. My husband is a confirmed lover of Portugal and our home there and the Polish connection leaves little time for anywhere else. Shame, isn’t it? I should have started travelling much sooner 🙂

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