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

  2. My feet get so itchy every time I go for a cyber walk with you Jo. To see the home of Monet would be my dream wish, but you have shown it so well with your photos. Thank you…

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  4. I’m glad you are doing my French visiting for me. Thank you for a lovely ramble about a beautiful village. I loved your window-gallery, and you can post as many flowers as you like. They are always exquisite. I think my favourite this time is the “Wynd”, combining village-scape and flower.

    Hiking boots? I used to live in them in the rainforest gully days, and then we began rock-hopping so I switched to joggers. Now I’ve discovered Keen’s sandals, and they’re good for everything!)

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    1. The only part of hiking I really dislike is putting the boots on, Meg 😦 They always seem to weigh a ton on my scrawny feet and I can never wait to get out of them afterwards. My group leader prefers people to wear them, for ankle protection and occasionally floundering about in the mud (that season has yet to come, thank goodness!). Left to my own devices, trainers or even something much less practical are my choice.
      There! That’s got that off my chest 🙂 I wish I could see much more of France, but then, I’m always wishing. That’s where my lovely blogging friends come in handy 🙂

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  5. Wow, i didn’t expect the town to be as interesting as the garden, thanks for taking us on this wonderful tour…i hope to visit the area and garden some day in the future!

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    1. Hi Noel! Many thanks for returning my visit 🙂 I did a post on the garden (a Silver Wedding anniversary treat) last week but I still had an overflow of photos. I’m glad you enjoyed them.

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  7. Your wonderful posts make me regret so much that blogging wasn’t within our world when we travelled, Jo ! What a fantastic way to share glorious places. I still love France more than anywhere else. Thank you.

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  9. Pingback: Horta – Azorean Islands – Portugal | Cardinal Guzman

  11. Jo you’ve conjured up a feeling of soft, dreamy summer days with the scent of flowers in the air and a sense of calm. A wonderful amble into rural France 🙂 Enjoy Portugal x

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    1. It really was lovely, Suze! Do you know France at all? It’s funny how people gravitate to different places, isn’t it?

      Thank you! Now that Autumn’s here I won’t be sad to go 🙂

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  14. I could see a few perfections in this post, but the first one is the absolute winner. I think the poor bloke deserved more than one big beer 🙂 Happy Monday Jo!

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    1. He made up for it in red wine later on, Paula 🙂 We’ve just been to the Moors for next week’s walk. Got to stay one step ahead (or try). Thanks a lot! I look forward to seeing all those photos you were playing with yesterday.

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      1. Just one or two. I am sorry for not being able to walk with you every week. I’ll try to make my appearance twice a month. My photo shoot yesterday cost me a bump on the head – still getting used to new shelf arrangement in my makeshift studio 😀

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    2. I really don’t expect you to take part other than occasionally, Paula. It’s not what you do on your blog and with the challenges (or otherwise 🙂 ) that you host, it’s not realistic to try. I do appreciate your support but a few kind words here and there is all that’s necessary. You have a very demanding full time job and I’m well aware of that. Do what you enjoy with any free time that you can find. Big hugs 🙂 (and mind that shelf!)

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  15. Ah, Jo, words fail me. I was with you every step of the walk, sharing that Caesar salad (though puzzled by the addition of eggs and tomatoes, nevertheless, very tasty) poking my nose over the stone walls, breathing in the warm, gentle summer air, smelling the fragrance of the flowers, lingering over those shutters and delighting in the Dahlias. Sigh… I want to go there. I may well pick your brain for information on how to get there from Paris!
    Meanwhile, back in England, I have a town walk for you this week taken on a summer’s day http://wp.me/pL5Ms-1L7 unlike today – no flowers though (You can find them on Earth Laughs http://smallbluegreenflowers.wordpress.com/)
    Jude from a very wet, cold and grey Ludlow xx

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    1. Your name is mud in our household, Jude 🙂 🙂 (I just dragged the long sufferer up to Captain Cook’s Monument and blamed you!) Warmth and gentle Giverny would be so nice right now. It’s very easy to get to, as per my Giverny anniversary post, but ask me nearer the time 🙂
      The rain hit us unexpectedly on Saturday but yesterday was very pleasant and today is cool but dry. I’m not so hopeful for today’s photos because the skies were heavy, but never mind.
      Thanks a lot for the walk. I’ll be over to check you out after tea. I’m starving! 🙂

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      1. That’s right, blame me, everybody else does 😛
        When I took my boys up there it started to snow!! They weren’t put off though. I bet they would now! You have been lucky with the weather it has been truly dire here. I am so fed up of this cold! What on earth happened to the summer?

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      2. I keep looking at the leaves and telling myself how pretty Autumn will be. We’ll be in the thick of it when we get back from Tavira.
        When do you go to Australia again? It’ll be Summer there. 🙂

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      3. Australia in November if I ever manage to sort out a flight. How come it is SO complicated nowadays? Never used to be. I want to stay 5 – 6 weeks if I can swing it so yes, it will be summer. Got a new photo today of grandson in New Zealand (staying with his other granny – I am so jealous) Maybe I should post a photo – it is very orange!

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  16. Just wonderful Jo – both the description and the beautiful photos! You can really imagine being there for yourself. I’d love to go there one day it looks divine. What a wonderful place to spend your anniversary. Have a lovely time in the Algarve too 🙂

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    1. Fabulous, wasn’t it, Amy? 🙂 It’s turned a little cool here in England so I’m missing all that gentle warmth.
      Thanks a load for the walk. I’ll be over to check it out after tea. I’m so hungry right now! (must be the walking 🙂 ) Hugs!

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  19. I love that they have kept the village small – it just adds to the whole experience. I know now that if I ever get the opportunity to visit, I will need to stay there the entire day (I enjoy impressionist paintings and will spend a lot of time in that museum!)

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  20. What a gorgeous walk Jo and I commend you for being nosy on our behalf! Nice to catch a glimpse of that Hubby of yours even if he is hiding behind his beer. 🙂
    Are you off to the Algarve for the season or just a visit?

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    1. The season? Oh, I wish! But then all my walks would be beside a beach, Sue 🙂 🙂 No, just 12 days.
      Most of my shots of Mick are terrible! He never looks like he’s having any fun. I wonder why? 🙂

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      1. All the walks by the beach. Well that sounds awful. 🙂

        Tell Mick that Dave is working on a guest post on Survival Tips for the Spouse of a Blogger. 🙂

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