Spend the day discovering two unmissable
sights near Paris: Giverny and the Palace of
Versailles. Giverny, a village of timeless
beauty that was once home to Claude Monet
impressionism, is an iconic spot. Visit the
famous gardens that inspired the artist, as
well as his studio and home. Then discover
the majestic Palace of Versailles, royal
residence of the Kings of France, Louis XIV,
Louis XV and Louis XVI and their courts from
1682 to 1789. Accompanied by your guide,
learn about its history and imposing
architecture on a tour that includes the
famous Hall of Mirrors. Finally, take
advantage of the opportunity to delight in
Versailles's captivating French-style
gardens.
Set off at 8:15 a.m. from Central Paris. The
journey to Giverny by luxury air-conditioned
coach will take approximately one hour and
30 minutes. Soak up the world of the
painter, Claude Monet, famous for painting
different corners of his garden, such as the
"Water Lilies" or the "Japanese Bridge." The
painter Claude Monet lived at Giverny with
his wife and eight children for 43 years,
from 1883 until his death in 1926.
Passionate about gardening and nature's
changing colors, he designed his flower and
water gardens as if they were works of art.
During your visit of Monet's garden at
Giverny, admire the multicolored flower
beds, the Clos Normand Flower Garden with
its many Eastern plants, and the lush water
garden, famous for its water lilies and
Japanese bridge.
Then take advantage of your free time to
visit Claude Monet's pink-plastered house,
where he lived and worked (guided tours of
the interior are not permitted due to the
lack of space). Explore the reading room,
leading into the larder and the artist's
studio. In addition to those of his private
apartments, these rooms have been
reconstructed with Monet's original
furniture. Visit the bright yellow dining
room, which has been reconstructed down to
the very last detail, with earthenware
dishes and a blue-tiled kitchen. In the
dining room, marvel at one of the world's
most important collections of Japanese
prints. At the end of your visit, explore
the village and treat yourself to some
souvenir shopping in the gift and book shop,
which was once used as a studio for Monet's
Water Lilies; it offers a wide range of
products inspired by the artist's work.
After visiting Giverny, enjoy a tasty lunch
at the Moulin de Fourges restaurant just ten
minutes away, where you can sample local
food with a twist.
Menu*:
Abondance de lentilles et haddock fumé,
salade
**
Moelleux de volaille, pomme purée
**
Tarte aux pommes maison, crème fraîche
**
1/4 bottle of red wine (while wine on
request)
Coffee
Water
Vegetarian Menu*:
Tarte de légumes de saison et bouquet de
salade frisée
**
Farandole cuite et crue de légumes du moment
**
Tarte aux pommes (crème glacée ou crème)
* Example of menu, subject to modification
* The menu is not available in english
In the afternoon, explore the Palace and
Gardens of Versailles. Covering more than
721,000 square feet, the Palace has over 700
rooms. Follow your guide to the front of the
line to see the most impressive rooms: the
King's Apartments, with seven salons each
dedicated to a different god, and the
Queen's Apartments. Also visit the majestic
Hall of Mirrors, a reception room in which
to see and be seen, dreamt up by the famous
architect, Jules Hardouin-Mansart. Almost
240 feet-long, it was designed to astonish
visitors of the Sun King Louis XIV; it is
lit by 17 windows and 350 mirrors, and
overlooks the palace's splendid gardens, the
second part of your visit. Explore the
Gardens of Versailles at your own pace and
marvel at its many works of art, fountains,
ponds, flower beds and groves of trees. In
Summer, a range of activities is staged in
the gardens, such as the Grandes Eaux
Musicales, when the fountains dance in time
with music.
Return to Paris scheduled for around 5:45
p.m.
Please note:
- Flat shoes are strongly
recommended (Versailles has parquet floors
in its rooms and cobblestones in its
courtyard)
- Strollers are not permitted inside the
palace
- The
skip-the-line access is subject to the
Versailles Palace procedures: The Vigipirate
plan, the security control or an unforeseen
crowd can slow down the entrance.
The price includes:
* Transport to and from Paris by luxury
air-conditioned coach
* Priority access ticket for the Palace of
Versailles and its gardens
* Entrance ticket at Giverny for Claude
Monet's house and gardens
* Lunch at the Moulin de Fourges restaurant
* Services of a driver-guide, with
individual audio guide commentary at
Versailles
The price does not include:
* Transfers to and from your accommodation
Departures:
Meeting point