Full description
In a warm and friendly atmosphere in a small group, you will discover two essential places in France. We dedicate the morning to a guided tour of Claude Monet's superb gardens located in Giverny. You will also explore the house and studio of this renowned painter. After a pleasant lunch, you will visit the majestic Palace of Versailles, led by an expert guide who is passionate about the history of France.
Set off at 8:15 am from our agency in 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.
Example of menu, subject to modification* // The menu is not available in english
Mackerel bread with vegetables and white wine, herbed cream and salad
Roasted chicken fillet, mushrooms sauce, mashed potatoes with salted butter
Apple pie à la normande, vanilla iced cream
Red and white wine or local produced cider (on demand)
Coffee or tea
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. Enjoy the guided visit of the Gardens of Versailles and marvel at its many works of art, fountains, ponds, flower beds and groves of trees. Return to Paris scheduled for around 6:00 pm.
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Additional information
● 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
● On-site visit duration: 6h15
Inclusions
✔ Round trip transportation
✔ Small group limited to 8 participants maximum
✔ Guided visit of the Royal Apartments of the Palace of Versailles
✔ Free time in the marvellous Versailles gardens, even the days of Musical Fountains or Musical Gardens
✔ 3-courses lunch (starter main course dessert), appetizer and drinks included
✔ Guided visit of the somptuous Giverny gardens and free time in Monet's house
✔ Self-guided visit of the Museum of the Impressionism
✔ Service of a licensed driver-guide with individual earphone
✔ Entrance tickets with priority access
Exclusions
✖ Ticket for the Trianones
✖ Guided tour of the Versailles gardens
✖ Hotel pickup and drop off
✖ Transportation to the meeting point
✖ Entrances, meals and drinks except if expressly specified in the inclusions of the tour
✖ Other unspecified service
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations 2 days before the service: 50% of the service cost will be charged.
Cancellations 1 day before the service or no show: 100% of the service cost will be charged.