Paris to Giverny and Notre-Dame de Louviers: Day trip

Begin your visit at Monet's house, exploring the artist's carefully preserved living spaces with their distinctive yellow dining room and blue kitchen filled with his extensive collection of Japanese prints that profoundly influenced his artistic vision and technique, introducing him to new ways of seeing light, shadow, and composition. Step into the Clos Normand garden to wander among the same flower beds that inspired his most famous paintings—nasturtiums, poppies, dahlias, and iris bloom in vibrant seasonal displays that change throughout the year just as Monet intended, creating a living canvas that shifts with the seasons. Cross under the road through the tunnel to reach the famous water garden with its weeping willows, bamboo groves, and rhododendrons creating a Japanese-inspired paradise that reflects Monet's fascination with Eastern aesthetics and philosophy. Walk across the green Japanese bridge draped in wisteria and find the perfect spots by the water lily pond where Monet painted his revolutionary series, observing how light and reflections change throughout the day as he did for over 40 years, developing the techniques that would define Impressionism. End at the nearby Musée des Impressionnismes for rotating exhibitions about the Impressionist movement and discover how this small Norman village became the birthplace of modern art and continues to inspire contemporary artists from around the world who come to paint where the master worked and experienced his greatest creative breakthroughs. Before visiting Monet's home and gardens, verify the seasonal opening hours and ticket prices online: https://claudemonetgiverny.fr/en/useful-information/

Visit Notre-Dame de Louviers to marvel at one of France's finest examples of Flamboyant Gothic architecture from the 15th century, renowned for its intricate stone lacework and elaborate facade decorations that represent the pinnacle of medieval craftsmanship and the final flowering of Gothic artistic expression. Entry to the church is free, and the site is open seven days a week. Start by walking around the exterior to appreciate the south porch's delicate stone tracery with its flowing curves and organic forms, often considered the most beautiful example of Flamboyant style in France, where stone seems to flow like fabric or flame. Step inside to admire the soaring nave with its delicate stone tracery and stunning stained glass windows dating from the 13th to 16th centuries, each telling biblical stories in luminous colors that have survived wars, revolutions, and the passage of time. Look for the unique asymmetrical towers—each tells a different architectural story spanning centuries of construction and evolving artistic styles from Gothic severity to Renaissance decoration, reflecting changing tastes and construction techniques. Take time to explore the charming medieval streets surrounding the church, lined with traditional Norman half-timbered houses with their distinctive steep roofs and carved wooden details that transport you back to medieval times and showcase the region's architectural heritage that has survived since the Middle Ages despite wars and modernization. Verify whether the church is open today online: https://www.tourisme-seine-eure.com/en/touristic_sheet/church-of-notre-dame-louviers-en-2581613/