Giverny: What's the Best Time to Visit Monet's Garden?

Giverny is famous for the gardens that Claude Monet spent so much time painting. Following the old chestnut "April showers bring May flowers," the annual pilgrimage to Giverny starts in the spring and lets up in August a bit. But August is actually a good time to visit the gardens, according to local guide Ariane:

"August is one of the best time to visit Monet’s gardens at Giverny. The pond is covered by water lilies. The nasturtiums invade dramatically the main alley. And all the summer flowers give their big show."

But it doesn't stop there. The giant flowers come in late summer and early fall, " Sunflowers of course, and also giant dahlias, rudbeckias, cosmos or helianthus as thick as walls of flowers."

And best yet, the big Giverny festival is going on in September. Find out about the festival and how to visit the village of Giverny even if you don't have a car, and get some ideas of how to spend your time in the artistic Haute Normandy with our Giverny Travel Guide.