Giverny, Fontainebleau & Champagne
Giverny — Monet's Garden
Giverny (80 km northwest of Paris) is the place where Claude Monet lived and painted from 1883 until his death in 1926. The water lily pond with the Japanese bridge and the flower garden with the famous irises, tulips, and poppies are not replicas — they are the originals that Monet immortalized in his paintings. In spring (April–June), the colors explode.
- Admission: 11€ (house + gardens). Opening hours: Daily 9:30–18:00 (April–November). Closed in winter.
- Getting There: Train from Paris Saint-Lazare to Vernon (45 min., from 15€), then shuttle bus to Giverny (10 min., 10€ round trip).
- Tip: Arrive as early as possible — after 11 AM, the garden is full of tour groups. The water lily pond is most beautiful in the morning light (just like in Monet's paintings).
Fontainebleau
The Château de Fontainebleau (60 km south) is the palace that inspired Versailles — a palace inhabited and expanded by every French ruler from Francis I to Napoleon III. Less crowded than Versailles, yet more intimate and surrounded by a magnificent forest (bouldering, hiking). Napoleon bid farewell to his guard here in 1814 (the famous "Cour des Adieux"). Admission: 14€. Train from Gare de Lyon: 40 min., from 10€.
Champagne — Reims & Épernay
Just 45 minutes by TGV from Paris lies Reims, the unofficial capital of Champagne: The cathedral (where the French kings were crowned), the cellars of the great houses (Veuve Clicquot, Taittinger, Ruinart) and a culinary scene that rivals the champagne itself. Épernay (30 min. from Reims) is the Avenue de Champagne — a kilometer of champagne houses (Moët & Chandon, Perrier-Jouët, Dom Pérignon). Cellar tour + tasting: from 25€.
- Getting There Reims: TGV from Gare de l'Est: 45 min., from 15€ (book early!).
- Getting There Épernay: TER from Gare de l'Est: 1h 20 min., from 15€.
- Tip: Reims and Épernay can be combined in a long day — or as an overnight trip for a relaxed experience.
