Looking for a chic countryside escape? Consider Normandy’s town of Giverny. Famous for being the chosen home and inspirational muse of Monet, this charming northwestern French village is beautiful in all its seasons, but it is truly a sight to see when his gardens are open and flourishing from April through November. But like any tourist hotspot, accommodation choices can be oversaturated and disappointing. To help you avoid this, we’re highlighting four of our favorite places to stay in Giverny and the surrounding area.
Every moment at La Réserve is as relaxed as it is elegant. This beautiful property belongs to Valerie and François Jouyet, who decided to open up their home as a bed and breakfast ten years ago. Both have a natural knack for hosting, and guests quickly feel at ease in their universe.
This manor house has all the feel of an 18th-century building, despite the surprising reality that it was built less than 50 years ago. There are five bedroom suites in the main house and three more in the cottage annex. Each room is spacious and tastefully furnished; there is a comfortable living room – ideal for relaxing in before or after dinner – and an expansive garden, where guests can feed apples to Valerie’s donkeys.
The breakfasts are a particular highlight of staying at La Réserve, with homemade compotes, pastries and granola enjoyed communally around a large dining table. It’s the perfect way to start the day; set on the hill above Giverny village, the house is only a short walk to Monet’s garden via a pretty route through the region’s fields and woods. One of our favorite places to stay in Giverny.
A great place to stay in Giverny for people arriving from Paris by train. Husband and wife duo Dodi and Gaston Coppin built this charming home in Vernon with the intention of sharing it with friends and hosting those visiting the area. The downstairs, open-plan living room and kitchen are decorated with pictures and vases of freshly-picked flowers – a true reflection of their relaxed and generous style. Guests have noted they always feel more than welcome to spend time relaxing here.
The house is furnished with a mix of old and new – vintage glass bottles repurposed as lamps, reclaimed wooden cabinets and contemporary ceramics. There are three comfortable ensuite bedrooms – one twin and two doubles – plus the aforementioned living spaces, as well as a garden for guests to enjoy. Choose La Station Blanche if you want to be central – it’s within walking distance of Vernon’s town center.
Under a quarter mile from Monet’s garden and just a few minutes walk from the Impressionist Museum, La Musardière is a charming hotel set in the middle of a peaceful garden.
Built from (its now signature) pretty pink and white brick, it dates all the way back to 1880. Once a convalescent home for young women, it was transformed into a hotel in 1986. While little has changed on the outside, an interior design revamp in 2019 bestowed upon it a more modern and cozy aesthetic.
Each of the 11 rooms that make up La Musardière reflects its original 19th-century charm mixed with contemporary furnishings. Several have beautiful views over the countryside beyond, and it’s not hard to see why this area has inspired many great artists. In summer, the south-facing garden transforms into an oasis filled with fragrant flowers, and in winter, the period fireplace becomes a cozy nook for book-reading on cold nights.
La Musardière also boasts an acclaimed restaurant, open to non-residents and frequented by those who live in town. They fill hungry bellies with an elevated menu of contemporary dishes; an ideal way to end a day of countryside pursuits.
This chocolate box-looking guest house is a few minutes on foot from the Foundation Monet, making it ideal for heading their early (less queuing) and also discovering the surrounding natural beauty. There are five large family rooms and two gites for larger parties.
We love “Lune”, a cozy room for up to two people, with its exposed beams and claw-foot soaking tub; and “Atelier”, a spacious attic room with contemporary decor. Each room includes original features, fine furnishings and buckets of rural charm.
A one-hectare garden filled with fruit trees is at your disposal for early morning or sunset strolls. Perfection.
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La Réserve
Every moment at La Réserve is as relaxed as it is elegant. This beautiful property belongs to Valerie and François Jouyet, who decided to open up their home as a bed and breakfast ten years ago. Both have a natural knack for hosting, and guests quickly feel at ease in their universe.
This manor house has all the feel of an 18th-century building, despite the surprising reality that it was built less than 50 years ago. There are five bedroom suites in the main house and three more in the cottage annex. Each room is spacious and tastefully furnished; there is a comfortable living room – ideal for relaxing in before or after dinner – and an expansive garden, where guests can feed apples to Valerie’s donkeys.
The breakfasts are a particular highlight of staying at La Réserve, with homemade compotes, pastries and granola enjoyed communally around a large dining table. It’s the perfect way to start the day; set on the hill above Giverny village, the house is only a short walk to Monet’s garden via a pretty route through the region’s fields and woods. One of our favorite places to stay in Giverny.
La Réserve Fond des Marettes, Le Bois de la Réserve, 27620 Giverny www.giverny-lareserve.com +33 (0) 2 32 21 99 09
La Station Blanche
A great place to stay in Giverny for people arriving from Paris by train. Husband and wife duo Dodi and Gaston Coppin built this charming home in Vernon with the intention of sharing it with friends and hosting those visiting the area. The downstairs, open-plan living room and kitchen are decorated with pictures and vases of freshly-picked flowers – a true reflection of their relaxed and generous style. Guests have noted they always feel more than welcome to spend time relaxing here.
The house is furnished with a mix of old and new – vintage glass bottles repurposed as lamps, reclaimed wooden cabinets and contemporary ceramics. There are three comfortable ensuite bedrooms – one twin and two doubles – plus the aforementioned living spaces, as well as a garden for guests to enjoy. Choose La Station Blanche if you want to be central – it’s within walking distance of Vernon’s town center.
34 Rue Edouard Ruy, 27200 Vernon
www.la-station-blanche.business.site
+33 (0) 06 52 34 41 00
La Musardière
Under a quarter mile from Monet’s garden and just a few minutes walk from the Impressionist Museum, La Musardière is a charming hotel set in the middle of a peaceful garden.
Built from (its now signature) pretty pink and white brick, it dates all the way back to 1880. Once a convalescent home for young women, it was transformed into a hotel in 1986. While little has changed on the outside, an interior design revamp in 2019 bestowed upon it a more modern and cozy aesthetic.
Each of the 11 rooms that make up La Musardière reflects its original 19th-century charm mixed with contemporary furnishings. Several have beautiful views over the countryside beyond, and it’s not hard to see why this area has inspired many great artists. In summer, the south-facing garden transforms into an oasis filled with fragrant flowers, and in winter, the period fireplace becomes a cozy nook for book-reading on cold nights.
La Musardière also boasts an acclaimed restaurant, open to non-residents and frequented by those who live in town. They fill hungry bellies with an elevated menu of contemporary dishes; an ideal way to end a day of countryside pursuits.
123 Rue Claude Monet, 27620 Giverny
+ 33 (0) 2 32 21 03 18
La Dime de Giverny
This chocolate box-looking guest house is a few minutes on foot from the Foundation Monet, making it ideal for heading their early (less queuing) and also discovering the surrounding natural beauty. There are five large family rooms and two gites for larger parties.
We love “Lune”, a cozy room for up to two people, with its exposed beams and claw-foot soaking tub; and “Atelier”, a spacious attic room with contemporary decor. Each room includes original features, fine furnishings and buckets of rural charm.
A one-hectare garden filled with fruit trees is at your disposal for early morning or sunset strolls. Perfection.
2 Rue de la Dîme, 27620 Giverny www.ladimedegiverny.com +33 (0) 2 32 54 35 83
This article was originally published in the May/June 2020 edition of My French Country Home.
Have you stayed somewhere in or near Giverny that you love? Let us know in the comments below!