An item on my bucket list- this one didn't disappoint. It was such a beautiful half day trip from…read moreParis. We took the train first to Vernon which was a small town and there are shuttles that take you to Giverny. The gardens are beautiful and remind me of Filoli Garden in the Bay Area. If you go there, I would first check out Monet's house because it gets crowded with lines. Monet's house was full of japanese artwork as well as his own. The best part was the side area that leads to the lily ponds. It was picturesque and felt surreal to be on the area that inspired his Les Nympheas pieces.

April 16th 2026 came here from our Viking river cruise on the Seine from Paris. Viking arranged it…read moreso that we were able to get in early before the 9:30 a.m. opening. Expansive gardens. We walked around a large Lily pond with a water release, a Japanese bridge, landcaped colorful flowers in bloom. We could see how Claude Monet was inspired to paint his water lily paints based on the attractions here. Also able to get into Monet's house and see the gardens from a distance. By the time we left at 11:00 the house was wall to wall with people, with only a few being able to get in at any one time. An afternoon group tour later was unable to get in to the house due to huge crowds. Boardwalks and walkways throughout the gardens and over the Lily pons. Fortunately in the morning the crowds were manageable in the gardens. 42 miles from Paris not easily reached by public transportation so a bus ride with tour guide might be most convenient.

One of those surprising things you weren't expecting! A steampunk like museum dedicated to turn if…read morethe century motors and engines. The friendly owner often has one fired up for visitors to see. All the engines are in one big room. Placards explain their history in French and English. It won't take long to just take a look since the building is halfway between Monet's gardens and the church where he is buried. Tip jar for donations.

I was very impressed walking through this building. The display is in the information told me…read morethings that I never knew about something that I thought I knew quite a bit of bad. The presentation was well conceived and comfortable. There were plenty of places to stop and listen with the language interpretation headsets that were presented before going on the tour. It's self guided and at your own pace. It worked out wonderfully period it is attached to the Basilica which are able to wander around on the inside which is an amazing structure that was rebuilt after World War II you can imagine the massive size of this name out of work that went into restoring it to its former glory. Be sure to see this little storyboard showing the rebuild.

While I would say that it can be a little difficult to find, being located in a small alleyway…read morebeside the Rouen Cathedral, it is about Jeanne d'arc, and anything about Jeanne is pretty clearly advertised in and around Rouen (in fact they clearly mark all of the significant Jeanne related spots in the city). This isn't actually your ordinary museum, and it definitely isn't her house (you are going to have to go out into the French countryside to actually find her birthplace), but it is a museum that is dedicated to her (I believe that it is the former Archbishop's residence). The museum is more like a guided documentary that follows the second trial of Jeanne, the one that acquitted here (after she had been burnt at the stake mind you) and goes through all aspects of her life, her time in the military, the Battle of Orleans, and of course here capture, trial, and eventual execution. As it is set up as a video where you move from room to room for a different part, they only let people in every fifteen minutes, and the entire tour takes around an hour and a half (depending on how long you spend in the final rooms that look at her legacy). Certainly a different way to set up a museum, and definitely a place to visit if you happen to be in Rouen.

From the owner: Tous au musée Le musée est situé à quelques mètres de la Seine et du centre ville. Il programme…read moreplusieurs expositions par an sur des thèmes différents. Il est très appréciable de pouvoir profiter de la gratuité pour tous le mercredi ainsi que tous les jours pour les enfants et scolaires. Tout le monde a la possibilité de s'instruire.

Walking through this castle is certainly an experience! When we were there, they had an exhibit…read morefrom the "monuments men" movie which was very interesting in the main floor rooms. Then we decided to go up to the top to see the view from the Keep (watchtower). It starts with a simple set of stairs, and then it gets much more challenging. The steps themselves are uneven, the risers aren't uniform so some steps are higher than others, and the steps just keep on coming. About halfway up, you get to the dovecote, where they would keep their carrier pigeons, which was really cool to see. It also gave you a great break from the steps. But the steps continue and get steeper and more challenging. I made it about 2/3 the way up, but my adult children made it all the rest of the way up and said the view from the very top was spectacular, but the view from the level I stopped at was pretty darn good too! I probably could've made the rest of the flights, but I was also getting concerned about getting back down due to the steepness of the steps and the shortage of good handrails. Definitely a climb you need to do with good footwear! We enjoyed the stop, and got great views of the valley, and would recommend it to others.

If you like smaller museums, this is a very neat place to check out at least once when visiting…read moreParis. The main floor and second story have beautiful old interiors. The lower level has a more modern look and features a large collection of Monet works, mostly later ones. It is a beautiful place. They also have a temporary exhibition area with rotating exhibits, although I happened to come between exhibits based on when my trip was. They were setting one up while I was in town. The museum isn't huge, so I suggest timed tickets to make entry easy. The residential and tree-filled neighborhood where this museum is located is also quite pretty. It may be nice to walk around and look at the architecture before or after.

This was a great afternoon and a special treat was the theme exposition on Sleep and hypnosis and…read moreart about it over Centuries. Put Centuries in a few rooms and you get a real overview on how we look at sleep and how we need it. The Monet Exhibit and mantle clocks are not to be missed. We always need a Monet gift from the store, make it 4.

This is a looong overdue review. We came to this museum rebuilt from a railway station back in…read more2019. Recent Yelp reviews reminded me that I haven't posted anything from this Parisian art gallery that is not the Louvre. A Musée D'Orsay experience is best described as navigable with a spacious layout without the overwhelming museum exhaustion. This museum is a definitely a global treasure with a staggering collection of French art. Van Gogh's Starry Night Over the Rhône, his Self-Portrait and Monet's Water Lilies are definitely must stops. Amazing artworks of other legendary artists like Manet, Rodin, Renoir and Degas proliferate the hallways. The art on display brings about a familiarity that one my blurt out "Where have I seen that before?" Simply Wow! The top floor is the place to be. Classic artworks are there, plus a photogenic restaurant and an outdoor patio with a view. Art fans can browse here for hours. I plan on returning this year (late 2026) with a better plan of attack. Online insider tips says: * Secure the first morning slot and head straight to the top floor via the elevators to enjoy the heavy hitters in relative peace. * The absolute best time to visit is Thursday evening as the crowds thin out significantly with magical twilight views of the giant station clocks * Don't leave without snapping a photo of Cafe Campaña's clock window facing the Sacré-Cœur!

Liked this museum more than the Louvre. Located in central Paris, we came by metro subway on a…read moreweekday in April, arriving at 10am, without advance reservations and got in right away. If you are into impressionist paintings of the 18th and 19th centuries, this is the place to be. Extensive paintings by Van Gogh, Manet, Monet, and Degas. Some prominent paintings include Claude Monet "Blue Water Lillies", and Renoir's "La Grenouillere" one of his famous paintings of people in their Sunday best clothes in boats on the lake. "The Seine at Asnieres" is another. Many paintings by Edgar Degas, particularly ballet dancers. Some waiting with big crowds for a special exhibition of Renoir, included in the basic ticket price Beautiful building with an arched glass ceiling, and an impressive clock hanging from the ceiling. Former train station built for the 1900 Paris Exposition. Impressive then and impressive now. How many buildings in immaculate condition then and now?