Claude Monets garden, Giverny, Normandy
We are taking our motorhome to France this spring and want to visit Monet's garden. Can anyone recommend an easily accessible site either close to the location or near to a rail station from which we can catch a direct train or bus to the Garden? We are
taking our dog, so is there any site really close to the garden?
Many thanks
Comments
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There is a designated motorhome parking area behind the coach parking area at the garden itself - but no electricity, water or waste disposal there so you need to be self contained. Arrival in an evening and overnighting there is a good idea as you can then be first into the garden in the morning, but dogs are not admitted to the garden.
The nearest camp site is Camping les Fosses Rouges at St Marcel, across the river from Vernon, but you would have to drive from there to the garden - about 4 miles I think it was.
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I don't recall any problems / restrictions with parking there (although we went by car, but didn't notice any difficulties).
Their web site makes no mention of any height restrictions and says they have plenty of parking:
http://giverny.org/gardens/fcm/visitgb.htm
You can also book 'beat the queue' tickets (although I don't recall any queues when we were there - September time, I think).
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Sorry. I don't have a motorhome do I don't know how many parking spaces they have.
We drove there by car from the nearby campsite I mentioned, walked from a car park several hundred metres away and then queued in line for a full hour to get in, but that was an afternoon in July. The garden is hugely popular. That's why I suggested that motorhome owners might do well to arrive in an evening and stay overnight in the parking area and get in early before the crowds, but Ian has just said it's quieter at other times.
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I didn't think the car park out side of the Gardens was that big when we visited a few years ago, especially for a motorhome. But further along the D5 there are two much larger car parks. Looking at Google Earth both have height restrictions. However if you go through the coach park there seems to be a way into the car park with no height restrictions. This could have changed since the images were up loaded of course.
David
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Nevertheless....whether it's listed as an Aire or not, if there's no height barrier on a parking area in France , that's where the motorhomers are overnight.
Not confusing at all !
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I only know because I find small empty rural campsites all over France, some about to close. If the motorhomes aren't in official Aires they are in car parks. I don't mind.
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It's a few years since we visited, and unfortunately I can't remember which site we stayed on after our visit! But, I do remember visiting it en route from one site to the next and having no problem parking our MH on the carpark there. I'd be surprised
if that had changed, in France all attractions etc normally have excellent parking arrangements for MHs. For example, we visited the chateau at Villandry en route to somewhere else, and MH parking was well catered for.0 -
Some photographs here, from
Camper Contact (click for link)0 -
Than you both...I didn't look that far.................I'm busy planning my second French holiday in May!!
To others the crux was 'overnight parking'
Martatin....the sign indicates only coaches 'Busses/Autocars' not MHs...it is slightly hidden in the hedge!!!!
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SandH, I can't give you a definitive answer, but there will still be many coach parties going there in September and so that parking area for buses and motorhomes will certainly be open in the day time.
I would be very surprised if you were not allowed to stay there overnight with a motorhome in September, but if the parking attendant says that is the case then just go four miles along the road to Camping les Fosses Rouges at St Marcel.
I'm sure you will enjoy the garden.
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It's a few years since we visited, and unfortunately I can't remember which site we stayed on after our visit! But, I do remember visiting it en route from one site to the next and having no problem parking our MH on the carpark there. I'd be surprised
if that had changed, in France all attractions etc normally have excellent parking arrangements for MHs. For example, we visited the chateau at Villandry en route to somewhere else, and MH parking was well catered for.Definitely! we've also parked our MH at lots of attractions, Villandry, Fontevrault, Taize, Cluny Abbey, Bambousserie de Prafrance, etc. France is good for MHs - however many years ago we managed to park our caravan + car at Giverney but I don't think
I'd recommend it!0
