Planning to visit the Museum of Impressionism Giverny? This guide has all you need to know; what to see, ticket prices, opening hours, the restaurant, gardens, and more, to help you plan the perfect visit.
The Museum of Impressionism Giverny celebrates Impressionism in all its forms, from its early inspirations to its lasting influence on modern art. Located in the heart of Giverny, where Claude Monet lived and painted, the museum’s setting is an integral part of its story.
Founded in 1992 by Daniel J. Terra as the Museum of American Art, it showcased a private collection in a building overlooking the very hills where Monet painted his famous Grainstacks. For 16 years, it hosted exhibitions, conferences, and artist residencies dedicated to American art.
In 2009, the museum became the Museum of Impressionism Giverny through a partnership with regional authorities and the Musée d’Orsay. Since then, it has presented major exhibitions on artists like Pierre Bonnard, Edgar Degas, and Gustave Caillebotte, as well as thematic shows such as Japonismes / Impressionnismes and Monet/Rothko. The museum also welcomes contemporary artists and offers a rich program of concerts, workshops, and guided tours, supported by a dedicated patrons’ circle and friends’ society.
Built in 1992 for the former Museum of American Art, the Museum of Impressionism Giverny stands on le coteau, the hillside where Claude Monet painted his famous Grainstacks in the 1890s. Designed by architect Philippe Robert of the Reichen et Robert agency, the building was created to blend seamlessly into the surrounding landscape.
Robert’s challenge was to make the architecture “invisible,” integrating it into the natural slope of the hill. The museum’s design features three simple, interconnected rectangles with green roof terraces, discreet vertical windows, and warm wooden interiors, allowing natural light to flow gently through the exhibition spaces.
Large glass walls connect the entrance hall to the museum gardens, guiding visitors either to the galleries or to the shop and restaurant. The basement houses technical areas, storage rooms, and a 180-seat auditorium, used for lectures, concerts, and cultural events. Thoughtfully designed in the late 1980s, the building anticipated the modern museum’s mission: to welcome visitors, preserve artworks, and offer a rich cultural program for all.
Created in 1992, the museum’s 2.5-hectare garden bursts with color from over 22,000 flowers planted each year. Designed by architect Philippe Robert and landscape designer Mark Rudkin, it offers a modern twist on the French formal garden, with winding paths, themed flower beds, and a charming pond leading to a wide, flower-filled meadow.
Just steps from Monet’s house and gardens, this space is more structured and contemporary, featuring monochrome “rooms” in pink, yellow, blue, black and white, alongside rose gardens and aromatic plants. From April to October, seasonal blooms ensure a constantly changing palette, from tulips and lilies to dahlias and snapdragons. In late spring, visitors can wander among poppies and wildflowers; in summer, haystacks recall the favorite subjects of Impressionist painters.
The garden is also a haven for biodiversity. Free of chemical products for over 20 years, it hosts natural predators, pollinating insects, and rare spontaneous plants. In 2023, three beehives were installed in partnership with a local beekeeper, with honey soon available in the museum shop. The site is managed sustainably with help from the Conservatoire d’Espaces Naturels de Normandie Seine, and even sheep are brought in for eco-friendly grazing.
Recognized as a Jardin Remarquable since 2006 and a member of the LPO bird protection network since 2020, the garden offers visitors a peaceful, ever-changing landscape that blends art, nature, and environmental care.
When the Museum of Impressionism Giverny opened in 2009, it didn’t just set out to host exhibitions, it wanted to build its own collection too. The very first piece to arrive was a drawing by Pierre Bonnard, showing Claude Monet and Marthe Bonnard in Monet’s dining room. A small work, but a symbolic one. It tied the museum straight back to the man who made Giverny famous and to the circle of friends who often gathered here.
Since then, the collection has grown steadily. There are now more than 250 works; paintings, drawings, photographs, thanks to a mix of purchases, loans, and generous gifts. One of the most striking additions came from Japanese artist Hiramatsu Reiji. His nihonga paintings, inspired by Monet’s water lilies, bring a completely different cultural lens to the same subject.
Photography also has a strong place here. Bernard Plossu’s quiet black-and-whites of Monet’s garden, Olivier Mériel’s atmospheric shots, even a 1963 portrait of Marc Chagall by André Ostier, all of them capture Giverny in their own way.
The acquisitions haven’t stopped. Caillebotte’s Parterre de marguerites returned here after a major restoration. Bonnard’s The Seine at Vernon came home through a public fundraising campaign. Works by Signac, Boudin, Dantan, and even contemporary artists like Joan Mitchell have joined the mix. Together, they tell a story: Impressionism didn’t end with Monet, it kept evolving, right up to today.
Tucked inside the museum’s garden, Restaurant Oscar takes its name from Claude Monet’s full name, Oscar-Claude Monet. It’s a place where art and food meet, offering visitors a chance to extend their visit with a taste of Normandy.
Since March 2024, the kitchen has been led by local chef David Gallienne, known for his Michelin-starred restaurant Le Jardin des Plumes in Giverny. Here, he brings the same passion for seasonal produce and regional flavors, but in a setting that feels like a natural continuation of the museum, creative, colorful, and inspired by the Impressionist spirit.
The menu moves from savory to sweet, with a nod to French hospitality and even a touch of mixology. More than just a place to eat, Oscar aims to be a lively spot for both visitors and locals, hosting special evenings and events throughout the year.
In the late 19th century, a group of artists in France began to rebel against the conservative standards upheld by the art academies and juried salons. These artists, including Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, and Camille Pissarro, formed a collective that came to be known as the Impressionists. They sought innovative ways to depict light and everyday scenes.
The group was characterized by its rejection of fine detail and historical or mythological subject matter, opting instead for loose brushwork and vivid color. Their gatherings fostered collaboration and a shared commitment to capturing fleeting moments and the effects of light in nature, which set the stage for the movement they pioneered.
The Museum of Impressionism Giverny is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last admission at 5:30 p.m.) on all opening days, including public holidays, except December 25 and January 1.
Note: The museum will be closed exceptionally on Friday, September 5, 2025.
Free Sundays
Visitor Comfort & Security
For group bookings, guided tours, seminars, or other requests, you can contact the museum team year-round via email or the online contact form.
The Museum of Impressionism Giverny is fully accessible to visitors with reduced mobility, including the restaurant, garden, gift shop, and auditorium.
For visitors with visual impairments, large-print guides are available free of charge at the reception desk. Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the site.
Magnetic induction loops are available at no extra cost to make the exhibition audioguide easier to use. The audioguide rental fee is €4.
Free admission
Tickets can be purchased directly at the museum ticket desk.
Payment methods accepted: cash, cheques, bank cards, AMEX, Culture vouchers, and Holiday vouchers.
Combined Ticket – Museum + Claude Monet’s House & Gardens
The reduced rate is available to students, job seekers, social benefit recipients, teachers in active service, companions of visitors with disabilities, and members of certain partner museums such as the Musée d’Orsay or the Louvre, upon presentation of valid proof.
Free admission is granted to visitors under 18, art history students, people with disabilities, residents of Giverny, and members of the Museum of Impressionism Giverny, also with valid proof.
Before you leave, take a moment to browse the museum’s boutique. From art books and exhibition catalogues to prints, stationery, and unique handmade items, the selection is inspired by Impressionism and the beauty of Giverny. You’ll also find local specialties, including honey from the museum’s own beehives, making it easy to take home a little piece of your visit.
The Giverny Period marked a significant phase in Claude Monet’s career. During this time, Monet created his famous Water Lily Pond series, painted lush gardens and landscapes, and produced the iconic Japanese Bridge paintings, all inspired by his environment at Giverny.