#341: Giverny (pg 113); 2nd Ed: Impressionist Normandy (pg 109)

 

April 2025

The tulip gardens in front of Monet's home.

The famous Japanese bridge.

Stop and smell the roses.... or the tulips as the case may be.

After visiting Monet's home and gardens, it's worth the trip to walk a mile or so through the quaint village to Monet's church, where he is buried, along with his family.

VERDICT:  Monet's home and gardens were lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed this day-trip from Paris (although I recommend driving if you're able - public transportation is a bit of a pain as it's a long train ride that only gets you to Vernon, and then you have to shuttle from Vernon to Giverny; much easier just to drive directly there if able.  Parking is plentiful and free) but I don't necessarily think it's something you have to do before you die unless you're passionate about Art/Impressionism.  

Cost: This is not included in the Paris Museum pass, but cost is reasonable.  It was $57 for our family of six and this included the house and gardens.  You don't have to get tickets in advance; anyone can just show up and wait in line to get in.  But it's advisable to get tickets in advance so that you don't have to wait in line.  We didn't get tickets in line and waited in line for about an hour. 

Admission:  

Adult: 12 Euros

Child >7: 6.50 Euros

Child < 7: Free

#340: Cathedrale Notre Dame de Chartres (pg 121)

 

April 2025

Chartres is a doable day-trip from Paris or from the Loire Valley.  And definitely worth the stop in order to see this Gothic masterpiece, the Cathedrale Notre Dame.  It's the third largest Gothic Cathedral in the world, only behind Rome's St. Peter's and the Canterbury Cathedral (both of which I've been to!).

The windows were created by 12th and 13th century master glass artists and were saved from both World Wars by people painstakingly removing each piece and hiding them for safe keeping.  I love hearing the stories of what the citizens  of European towns did to protect their treasures and culture and history during those dark and destructive times.

The nave, 427 feet long, 20 feet wide and 120 feet high, is the widest of any church in Europe. 

It's main "claim to fame" is this relic, a birthing gown supposedly worn by Mary when she gave birth to Jesus, which the church acquired in 876.

Easter Mass

The cathedral is beautiful by day and by night!

VERDICT:  The town of Chartres is charming and seemed like it came right out of a set for Beauty and the Beast. But this cathedral is certainly the main attraction.  If I had to choose just 1000 things in the entire world to see before I died, I'm not sure this would make the list (of note, it was removed from the 2011 2nd edition), but Paris is a "must do" and the Loire Valley is a "must do" and this is close enough to both, that it's absolutely worth the stop on your way to/from Paris or the Loire Valley!

#339: Loire Valley and Domaine Des Hauts De Loire (pg 126); 2nd Ed: Loire Valley (pg 122)

 

April 2025

We rented a car to explore the Loire Valley, which has the highest concentration of castles anywhere in the world.  We decided to head to Chambord, the largest of all the castles, boasting 440 rooms and 365 fireplaces! 

One of our favorite things was to climb to the rooftop and see the views from up there.

Views for days!

We also loved learning the history of this chateau, including the fact that it was used to store many pieces of the Louvre, including the Mona Lisa during WWII!  This was especially meaningful to us, since we had just been to the Louvre a few days before.

Frncois I's bedroom

More exploring.

Verdict: Yes!!!  We absolutely loved the Loire Valley and left wanting to see more and wishing we had more time to spend here.  That's always a mark of something that truly deserves to be in the book!  My husband and I always discuss the "verdict" after we experience something from the 1000 Places book together.  Sometimes we're in agreement and sometimes we aren't, but in this we were both in agreement that this is absolutely something to see before you die and hope we're lucky enough to see it again before we die - and more of it next time!!