Our first overnight stop was Giverny, to pay homage to Monet.
Giverny is a picturesque village worth a couple of nights. Due to availability, we stayed in two quite different B&B's, each very pleasant in their own way. Of course, the principal attraction is the restored: Monet's house and gardens. Bookings are essential.
I have always admired Monet's work but in retirement he did tend to overdo the waterlilies. A decade ago now I made an oil painting for Wendy's birthday. It's a tribute to Monet's painting: La Promenade – 1875. But It's no longer Camille Monet and their son.
We spent several hours at Claude's old home. It had become a ruin when his son bequeathed it to the State. But by the 1980's was restored to the beauty we see today.
The village also has a small gallery of contemporary artists, inspired by the great man, in addition to the local church with the family grave.
The nearest town is Vernon on the banks of the river Seine. It boasts a cathedral-like church: Collégiale Notre-Dame (now a Parish Church). A Vernon lord was among those who joined Willian the Conquer for the Norman Invasion of Britain. More of that later.
The town's principal manufactures are aircraft engines and during WW2 BMW had taken over a plant here. So, in July 1940 it was bombed by the RAF blowing out the historic church windows. Since then, they have been progressively replaced with modern stained glass, with some of the designs inspired by Monet.
We liked Vernon, it does have more modern houses too, and enjoyed a drink and a snack at a Pub on the Seine, looking over towards the old mill on the other side.
Our next overnight stay would be in Dieppe.
