The Versailles and Giverny Tour (9 hours) will embark you on a journey that will introduce you to the splendour and tragedy of The Palace of Versailles, followed by the discovery of one of France's most beautiful villages, Giverny, where Monet spent 43 years of his life. Your private, licensed driver-guide will pick you up at your hotel (or apartment). On the way to Versailles (30 minute drive), he will give you an introduction to the history of the palace and the century of the Sun King. Upon arrival, he will collect your reservation and tickets, and enter with you through a special entrance, skipping the lines. The visit initiates with the Royal Chapel, followed by the visit of the King's Grand Apartments, with its sumptuously decorated rooms (Hercules Salon, Abondance Salon, Venus, etc). The visit of the King’s Grand Apartment will lead you to the magnificent Hall of Mirrors, that served daily as a passageway and a meeting place for courtiers and visiting public. You will continue your visit with the War Room, the Queen's Grand Apartments (Guard's Room, Salon Des Nobles , Queen's Bedchamber), the Peace Room and the Hall of French History. After the visit of the Palace, your guide will take you for a walk into the exceptional French-style Gardens to discover the planted architectural patterns and groves. There you will look down on the grand perspective that leads the gaze from the Water Parterre along the Grand Canal to the horizon. Every Tuesday and Weekends, The Musical Fountain Show , brings new life to the exceptional gardens and fountains, part of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage. "It was a garden before a castle, a feast before a garden, a night before a thousand suns. If you want to understand Versailles, you must first walk through its gardens" Before heading back to Paris, you guide will drive you through the Royal Park to discover the outside of the Grand Trianon, The Petit Trianon and the Hamlet of the Queen It will then be time for Lunch in a typical French bistro (that your guide will recommend for you). After lunch, you will head to Giverny. It is classified by the French as part of the “plus beaux villages de France” (most beautiful villages in France). Indeed, you get caught by its charm as soon as you step foot in it. The fact that Monet lived and worked there half of his life adds to its magic. In fact, it is because of its beauty and picturesque location that he settled there, bringing it forever out of the shadow and into the light. Upon your arrival in Giverny, you will make a stop at the local Church, where you will have a close look at Monet's Tomb. A little later, your guide will stop at the former Café Baudy, the residence of many American Impressionists (Whistler, Metcalf, Robinson, Mary Cassatt…) and friends of Monet that stayed there when they visited him (Renoir, Rodin, Cezanne..). Further down the street, you will pass the Museum of Impressionism before arriving to Monet’s house and gardens. Your guide will enter will take you through a special side entrance (skipping the lines) and start your visit at the Water Garden that Monet created 10 years after settling in Giverny. It is inspired by the Japanese gardens, that Monet knew from the prints he collected avidly. You will find the famous wisteria-covered Japanese Bridge surrounded by weeping willows, a bamboo wood and above all the famous Nympheas that bloom all summer long. Leaving the water garden, you will arrive to the Flower Garden: a sea of perspectives, symetries and colourful flowerbeds. After the Flower Gardens you will visit Monet's House and Last Studio, that he had specially built to create the large Water-Lilies Paintings which you can admire at the Orangerie Museum in Paris. If time permits it, leaving the magic of Giverny behind, driving along the picturesque “Route des Crêtes”, you will discover on your way to Paris, the exceptional panorama of the Seine Valley, an ancient watch tower of the 10th century (that was built during the Viking invasion), the château of La Roche Guyon (that became the headquarter of general Rommel during WWII) and make a last short stop in the village of Vetheuil where Monet lived for 3 years before discovering Giverny. This tour is available from April to October. (Entrance tickets to Versailles and Monet's house and gardens included). The security measures are reinforced in Versailles. The security control may take more time than usual, especially during the high season. The first security check is outside Versailles ground. Moreover due to the closure in the Palace (works) of the Queen’s bedroom and its four adjoining salons, the route of your guided tours of the Grand Apartments will be modified. It will lead you to explore the salon du Grand Couvert and the salle des gardes du Roi, open to the public and refurbished for the occasion. Then, you can continue your visit to the Mesdames' apartments, recently restored and refurnished. Lunch not included Extra charge for a pick up and/or a drop off outside Paris PRICES 1 TO 2 PERSONS - 1035€ 3 TO 4 PERSONS - 1125€ 5 TO 6 PERSONS - 1290€ 7 TO 8 PERSONS - 1450€