Welcome to France – Home of the Monet, Macarons, and the Palais Garnier
CLAUDE MONET
Giverny is a small village in the Normandy Region and home to the French impressionist painter Claude Monet. This cozy home has many views of his greatest masterpiece, the Monet Garden. The garden inspired many of his famous paintings and is probably the most famous garden in France.
I strolled around the vast Flower Garden when I stumbled across the Japanese Bridge and Water Garden. The water lilie ponds lead up to the bridge, where you can see areas that feature his famous water lily paintings.
After touring his home and gardens, I ventured past the small church in Givery to his grave site. Monet rests together with his wife Alice and two sons.
From Monet’s Water Lillies and Wild Poppies, his painting of the Woman with a Parasol is my favorite.
MACARONS
In the world of delectable desserts, there seemed to be this little sweet secret, the macaron, that I had heard of but never really paid much attention to! That all changed when I first visited Paris and ran into this little pastry shop for a latte and several macarons. It was love at first bite. I decided to seek out this treasure during my stay in France.
According to legends, the delicacy was introduced to France in 1533 when Queen Catherine de’ Medici of Italy married King Henry II of France.
No matter where you end up in France, cafes and bakery shops across the country always have macarons on the menu. It could be, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful, colorful treats in the history of existence! Not to mention, the raspberry macaron is one of my overall top threats in Europe.
PALAIS GARNIER
This 1,979-seat opera house was built between 1861 and 1875 at the command of Emperor Napoleon III. This opera house is a masterpiece and definitely can be overwhelming. The Palais Garnier was the setting for the Phantom of the Opera. I was able to see the famous door #5, the Phantom’s private box seat.
From its ornate ceilings, towering marble columns, bronze statues, crystal chandeliers, rich paintings and detailed frescoes, it makes the list as one of my favorites places. it is absolutely beautiful.
