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Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny, France

Posted: 19 Oct 2011 02:00 AM PDT

The Museum of Impressionisms, or Musée des Impressionnismes, in Giverny, France, was initially opened as The Musée de'Art Americain under the auspices of a foundation developed by the American businessman and art collector, Daniel J. Terra. In 2006, this important museum partnered with le Musée d'Orsay, Claude Monet Foundation and Musée Marmottan and focuses on the Impressionist art movement. Giverny is in the Seine Valley and was home to one of the founders of French impressionism, Claude Monet.

Visitors to this museum, which was built in 1992, will find that it was designed to appear as part of the landscape. The architects intended for it to blend in by using delicate colors and materials, with an openness between the inside and outside, as if it were actually an impressionist painting. Surrounding a great hall, the interior exhibition galleries are on various levels in sync with the slope of the landscape. The terraced restaurant and tea room is on the ground floor, and there is a lower level that holds an auditorium. Exhibitions this year include the Clark's collection, Manet to Renoir.

Entrance to the Monet Gardens around the museum is free to the public. The area is separated into small pockets of a variety of lovely and colorful gardens in which visitors can relax and stroll among them. In harmony with the impressionism movement, the field behind the museum is similar to a living impressionist painting, full of poppies, daisies and cornflowers.

Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny address and hours

Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny
99 Rue Claude Monet
27620 Giverny
France

The museum is open from 1 April to 31 October. Open daily from 10 am to 6 pm, last admission at 5.30 pm.

Photo by eureenligne on flickr

This is originally posted at http://www.eyeflare.com/article/musee-des-impressionnismes-giverny-france/

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St James’s Park, London

Posted: 18 Oct 2011 02:00 AM PDT

Located right in the heart of London is the historic St. James’s Park. This beautiful expanse of greenery is a picnicker’s delight with its lake and friendly tenants that comprise of ducks, guls, swans, geese and the occasional pelican. Spread over almost 60 acres of prime real estate this is one of the many Royal Parks that punctuate the otherwise fast urban culture of the city. St. James’s Park however is the oldest of these Royal Parks and is also flanked by three palaces of the Royal family.

There’s lots to do if you go there as a family with children. There’s a children’s playground and thoughtful deck chairs for the adults to help them relax during the break. For something more substantial there’s the inn called Inn the Park where you can refresh with a cold beer or you might want a warm one if you are going native. The inn also offers picnic hampers if you forgot to put one together on your way here. The park is also a very romantic place and is the chosen place of rendezvous for many of London’s couples and traveling twosomes need not worry if they will be out of place in the park.