I'm planning to take day trips from Paris to visit Chartres and Giverny on Sunday, June 2, and Tuesday, June 4. Which is better to tour on which day? I understand a lot of the shops in the town of Chartres will be closed on Sunday, but the Rouen museums near Giverny are closed on Tuesdays (although touring both Giverny and Rouen on the same day seems too rushed for me, so I'm only considering that fact mildly). I also assumed Giverny would be busier on Sunday than on Tuesday. I've read Rick's books and perused both websites and still can't determine the better schedule. I appreciate your thoughts!
Posted by
Paris
7304 posts
Chartres will be much livelier on a Tuesday - shops close on Sunday. And I'm not sure if Giverny is that much busier on a Sunday, you should pre-purchase tickets regardless.
As for touring both Giverny and Rouen in a day? No, far too rushed, you're better off spending the rest of that day in Paris.
Posted by
OP
14 posts
Thanks! That is what I was beginning to consider. My first assumption was that it would be nice to visit the cathedral on a Sunday, but it does seem like a lot of the area (even buses) aren't fully operating on Sundays and Mondays. And the tower climb is only available in the afternoon on Sundays. I plan to switch my days. I appreciate the insight!
Posted by
Pleasant Hill, CA, USA
473 posts
We visited Chartres on a Sunday last year and it was fairly quiet. But we did have a couple of great meals and got to sit in the cathedral and hear a organ rehearsal. Very cool. Beautiful city.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14741 posts
This doesn't at all answer your question but I'll add that to me Giverny is a good 3/4 of a day excursion including train out and back from Paris. I can't imagine adding Rouen on to that unless you were going to overnight in Rouen.
Do walk thru Giverny to the other end of town from the Monet home and gardens to the church. You can see the Monet family tomb as well as a touching memorial to 7-man crew from an RAF bomber who crashed near Giverny on the night of 7/8 June 1944. Part of the memorial is a crumpled propeller. Somehow in my mind Giverny/Monet/artists was in a separate cubicle from DDay/WWII. This brought them together for me. The church is small but nice.