Locals Visit Monet's Gardens without the Crowds
2020-06-13
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1The famous gardens of French painter Claude Monet reopened to the public this week, as France lifts its coronavirus restrictions.
2The gardens are in Giverny, about 70 kilometers outside Paris.
3They are where Monet created his best-known works, including "Water Lilies."
4More than 500,000 people visit each year to walk the pathways where Monet set up his easel and painted great works of Impressionist art.
5Most visitors come in the spring when the painter's large and colorful gardens are in full bloom.
6This spring, however, the gardens bloomed only for garden workers.
7France remains closed to international visitors, so t he reopening of the gardens lets French people experience them as few ever have: without crowds.
8Groups are not permitted, and individuals must keep social distance.
9The pathways are one-way.
10And everyone must wear face coverings.
11Jean-Marie Avisard is the head gardener at Monet's gardens.
12He has worked there for 32 years.
13"At this time of the year we normally welcome 4,000 to 5,000 people a day," Avisard said.
14"Now we can have 900 persons."
15He added, "We are very happy to show what we do... People will see the garden a bit like on a private visit."
16Seventy-three-year old Jerome Blanchet was pleased to see the gardens without the crowds.
17"We are seeing it [the garden] in exceptional conditions," he said.
18Another visitor, Parisian Roberto Vellutini, agreed.
19"There are not a lot of people...Today is perfect," he said.
20Claude Monet bought the Giverny farmhouse for his family in 1883. He lived there until his death in 1926.
21He changed the house into a colorful mansion, and filled the grounds around it with every flower that would grow in the local climate, including thousands of roses.
22He built a Japanese-style water lily garden with a small, green bridge. There, he painted one great work of art after another.
23After World War II ended, the house and gardens were left empty.
24In the 1970s, however, they were restored to look exactly how Monet had built them.
25The property was opened to the public in the 1980s.
26Last year, it welcomed 717,271 visitors.
27Almost 50 percent were international visitors.
28I'm Susan Shand.
1The famous gardens of French painter Claude Monet reopened to the public this week, as France lifts its coronavirus restrictions. 2The gardens are in Giverny, about 70 kilometers outside Paris. They are where Monet created his best-known works, including "Water Lilies." More than 500,000 people visit each year to walk the pathways where Monet set up his easel and painted great works of Impressionist art. 3Most visitors come in the spring when the painter's large and colorful gardens are in full bloom. This spring, however, the gardens bloomed only for garden workers. 4France remains closed to international visitors, so t he reopening of the gardens lets French people experience them as few ever have: without crowds. 5Groups are not permitted, and individuals must keep social distance. The pathways are one-way. And everyone must wear face coverings. 6Jean-Marie Avisard is the head gardener at Monet's gardens. He has worked there for 32 years. 7"At this time of the year we normally welcome 4,000 to 5,000 people a day," Avisard said. "Now we can have 900 persons." 8He added, "We are very happy to show what we do... People will see the garden a bit like on a private visit." 9Seventy-three-year old Jerome Blanchet was pleased to see the gardens without the crowds. 10"We are seeing it [the garden] in exceptional conditions," he said. 11Another visitor, Parisian Roberto Vellutini, agreed. 12"There are not a lot of people...Today is perfect," he said. 13Claude Monet bought the Giverny farmhouse for his family in 1883. He lived there until his death in 1926. 14He changed the house into a colorful mansion, and filled the grounds around it with every flower that would grow in the local climate, including thousands of roses. He built a Japanese-style water lily garden with a small, green bridge. There, he painted one great work of art after another. 15After World War II ended, the house and gardens were left empty. In the 1970s, however, they were restored to look exactly how Monet had built them. 16The property was opened to the public in the 1980s. Last year, it welcomed 717,271 visitors. Almost 50 percent were international visitors. 17I'm Susan Shand. 18The Reuters News Agency reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. 19________________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21garden - n. the place where flowers and vegetables are grown 22water lily - n. a type of flower that grows in pond water 23impressionist - adj. a style of 20th century painting that blurred images 24bloom - v. the moment when a flower opens up and reaches perfection 25mansion - n. the large house of a rich person