Giverny

The house is quietly eccentric and highly interesting in an Orient-influenced style, and includes Monet's collection of Japanese prints. There are no original Monet paintings on the site – the real drawcard, is the gardens around the house – the water garden with the Japanese bridge, weeping willows and waterlilies is now somewhat iconic. Monet's house has the obligatory gift-store attached, designed to help you part with your money in exchange for all manner of things Impressionist. e-tickets can now be purchased online to avoid queuing. wheelchair access available

Founded by the Guillemard brothers: Jean-Pierre, René and Gérard run restorations and exhibitions with the help of an enthusiasts team who devoted their time and known-how to the Patrimony preservation. The museum origin is a private collection of steam internal combustion engines; founded in 1955 by the Guillemard family. Former threshing entrepreneur and blacksmith Adolphe Guillemard has transmitted to his children his know-how and passion for the vintage mechanies. Along years, purchasing, donations of engines pile-up awaiting for the needed parts or just a time to restore. Since 1982 the number of collected items increased due to closing of workshops, factories or mills. The preservation of these engines was a rescue task, numbers of testimonials items already gone. In 1990 the collection found a home in the current location where the engines are in permanent display. Installation of the Carels 1908 diesel engine weighting 28 tons keep the team busy for months on overhauling and restoration; in 2003 it became the world's biggest old running diesel engine.