Louvre closed.

More News on Overtourism and its byproducts

OMG, it's all about the Mona Lisa. At this point, I think one of the most hyped - even OVER hyped - attractions in Europe.

In early 1980, I went to the Louvre for the first time. At that time you just walked up to the ticket office, bought a ticket and went inside. No "timed entries," no long lines. Then I simply wandered through the museum until I eventually came into a gallery where there were a whole TEN people standing around a painting which made me wonder what it was. Oh, it's the Mona Lisa! So I stood and looked at it for a couple of minutes - didn't even take a photo - and then moved on to see more works of art. It was a drama free experience. (At that time, I spent several months in Paris for study abroad, and we had an art history class in the Louvre every Thursday afternoon - I actually got tired of going there after a while.)

The last time I was at the Louvre a few years ago was with a friend. We got timed entry tickets so we could get in early. Once we got inside she dragged me through the museum at top speed so we could see La Joconde right away. When we reached the gallery, it wasn't 10 people around it, there were probably 100 people around it all pushing and shoving and taking photos and trying to get themselves in the picture, and so on. By standing on my tiptoes, I managed to catch a glimpse of it. So what? It's not like you could really look at it, or contemplate it, or admire the brush strokes or absorb the details. It was freaking ridiculous and I NEVER want to go back again. Never.

The Louvre needs to take a cue from how the British manage the Crown Jewels exhibit. You stand on a moving conveyer which takes you slowly past the cases of jewels. You CANNOT stop, you CANNOT go back and you CANNOT take photos. You get a couple of minutes, maybe, to quietly look at the exhibit with nobody blocking your view, and then you are moved on out and that's it. Maybe the French need to house Mona Lisa in a separate exhibition hall using a method similar to this. Heck, charge a separate admission fee for it to offset the expense and thin the crowds down a little bit.

For someone who has seen Mona Lisa several times, I can tell you that it is not even CLOSE to being one of the most memorable things I ever saw in Europe, it is not even the close to being most memorable painting I've ever seen.

Maybe the French need to house Mona Lisa in a separate exhibition hall using a method similar to this.

That is their goal as has been written in many recent news releases. But it will take a number of years to implement and will be part of the entire Louvre renovation.

ETA: And FWIW, this is not just about the Louvre. It's happening all over because more and more people are traveling now than they were in the 1980's and the 1990's. The internet shows us these marvels and everyone wants to see them. There are dozens and dozens of threads on this forum rehashing this over and over. The problem will not go away.

I knew what would happen when I took my 2 grandkids there earlier this year, but they wanted to see the Mona Lisa, and I wanted to make that happen. There were crowds but they could still see it, and hopefully the memory of seeing the painting will stick with them. But again, I knew this in advance. Anyone who goes without thinking they will not be dealing with masses of people is either naive or has not done their research. For some it's worth it. For some it's not. You make that decision for yourself.

I too remember 40 years ago. No lines. No reservations needed. So much nicer. Because I hate crowds, this year I skipped the Louvre and Versailles. The number of tickets sold at these places needs to be cut down so that a visit can be a pleasure instead of a claustrophobic push and shove nightmare.

Because I hate crowds, this year I skipped the Louvre and Versailles.

Ditto. I have the same story about Versailles - 1980 where you bought a ticket, went in, and wandered around at your leisure versus the last time I went a few years ago being pushed and shoved by mobs of people. Kind of a "funny" story - on my last visit there, Versailles was crammed full of people and at one point I sat on a bench to get a breather from fighting the crowds. A woman came up to me and asked hopefully, "Pardon, Madame, vous parlez français?" In other words in FRANCE a lady was looking for a person who spoke French!

The number of tickets sold at these places needs to be cut down so that a visit can be a pleasure instead of a claustrophobic push and shove nightmare.

That's how I felt when we visited Westminster Abbey. It was nearly impossible to enjoy the visit, or to see much of anything.

I don’t blame them one single bit.
The time is long past for the folks in charge of monuments and museums to make some big changes.
In recent years I have found that the large majority of tourists at very major sites are not even looking at what’s in front of them….just taking photos and looking at their devices.

Thanks, Anita, for posting this link.

I love the Louvre and go every visit. I often go to the "Mona Lisa room" just to see the Wedding Feast at Cana. I also go to other parts of the museum which have fairly low visitor numbers. The work by Vermeer? 2 side by side and usually not more than 3 people in the room. There is a bench in front of them and I can easily sit and ponder them. My favorite vase from Alienor d'Aquitaine? Rarely is there anyone in that room (and I do wish I had a stepladder with me so I could look down into it, lol!)

I understand the over-visitation and the frustration of the staff. I don't even mind that they are going to raise ticket prices for non-EU folks. My thought is that if you get someone into a museum to see a certain famous item, maybe you will hook them and they will want to visit other works of art and other museums? Maybe they will see value in protecting works of art/history/etc?

I think one of the problems with the Louvre is that there is SO. MUCH. THERE!! Many first time visitors don't have any idea what else there is to see. I was having a PM conversation with another forum member about the Louvre and she mentioned her favorite piece which I am pretty sure that I have never seen. How could it be that I've missed it?!? It's on the list for next Fall, lol!! It is, by the way, the Tomb of Philippe Pot. https://collections.louvre.fr/en/ark:/53355/cl010093252

IF anyone is interested in a deeper dive into the Louvre from home, I can highly recommend the Elaine Sciolino book Adventures in the Louvre. I got it from my local library but liked it so much I purchased on Kindle so I can see some of the art work she talks about on the next visit and have the book with me on my phone. She also has a cool suggestion for viewing the exterior of the Louvre and seeing some nearby sights on Tuesdays when the Louvre is closed.

I feel bad for anyone who had tickets and was unable to visit today.

Pam, you beat me to it! I was just about to post....

We will be in Paris this fall, and I am planning to visit the Louvre,
but not to see the Mona Lisa. Instead, I have a long list of exciting
ideas culled from Elaine Sciolino's "Adventures in the Louvre." What
a wonderful book.

And I think Pam is the one who recommended it to me! Thank you, Pam.

Thanks for the book recommendation, I will look for it. I am a fan of Da Vinci, but I could pass on seeing the Mona Lisa and not regret it. It is not his best, in my opinion, and there are so many other great pieces of art at the Louvre that I am not going to spend a large amount of time trying to get a glimpse of a single painting. A friend was just there and was appalled at the behaviour of people around the painting. I will be there in October so hopefully things will be a bit calmer by then.

We got a membership for this year and visited 4 times this spring and will do likewise in the fall -- the great advantage being no line at all to get in. Much of the museum is not crowded but the Instagram sites are and there is always someone making repeated sashays down the stairs for the camera in front of Winged Victory and similar spots. Our biggest problem was hyoung people sitting and clustering at tops of stair cases. We absolutely have to have the handrail to negotiate stairs and it is hard to safety get up and down with people camping out like this.

Janet, I’m also planning to look into a membership, if it runs for 12 months, and not a calendar year. We’ll be in Paris this fall, and also next summer, so a membership makes sense.

For anyone looking to see less crowded portions of the Louvre, the Louvre Couture exhibit is in place until August 24th in the Richleau wing and we really enjoyed it. Additionally there are escalators in that portion.

Here’s an expanded article with a good explanation.

It's too bad today's visitors were inconvenienced, but it's about time the staff took action. It's been a zoo since around 2007 when budget issues forced the Louvre to increase daily entries. They reduced the number of daily entries last year, but it's still a high-stress job trying to protect artworks in this social media world. One August I saw people climbing on statues for photos, an open drink placed behind a door, food wrappers. I support the overworked, frazzled staff.

That Mona Lisa chamber with separate tix is another six years away.

By the way, the Prado has banned cameras, making a visit delightful. I wish the Louvre would do the same. How many people really look at all those photos of paintings once they get home. Meanwhile they've been looking at lining up their lense and not the painting.

Pam, thanks for posting that link to Tombeau de Philippe Pot! It is beautiful and now I want to see it in person.

Putting an ad-on fee for Mona Lisa is a great idea. I personally dont get the appeal for it. I have seen it 3 times (twice with people who never had so I had to) and I have skipped it the other 3 or 4 other times I have visited with my wife after she had seen it.

They should probably also jack up prices on tourists and reduce the number of visitors. Maybe also charge locals and Europeans a bit more during peak hours in the summer.

The Louvre is so popular there are many ways of dealing with this that would not impact their revenue.

Anyone who goes without thinking they will not be dealing with masses
of people is either naive or has not done their research.

I'd like to personally thank the naive and the uninformed. They call all show up at the same time so I can stroll in after peak hours and not deal with as many pesky tourists.

I’m sorry, I would not charge the locals more because the tourists want to come. We should be paying more than the locals because none of our tax dollars are going to support this kind of museum so therefore the local should get a better price and people like me should be paying a lot more. At least that’s my opinion on it and I will be willing to pay a lot more if it was a much better experience

And Mona needs to go bye-bye and they can charge all these selfie people €50 to get a selfie with Mona. Most of them have never seen what the picture looks like because they didn’t care about Mona. They wanted their picture in front of it. ( And the truth is none of their friends actually wanted to see a picture of them in front of Mona)

My first (and thus far only visit to Paris) was in September 2021, just as things were starting to reopen after the pandemic. I was there for 10 days, and to my untutored eye, the city still seemed busy despite needing a passe sanitaire to eat at restaurants, gain admission to sites, and needing a PCR test before leaving. I can only imagine what it must be like visiting in May or June in normal circumstances!

In any case, the day I went to the Louvre, I arrived early before opening. The lineup wasn't long at all, and it only took me about 10 mins. to get in. While everyone else seemingly made a beeline for the Denon wing, I made a point of heading to the Sully wing first, and literally had it all to myself for about an hour or so. I might have run into 2 other people while I was in that part of the museum. Eventually I made it to the Mona Lisa where there may have been about 200 people in line to see it up close. I decided to get a decent look while walking into an adjoining room and didn't feel the need to take a photo up close. I got a good look walking by it, then spent a good amount of time admiring the Wedding at Cana which no one else was even looking at.

All in all, I couldn't even imagine going there under normal circumstances and I suppose I lucked out in some ways. There is so much more to the Louvre than Signora Mona.

Last time we were at the Louvre; our then teenagers really didn't get the hype over the Mona Lisa. My son turned around and saw The Wedding Feast at Cana, which nobody was paying attention to; and said, "now this is a painting!"

I'm in agreement with the suggestion that it needs a conveyer belt like the Crown Jewels.

Any info on how many more days the staff will be out on strike?

The Louvre definitely needs a remake, as the Pyramid can no longer handle the masses, as the main gateway (Rodin's Gates of Hell, comes to mind nowadays). I went in late April, and am thankful I did. Avoided the Mona Lisa, as it was never an attractive artwork for me (Da Vinci's best portrait painting, imho, is Lady with an Ermine, in Krakow. Puts the ML to shame). The museum was still crowded, but I spent my time around the Flemish paintings and French Art Objects/Medieval Sculptures; less crowded. Still, after 2.5 hrs, I felt exhausted, unlike visits in 2013 and before then, and unlike the Orsay (still tops, in my book) where I can indulge in beauty for however long I wish, no stress, no pushing, no overcrowding.

In the end, it's your choice whether you get swept away by the mass/internet hype and must get a selfie with Mona, or choose not to. It's an ancient palace, so can't blame the management for the lack of facilities to accommodate the overcrowding. And I agree with the poster who said that one solution may be to do what the Brits have done with the crown jewels -- a moving conveyer platform for viewing the ML.

Since today is Tuesday and the Louvre is closed anyway I doubt we’ll get an idea of if the strike is continuing until Wednesday. The staff has been known to stage one day strikes and that’s it so it may be a one day strike or they may carry it out longer. We’ll probably just have to wait and see

When I was 14 or 15, soon after my family moved to London in 1969, we all went to Paris and visited the Louvre. I would have been interested in the art, but the only thing I actually remember is that on our way out, we heard an exhausted woman's loud American voice exclaiming to her friend, "WELL, MARGE, WE SURE HAVE BEEN AROUND THE MULBERRY BUSH!"

Nancy, that cracked me up! Funny the moments that stick in our minds. Pisa 2007 - I can still remember walking from the train station adjacent to a group of Americans when suddenly one of them exclaimed "I don't see nuttin' leanin'!"

And for those of us who are going to get the Amis du Louvre memberships this year, a friend had helpfully just messaged me that the prices are going up on July 1 so buy now to save 15E.

Mardee, that is a great piece isn't it? Thanks to forum member Lyndash for putting me on to that!

Anita, I hope your library has the book. I will say that the photos are very poor quality in the book which shocked me. They seem to be better in the Kindle version which also shocked me.

Pam,
Thanks for the warning about the price increase for the Amis du Louvre. I'd been thinking about this and just signed up. I have a business trip in July and will probably get there at least once (assuming they aren't on strike) and hopefully go with a friend next March so...

I think one of the problems with the Louvre is that there is SO. MUCH.
THERE!! Many first time visitors don't have any idea what else there
is to see.

I've been to the Louvre more than a dozen times (as I mentioned, I attended an art history class there every Thursday afternoon for three months) and I know I haven't seen anywhere near all there is to see. Honestly, at some point it all starts looking the same if you're there for one long marathon session. It's like a buffet of delicious foods where you are amazed and delighted by the mouthwatering selections, but after you eat a plateful or two, you can't even look at another bite. It's pretty much sensory overload after a certain point.

I'm not even sure how you go about breaking down the Louvre into manageable chunks AND having the time to cover it all. Most people aren't going to get the "season pass" like you do and come back twice a year.

I can say this, though, one of the paintings that most captivated me (to the point that I have a framed print of it hanging in my home) isn't one that is "famous," or one that is sought out by tourists, or one that is probably even noticed by 90% of the visitors to the museum. I never knew about it until I just came upon it while wandering one of the quieter galleries. Sometimes great treasures and memorable moments await in places that you least expect. So I'd encourage first time visitors to just wander - don't worry about which paintings you are supposed to see - and just let the artwork speak to you. The one that "grabs" you will be different for everybody and that's what it's all about.

"I'm not even sure how you go about breaking down the Louvre into manageable chunks AND having the time to cover it all. Most people aren't going to get the "season pass" like you do and come back twice a year."

I've never gotten a yearly pass before but I have paid for multiple visits on some trips since the implementation of the timed entry system and since the unlimited visits on a Museum Pass went away in 2019. This year I'll be in Paris over about 3 weeks so I thought it would be worth it. Some years I've only visited the Louvre once.

As to how to break it up....
- First...I don't try to cover it all. As you've experienced, it's just not possible. I've seen various statements saying something like if you spent 1 minute in front of each object on display it would take 75 days or something like that. According to the Louvre website there are over 400 rooms and 35,000 works of art. I'm not a math person so someone else can figure out if the 75 days is accurate, lol but it's a LOT, lol.

• 2nd - My current tactic is to look at the Louvre floor plan as well as the interactive map. I usually pick one wing OR one floor - and stick to that, then leave. This Fall before I travel I will go back and do some research in the Sciolino book and plan out what things she has written about that are of interest to me. One day I know I am going to look for animals in paintings. Another day I'm going to look for flowers, lol. Another day I am going to spend time on floors/areas that I usually skip like Level 0 of the Denon wing. I also have been looking at the Louvre website and I think the suggested trail of Treasures of the Richelieu wing is new (or I have just not noticed which is odd since I am on that website at least once a week) so I will do that one as well. The Interactive map of the galleries is excellent although the descriptions of the art works are all in French which I will need to translate.

https://www.louvre.fr/en/explore/visitor-trails/secret-treasures-of-the-richelieu-wing

• 3rd - I do make sure I take a break and have caffeine and sugar, hahaha! I know, for instance, that Cafe Mollien, in the Mollien staircase in the Denon wing opens at 945 and not one mille-second before that. A cappuccino and a croissant will revive me! There is also a Starbucks and yes, I have gone there as well.
  

I do think planning on what to see is difficult for a first-timer. Even if someone goes thru the website and looks at the maps it's a function of not knowing what you don't know. The different levels are confusing, the half levels and the twists and turns and the Hogwarts like maze where I'll swear some staircases only go to certain areas on certain days, lol. The physical environment there is overwhelming to me without even adding in all the works of art.

The physical environment there is overwhelming to me without even
adding in all the works of art.

Yes, the sheer massive size of it, PLUS the marble floors are just extra tiring on your legs. I remember the last time I was there (with the friend and her daughter who dragged me to the Mona Lisa) after SIX HOURS I was exhausted, and had to bail out. (Being French, though, they were indefatigable.). I remember staggering out of the museum where I collapsed on a bench to wait for them. As much as I'd like to see everything else I might have missed, I just don't think I'm up to it again. If I haven't seen it yet, I'm never going to see it now.

@Pam,
I hope you take this as a complement: now one of the feathers in my cap is for having seen something at the Louvre that Pam hasn't seen! OMG!
I loved The Tomb of Phillipe Pot. I hadn't read anything about it and came across it during my visit with my son. I looked into all of the mourners faces and was quite moved by it. I didn't recognize the name, but was thrilled to see it when I clicked on your link. Now I have read about it, I will have to go back to see it again!

As a very organized tourist, I would be happy if museums like the Louvre adopted a system like the Borghese Gallery. But I do wonder how many people will be complaining that they traveled all the way to Paris and were unable to get in.

@ the separate Mona Lisa building with additional entry charge is planned and should be finished in about 5-6 years along with the rest of the remodeling.

One day I know I am going to look for animals in paintings. Another day I'm going to look for flowers

This was one of the suggestions in Sciolino's book for the Louvre with children, and I think it's brilliant. And obviously has appeal to adults, as well! (Although I always think of Pam as more of a kid....)

Thanks for the "heads up" about the coming price increase on memberships. I have memberships in some of our local museums just so I can drop in whenever I want, and not feel like I have to spend hours, or see the most famous works. I'd love to be able to do this with the Louvre. And since we're going to be in Paris twice in the next 12 months, it makes sense to go ahead and get the membership. I do need to stare at the calendar, though; we'll be in Paris next June, so I might wait a week or so to sign up.

@ Vandabrud - you made me laugh out loud, lol!! I'm so glad you have seen "THE TOMB".....lol. What else have I missed, lol!! Apparently a lot!

@ Jane - hahaha...yes, I DO feel like a kid when I am on vacation...or really any time, I guess! I'd forgotten looking for animals was her suggestion for touring with kiddos.

Pam, I'm super curious -- how did you even first discover that vase? Was it immediately your favorite? And because I don't know nearly enough about art, I'm gonna also ask: how many other people, do you think, also call that vase their own favorite piece?! (I have googled it, btw, and it does look beautiful! If I ever get there, I'll pay it a visit!)

@Hannah…I did a Road Scholar tour of SW France in 2021 which started in Bordeaux. The Road Scholar tours have a few lecture components and the guide did the 1st one on Alienor d’Aquitaine. He mentioned the vase in his talk and said it was the only object we have that we know she handled. He must have shown a picture as well and said it was in the Louvre. The idea that she held that vase just thoroughly captivated me! I was spending time back in Paris after the tour so I researched where it was located and went to visit!

BTW..the guide ended his talk by saying there is not a portrait of her but he put up what he felt was a great likeness of this strong woman….and it was Kathryn Hepburn in A Lion in Winter!

The idea that she held that vase just thoroughly captivated me!

Oh my gosh, I really love that story of the vase coming into your life! Being captivated is such a gift!

Jane. I think the membership is 12 most but mine expires Jan 2 2026, so I might be wrong.

And Nancy -- when my grandchild was in Paris with us one of the things that stuck with her was someone saying 'Ooo lala' -- she thought that was an affected fake TV French thing and was surprised to find it an ordinary expression.

when my grandchild was in Paris with us one of the things that stuck
with her was someone saying 'Ooo lala' -- she thought that was an
affected fake TV French thing and was surprised to find it an ordinary
expression.

It is an ordinary expression, but doesn't mean exactly what most Americans think it means - i.e. the "affected fake TV French thing."

"Ooo, la la" is used in American media with a coy connotation, as though accompanied by a knowing little wink. In reality, "oh, la, la" is closer in meaning to "Oh, my goodness," or "will you look at that?" The more intense the reaction, the more "la's" are added to it. You see someone drop their bag = "oh, la, la." You see someone drop their bag and fall down = "oh, la, la, la, la." You see someone drop their bag, fall down, and get hit by a car = "oh, la, la, la, la, la, la!" and so on.

yes exactly. I know that but for my grandchild it was just one of those moments. She used the expression throughout the rest of the trip pretty much correctly like when we dropped and broke a glass in the apartment LOL.

I loved the Tomb of Philippe Pot! And that whole area. Apparently French tombs and sculptures speak to me, as it were. It's funny because overall our visits to the Louvre were much more for my daughter than for me, but that section, I kept going back to (and I enjoyed more than she did). We spent 20 hours across 5 visits on our Paris trip this April and would love to return (hopefully next year).

But yes, the stairs and the people posing when you need a handrail are dangerous! I had both knees scoped (and a partial menisectomy) and someone nearly knocked me off balance on those stairs to the Winged Victory.

And they do need more bathrooms.