Our trip to Paris in Sep happens to coincide with European Heritage Weekend and so we're considering a visit to the Palais de l’Élysée which seems to be open to the public for just this one weekend each year. Anyone done this visit? Wondering if, since it's so rarely open, it could be insanely crowded and also wondering if it's worth it given the many other must see places in Paris. We will have only an evening plus three full days in the city. I have been to Paris more than a dozen times but bringing along my father and brother who are each visiting for the first time... Thanks in advance for any advice.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area
5697 posts
European Heritage Days are fabulous -- there are many buildings not usually open to the public. We saw Luxembourg Palace -- line was substantial but moved fairly quickly. (And far shorter than lines for Louvre, Orsay, Sainte Chapelle ...)
Posted by
Paris
9617 posts
It definitely is insanely crowded — they always show the lines on TV during Journées de Patrimoine and mention that the lines are something like 7 hours.i think most people who end up getting in go queue at something like 7 am before the 10 am opening or something like that.
I am sure it is quite fascinating but I’ve never found the wherewithal to go stand in that line— and I’ve got all the time in the world in Paris. But of course it may well be worth it to you.
Posted by
Paris
6916 posts
I went, four or five years ago. It involved staying in line for about four hours starting at 7.30 am... It is indeed quite beautiful inside and I'm glad I went, but I don't think I'll ever go back and with your limited time there are better places to visit.
À place I particularly like during that heritage weekend is Zamasky Tower in the university at Jussieu. The place itself is ugly but the view from the tower is inredible, it being so close from the center. Or there are dozens of places open, it's worth checking the programme online, most aren't crowded.
Posted by
Florida, USA
12172 posts
I went a couple of years ago.
Saturday, I went to the Palais du Luxembourg, where the Senate convenes. I went early, thirty minutes before opening, and was in the first few hundred in line. I sailed through and spent time visiting other sights, like the Supreme Court for Commerce.
Sunday, I went to the Palais de l’Élysée. Since I had gone through the Senate so easily I didn't worry about getting up as early. I arrived about 9:30, they closed the line at 10 because that was all they could handle. I finally got through the Palace near 5 pm. I would have bailed out but an acquaintance received a medal there and had great photos of his visit to the Palace.
Lesson learned arrive early.
Posted by
OP
18 posts
Thank you all for the thoughtful replies... should we expect that "regular" sites like eiffel tower, louvre, AdT, Pantheon, Palais Garnier, etc. would be even more crowded this weekend than usual?