Security in French Museums

Was just in Paris, the museums were allowing bags and backpacks but they go through X-ray. And you go through a metal detector. Not sure about the museums, but I do know the Eiffel Tower does not allow any kind of knives including pocket and butter knives. All water bottles were allowed. Paris is a city with a lot of security. Every store I went in wanted to look in our bags before we went in. Also there seemed to be a heavily armed military presence everywhere.

Backpacks are typically not allowed in museums but most provide lockers or coat rooms where you can leave them. Of course, these services can get crowded, maybe even full, and may have lines. I welcome the opportunity to check items that I don't really need to have on my back for several extra hours. I have not been in Paris the last couple of years to experience enhanced security but your guide should know the latest.

I agree that you shouldn't carry the knife while museum-hopping in Paris. I haven't for at least a dozen years, since the security at Sainte-Chapelle had to hold my Swiss Army knife (that I still carried in checked luggage for a few years after it was no longer allowed to carry in an airplane passenger compartment). Plastic knives like the one in Rick's picnic set are certainly not as multi-purpose, but they will cut most French cheeses, pates, and quiches. I also just re-use the disposable bottle of a beverage purchased in Europe, instead of carrying a fancier water bottle.

Although different museums and sites will have different policies, expect that a knife will sometimes be prohibited, even if just a small pocket knife. Water will be allowed if in a bottle. Most bags will be scanned in an xray machine or examined visually. Large bags will have to be checked in many museums, but most allow bags the size of purses or daybags.

Your daughter's day pack may have to be checked, but there are signs stating to not leave valuables in checked bags, that would include money, credit cards, cameras, and cellphones. So it might be a good idea for her to carry a small cross-body bag for her valuables in her day pack that she can pull out whenever she needs to check her bag.

They will always inspect your bags. Some places let you carry them, others make you coat check them or put them in a locker. I had to check a regular sized umbrella at Versailles, a small fold up would have been okay. I can't say how they'll feel about a multi-tool?

I should add that while some museums restrict the size of bags (crowded museums, valuable artwork and large bags do not mix well), one helpful idea is to carry bags larger than a purse by hand. Having something slung over your back will draw attention to it and may either get a demand that you carry it by hand or check it.

If you can possibly avoid hauling a lot of stuff when you plan to visit museums, that would be best.
A multi-tool will be confiscated. Don't think you will be able to get it through airport security, either.
A plastic water bottle -50 ml size - can be bought anywhere for about 1.50€, and can be refilled. Parisien tap water is perfectly fine to drink. Insulated bottles might be heavier as the day goes on.
Bring plastic cutlery from home if you plan to eat lunch on muséum days.

my husband normally carries a small pocket knife; it is always confiscated at museum entry. So far, he has remembered to leave it at the apartment or has been able to retrieve it after the museum visit, but it is a pain. No way a multitool will be allowed in a museum. It is just not wise to haul a backpack full of junk around all day -- many museums will require it to be checked and it is always a bit of a hassle to carry. You cannot carry a backpack on your back in most museums and shouldn't on public transport. Water bottles in purses have not been an issue for us so far.

Thanks for the responses.

As I said in my original post, I was planning to leave the multi tool in the hotel while we're in Paris.
No worries about it getting confiscated by airport security-we're checking one bag on our way over.

My daughter reminded me of a smaller bag we had purchased for her several years ago that will work great while we're in the city. She checked it last night-it will hold her camera and a small water bottle.

We will probably take advantage of the water bottles for sale on the street in Paris (just hate using disposable water bottles, but I suppose there's a time and place for them). The refillable bottles will be better for our days out and about in the "heart of France" such as the full day at Normandy.

I would not a buy a water bottle from a street vendor; some have been observed to refill them in fountains (not Wallace fountains just plain old decorative unclean fountains) and they are known to store them in places you don't want to put your mouth. Just because a six pack of bottles is sitting by the bucket doesn't mean the bottles in the bucket are new.

I'd get them from stores or from food trucks or kiosks in parks where you can have some confidence in their cleanliness and contents.

Avoid buying from street vendors selling water on the sidewalk. These bottles are stored under bushes, in sewer grates, and where rats live, etc.

Do yourselves a favor and buy from newsstands or supermarkets. Don't throw your empty bottles away - keep them and refill them in your hotel or ask for "un carafe d'eau" in a cafe and refill them.
When you're ready to move on to the next leg of your trip, you can toss the bottles with an almost clear conscience.

An added comment about disposable water bottles. Still water (no gas) typically comes in very thin-walled bottles that crackle annoyingly and are more likely to crush, puncture, or crack than the alternative, which is carbonated water such as Perrier, San Pellegrino, or Badoit -- these come in much sturdier plastic bottles because they have to withstand the pressure of the carbon dioxide.

If I were buying a bottle of water to reuse over and over again on a trip, I'd make it a 500 mL Perrier or one of the other carbonated waters.

A note about stores: if you go into a larger store such as Monoprix, Leader Price, Simply, Casino, etc., you may notice that water bottles are bundled as six packs. It's very common for customers to tear open a six pack and take part of it; even just one bottle. Same goes for milk. Of course, if singles are available anyway grab one of those.

You can purchase single bottles of beverages in the refrigerated sections of any supermarket for about 1 EU or even less, if you choose the store brand. I have never had a bottle of still water puncture or explode, if handled in a proper manner.
I wouldn't be bothered about "crackling" empty water bottles unless I were unusually sensitive to noise.

Perhaps in Paris that may be the case, chexbres, but it's not the case outside Paris. Coolers for beverages are not so common in supermarkets outside of heavy tourist areas, and those that exist generally are "branded" and typically are stocked only with that brand's products (such as Coca Cola, Monster, and so on).

Maybe I'm odd, but I dislike water bottles that are too weak to be held without making noise (even when not empty) and feeling as if the bottle is about to be crushed from simple hand pressure barely sufficient to keep it slipping from your grip.

The OP can plan to purchase water bottles in Paris.
The OP already stated they would use their insulated metal water bottles during the rest of their trip.
Problem solved.

Thanks again to everyone. I realize this thread went from a question about security measures in Paris museums to how to buy water bottles in Paris.

The upshot off all of this is in Paris we'll carry smaller, cross body bags, leaving our multi-tools in the hotel room and buying water as we need to. Once outside Paris, my daughter will make the switch to her backpack, we'll both have our multi tools and our larger refillable water bottles

For those of you who worried about my daughter carrying all the extra weight of a backpack during the day (which she will only do outside of Paris), she just graduated from college and spent the last four years walking all over Burlington Vermont with her back pack on (including the weight of a laptop). She'll be fine.