travel bags in museums

France is officially under a State of Emergency since those horrible terror attacks.

What specific museums; fact is not all have the same rules;
consider leaving the bag at the hotel the hours you go to the museum;
hydrate before you leave lodging and just bring a little bottle of water.

It's true that every museum has it's own policies and it's best to check on the website of the specific places you plan to visit. In my own experience I have found no issues with the various bags I have used over many years of travel as long as it looks like a purse and not a backpack. One year while traveling in Italy and Germany with my brother he had some issues being allowed to keep his small backpack with him in a museum. His backpack was actually smaller than my purse. He switched to using a messenger style bag and has so far never had a problem. My son uses the same type of messenger bag when he travels and has never had an issue.

Usually such bags are fine, but rarely do you need to haul this much stuff around town. Why not have one person carry a bag and then YOU carry it into a museum where it will read as a purse on a woman. We have in the past had my husband have to check a bag that I have no trouble walking around with. The bags you mention will easily fit in the lockers in the Louvre clock room or the ones at the Jeu de Palme the only two places we have recently used lockers. You would be able to check them at the Musee d'Orsay. Expect any bag to be inspected on entry to a museum (they don't ask, they look) and department store entrances.

Those kinds of bags are fine. They mean don't bring your luggage or an unwieldy backpack. Janet's advice is good though, you can check them if you want, and they will inspect them.

You'll be fine. Just a glance by the Security agents and you can go through.

On a Rick Steves tour in April, everyone got thru museum security with all their bags. One guy had his cork screw confiscated.

A few years ago I saw a rule published that said bags with 1 strap were OK but two straps were not but in three trips I never saw that rule enforced.

Every museum is different but in general crossbody bags of normal size - like the ones you have - are fine. Backpacks of any size are not allowed, even the tiny ones.

Don't stuff them jam packed and they can be squeezed down if there's a sizer. I think "travel bag" means luggage - you can't get off the train and come to the museum with your suitcase. People used to do this - use the check room as luggage storage until the hotel was ready or until their train left.

There is the rare museum that won't allow ANY bags - not aware of any in France but the Borghese in Rome comes to mind. In these situations there is a free check. Other than this your crossbody bag should be fine.

My husband and I spent a week in Paris in February and went to a lot of museums. Every museum we visited has a good baggage check area so you can leave your jackets, umbrellas, day bags, etc. It really is much more enjoyable walking around without being weighed down!