Vacationing in Paris, Backpack in museums?

The majority of museums in Paris ban any item of luggage larger than a normal woman's handbag. They usually have free or paid cloakrooms, and/or luggage lockers requiring a coin deposit (so make sure you carry one or two euro pieces). However, they may still refuse to take very large items (aeroplane hold baggage size) because they don't want tourists using them as an all-day luggage storage facility and blocking the facilities for actual visitors.

Security is tight everywhere in public buildings in Paris, including museums. Your backpack will be checked, and if you're carrying something that's not allowed, it will be confiscated. Some museums refuse large backpacks altogether, for fear of damaging the artwork. If you can possibly get through the day without a backpack, it would be a much better idea.

Most people manage just fine with a small canvas or nylon tote bag, for example - one with a long strap works really well. These will also be checked, but pass through everywhere with no problems.

You have no idea how much a backpack will weigh by the end of the day - and how hot you will be when you are lugging it around. Also much easier to board public transportation and find space in restaurants and cafes if you're not carrying a backpack.

...to make that much clearer -
If you are carrying any items in your backpack which are not allowed, the items will be confiscated. This can vary from place-to-place.

They are not allowed in the D'Orsay. From their website:

"Suitcases, travel bags and backpacks are not permitted in the museum, and cannot be left in the cloakroom."

I haven't checked rules for all of the museums.

Can't your husband carry his own bag?

A not-too-large messenger bag is unisex and usually allowed. If purses are allowed, a similar size messenger would fall into the same category.

Parisonadime,

The OP isn't carrying the husband's bag, she wants him to carry her bag when she gets tired of it.

Just a side note...
Amber, I'm just delighted that you've gone ahead with the plans for this birthday/anniversary trip. It was perilously near to being cancelled back in March! You'd worked hard on regaining the pre-baby figure and well deserve this lovely reward with your sweet, flip-flop lovin' fella. :O)

It's supposed to be uncomfortably hot/humid here in our Twin Cities next week; hope temps are a bit more comfy in the City of Light.

my husband and I travel with messenger bags and on day trips we will take turns carrying it. On trips around town we do our best to not carry bags. I sometimes have a camera bag which I use as a purse also -- they have all those lovely pockets, but if I am using a pocket camera that day then I stick it in a pocket. Since i moved to literally not carrying a purse and having travel clothing with hidden pockets it has made travel so much more pleasant. You will be surprised at how little you actually need to lug around if you commit to it. In very hot weather when even a travel shirt with hidden pockets is too hot, I will carry a small cross body purse, but otherwise mostly don't carry a bag.

Re: backpacks in museums. This is tighter than it used to be so probably not at all. They have never allowed people to carry them on their backs like backpacks. We have found that if a woman carries a not stuffed, day pack over the shoulder and under the arm like a purse that it will often pass whereas a man will be asked to check the pack. So when we enter monuments and museums with a bag -- now our largeish messenger bag, I carry it.