Posted on 01/15/2026 8:46:52 PM PST by nickcarraway
The Louvre museum in the French capital, Paris, is hiking its ticket prices for most non-European visitors by 45 per cent.
The famous institution was the scene last year of a daring heist which saw robbers get away with jewels worth over a $100 million dollars, blamed in part on its deteriorating state.
"I want visitors from outside the EU to pay more … and for that surcharge to go towards funding the renovation of our national heritage," Culture Minister Rachida Dati said announcing the hikes in 2024.
But France’s decision to increase entry costs to the help fund much-needed renovations has sparked an outcry.
(Excerpt) Read more at africanews.com ...
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Culture Minister Rachida Dati
Now that’s a French name. /s
Good, its not going to work out like they think.
“The Louvre will remain free for minors from all countries.”
The Louvre should not be a daycare for children.
If the French don’t support it financially, is it really French Heritage? 100M out the door with a bucket lift to the second floor.
I am lucky in that i have already been there. The mona lisa was surreal as there was no one in the room except myself for a few minutes.
We went in 2015. On a Tuesday. Our French friend in charge of the Louvre trip neglected to understand that the Louvre was closed on Tuesdays. Oh well...don’t really have a desire to go back.
Are you being Franc?
Wow, that’s pretty cool. And probably rare. There was a bit of a crowd when I saw it.
I was 13, about to turn 14 and we stopped by Paris for ten days on our way back to the States after being stationed in Italy for three years.
IIRC there are like “free evenings” on first Friday of the month etc. If you’re a tightwad who really wants to see the Mona Lisa in person for free, it’s possible.
Weird! I remember when we were having our referendum in Sweden on joining the EU (1994) how one of the main reasons to join was that we would no longer have to carry passports when travelling in Europe. Well, turns out that you don’t have to show your passport when passing the borders and custom controls, but it has to be used in many other situations which makes it impossible to travel without a passport (or similar ID card).
And now you’ll have to use it when paying entrance to museums as well!!
(I was right who voted NO in our referendum.)
I have traveled a lot in Europe over decades and have had to show passport outside airports only twice. Once when passing to the Netherlands from Germany and the second time from Italy to Slovenia.
Probably the extraordinary circumstances were controlling for drugs and illegal immigrants.
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