Museums are an integral part of Parisian cultural life, but their entrance fees are becoming increasingly expensive. BFMTV.com lists the cultural venues in the capital that can be visited for free.
Access to culture can sometimes be complicated for the French. On average in France, the monuments belonging to the Centre des musées nationaux have seen an increase in entrance fees of 1.02 euros.
For the first time in seven years, the Louvre has increased its rates from 17 to 22 euros. In addition, the entrance to the Arc de Triomphe has increased by 3 euros, and that of the Palace of Versailles by 1.50 euros. This news was difficult for visitors to accept. “It’s starting to get expensive,” says one tourist.
To help you, BFMTV.com provides a list of museums that can be visited without spending a single euro.
· Five museums accessible for free all year
Five museums are open to everyone throughout the year, for free and without condition, as noted by the Paris city hall on its website.
The museums include: the Atelier Brancusi – Centre Georges Pompidou, the Curie Museum, the Plateau – Centre for Contemporary Art, the Museum of the Prefecture of Police, and the Shoah Memorial.
· Museums with free permanent collections
Other Parisian museums open their doors for free, but only for their permanent collections. This includes the Bourdelle Museum, the Museum of Modern Art of Paris, the Maison de Balzac, and the Petit Palais, Museum of Fine Arts of the City of Paris.
Admission is free at the Cognacq-Jay Museum, except during temporary exhibitions. The same goes for the Museum of the Liberation of Paris – General Leclerc Museum – Jean Moulin Museum, the Museum of Romantic Life, the Carnavalet Museum – History of Paris, and the Cernuschi Museum.
Visiting Victor Hugo’s apartment at the Maison de Victor Hugo is free, but entry to the exhibitions is chargeable.
· Museums that are free on certain days
The Louvre Museum offers free admission for everyone on the first Friday of the month from 6 pm (except in July and August) and on July 14th. However, reservations are mandatory.
It is also possible to visit the Museum of Arts and Crafts for free every Friday from 6 pm to 9 pm, or throughout the year for young people under 26.
Visitors can also visit the Orsay Museum for free on the first Sunday of every month, provided they have booked a time slot in advance. The visit is also free on the first Sunday of the month at the Museum of Hunting and Nature, the Gustave Moreau Museum, the Cluny Museum, the Orangerie Museum, the Picasso Museum, the Jean-Jacques Henner Museum, the City of Architecture and Heritage, the Guimet Museum, and the Quai Branly Museum.
It is advisable to reserve your visit in advance for most of these museums to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
At the National Museum of Modern Art – Centre Pompidou, those under 18 can enjoy the permanent exhibitions all year round, the same goes for those under 26 residing in a EU or EEA country.
The same goes for the Musée Eugène Delacroix, where admission is also free on July 14th.
In general, those under 26 have free access to the permanent collections of all national museums. Apart from the Louvre, this is also the case for the Orsay Museum, the Quai Branly Museum, and the Orangerie Museum.
Finally, each museum offers various discounts and / or conditions for free admission for students, Navigo pass holders, professional cardholders, and people with reduced mobility.
