When in Paris, it’s customary to hit up the Eiffel Tower, sit outside of a cafe and people watch while eating a croissant and visit the Louvre to get a glimpse of the Mona Lisa.
Prior to 2020’s pandemic, crowds would gather inside of the esteemed art museum just to take a photo of Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic painting. The Louvre was forced to shut down in March due to COVID-19 which resulted in a loss of over 40 million Euros but has reopened this week with new procedures set in place.
Instead of large crowds gathering to see the Mona Lisa, visitors will now have to practice social distancing while following a one-way route to the masterpiece.
Before Entering The Museum
Visitors will also have to reserve a time slot before entering the museum — even discounted visitors and those able to enter for free. Cards will be the only form of payment accepted.
When Entering The Museum
Facemasks will be required for entirety of the visit and only children under 11 are exempt. When entering the museum, visitors must visit one of the hand sanitising stations and disinfect their hands.
Tour groups will still be allowed but everyone in the group, including the tour guide, will have to social distance while wearing a headset.
The coat check will remain closed as well as certain galleries including the arts of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas, the Renaissance section and the French sculptures of the Middle Ages.
Since international travel is still very limited, the Louvre is expecting to see mostly local and European visitors.
For more information on the Louvre’s reopening, check out their site.
