A number of museums, gardens, and cultural institutions have opened or are preparing to reopen in France as the country makes steps towards easing restrictions put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19. One such place is Musée du Louvre, which has announced that it will open its doors once again on 6 July.
French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe announced that museums would begin opening from June, with some parks and gardens having already opened. A provisional calendar for the reopening of certain public institutions was subsequently released by Minister of Culture Frank Riester, following a meeting with presidents from the larger establishments. Visitors will be required to book tickets for the museums in advance and new signs will be installed to control the flow of people throughout the buildings. Those entitled to free admission have also been instructed to book a timeslot to visit.
People entering the museums will also be required to wear a mask and follow safety recommendations. Musée National Eugène-Delacroix will also be working to prepare for reopening on 22 June, while the Carrousel Garden and Tuileries Garden are already open.
“The Louvre is happy to announce that it will be reopening its doors after these weeks of quarantine that we have all endured. Visiting conditions will be adapted to adhere strictly to the recommendations made by health authorities, as we want everyone to feel safe at the Louvre, whether they are coming for work or pleasure. This period has not been easy, but commitment and collaboration will see us overcome the difficulties we are facing. Although we have been providing resources on Louvre masterpieces online, nothing can replace the emotion felt when standing face to face with such treasures—the raison d’être of all museums,” Jean-Luc Martinez, president-director of the Musée du Louvre said.
The Louvre’s “Advent of the Artist” in the Petite Galerie has been extended through the summer. The family-oriented exhibition was created as part of this year’s Renaissance series as a great way for visitors of all ages to discover some of the greatest artists featured in the museum. The Renaissance season will continue at the Louvre with “Body and Soul: Sculpture in Italy from Donatello to Michelangelo” and “Albrecht Altdorfer, a German Renaissance Master”, both of which were planned for spring but are now due to launch in October.
The museum will be continuing to provide new digital and audio-visual content online.
Bookings for Musée du Louvre are available through the official website.
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