While most cities have plenty of brilliant free things to do, it’s pretty standard for the world’s most famous landmarks to charge an entry fee. In France, however, some travellers might soon have to pay more than others when visiting certain attractions.
France’s culture minister Rachida Dati has announced plans to charge non-EU nationals an extra €5 (£4.17) to enter some national sites, which she says is to fund the upkeep of their condition.
If it’s introduced, the levy will likely first be implemented at the Louvre, where tickets currently cost €22, but attractions such as the Palace of Versailles and the Musée D’Orsay could be subject to it, too.
‘Is it normal for a French visitor to pay the same price for entry to the Louvre as a Brazilian or Chinese visitor?’ said Dati, according to the Standard. ‘The French people should not have to pay for everything on their own.’
However, the proposal isn’t popular with everyone. Staff at the Louvre are concerned with the idea of having to ‘police’ visitors, checking whether or not they’re EU nationals.
Dati is also considering implementing an entry fee to the Notre Dame, which is slated to reopen in December, for the first time in its history. Mayor of Paris Centre Ariel Weil has pushed back on the proposal, saying the idea of making faithful people pay is ‘morally shocking’. However, other famous cathedrals such as St Paul’s in London and the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona both charge visitors to enter, while keeping worship free.
Stay tuned for more updates on if this levy gets approved. For now, here are our favourite free things to do in Paris.
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