PParis’ most famous landmark, the Eiffel Tower, reopened its top-floor observation deck on Wednesday July 15. This follows the partial reopening of the first two floors of the iron lattice tower on June 25. after a 104-day closure – the longest since World War II – due to the coronavirus pandemic. But, of course, for those visiting, new social distancing and hygiene protocols are being applied.
All visitors over the age of 11 must wear a face covering while on site, according to the Eiffel Tower website. In addition to the reopening of the top-floor observation deck, the ethe elevators that carry visitors up and down the three floors of the 1,063-foot-tall structure are also working again. A maximum of 250 people will be allowed on the top floor at a time to enjoy the panoramic view of Paris. Travelers are also advised to pre-book tickets for their visit online.
Another very popular Parisian attraction, the Louvre Museum, reopened on July 6. The world’s most visited museum, which attracted 14.1 million visitors last year, limits the number of visitors allowed at a time. In line with new Louvre rules, the museum now has a mandatory online reservation system for paid time slots and says additional signage will be put up around the Parisian institution to guide visitors and avoid overcrowding. . All visitors and staff over the age of 11 must wear protective masks and maintain appropriate social distancing on the premises.
In addition, around 30% of the museum’s rooms remain closed to visitors, but “of course the mona-lisa will be open,” said André Sacristin, a labor representative who has been involved in plans to reopen the Louvre, according to The Associated Press.. The Louvre’s summer 2020 plan indicates rooms such as the renovated Galerie d’Apollon and the Salle des Etats (where mona-lisa is displayed) are open, but the second level of the museum remains closed. Overall, the visit “will not be like before at all”, added Sacristin. “It’s impossible.”
Other famous cultural sites around Paris have also started to resume operations. On Sunday May 31, the Tuileries Garden, located between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde, reopened to the public, although gatherings are still limited to groups of no more than 10 people. The Palace of Versailles welcomed visitors to its 17th-century palaces and gardens on June 6, and art lovers were able to explore the Musée d’Orsay’s extensive collection of 19th- and 20th-century paintings again from June 23. June.
France has said that the country’s museums, monuments, restaurants, bars and cafes could start resuming operations from June 2 following measures to ease the country’s coronavirus lockdown.
This article was originally published on May 29, 2020; it was updated on July 15, 2020 to include current information. Associated Press contributed reporting.
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