The Louvre in Paris is the grande dame of all museums -- perhaps the most famous and well known of them all. Unfortunately, that fame also means it might also be the most congested.
In 2019, more than 9.6 million visitors streamed through its doors. That sounds crazy crowded
but we were part of that horde.
but we were part of that horde.
Two months before we arrived in Paris, the security and reception staff at the Louvre had gone on strike, protesting the growing number of visitors they had to contend with on a daily basis.
The strike lasted for a day or two -- it seemed more of a symbolic protest than a real work stoppage but it still had me worried. Should we even chance a visit?
However, it was Martina and Tsirol's first time in Paris so a visit to the Louvre was a must!
By the time we arrived in Paris in July, tickets were no longer being sold for "walk-ins". We had to book and buy our tickets for a specific time slot a month ahead. When we arrived at the museum, we had to brave the long queues due to the strict security controls and very few security equipment and security personnel -- they all looked so harried and stressed, I could understand why they went on strike!
It was a madhouse inside -- dutifully, we tried to see the top attractions but everyone had the
same idea. Martina did get a quick glimpse of the Venus de Milo, albeit from afar.
"She has no arms, Lola!"
Despite the crowds, Martina did try to entertain herself. "Why aren't they wearing clothes, Lola"?
Hmmm, because they're angels and angels don't wear clothes!
Next up, the Winged Victory. Martina was no longer amused at the crowds jostling her as
I made her stand still for a photo.
I made her stand still for a photo.
We had hoped to see the Mona Lisa but the lines were unbelievable! The escalators going up to the salon where the painting was had been stopped just so that people could stand in line. We took one look at the line reaching up to 3 floors and decided to pass --
Je sui desole Madame Mona, mais a la prochaine fois!
It was a pity that Martina's first visit to the Louvre did not fare so well. I was happy though that she was impressed by the architecture and the overall grandness of the place. She definitely appreciated the benches conveniently placed for tired and bedraggled tourists to rest on.
Thank goodness for the nearly empty Department of Egyptian Antiquities! No crowds here and
the many different examples of Egyptian art and artefacts proved to be fascinating for an 8 year old. She finally enjoyed this one experience at the Louvre!
The Louvre is so vast -- end to end, the galleries and rooms are over 13 kilometres in length.
You could walk through it without stopping to look at anything and it would still take you several hours to do so. We stayed four hours but it seemed as if we spent most of the time dodging and finding our way through the crowds.
After the claustrophobic atmosphere inside the museum, it was a relief to be outdoors, amidst the spacious green gardens of the Tuileries. Our old friend the ferris wheel beckoned enticingly,
care for another spin?
But no, Martina was more interested in le hamburger americaine than riding the ferris wheel. Hamburger plus nuggets de poulet and frites! Walking through an overcrowded museum is hungry work.
Most of Martina's frites went to feed the pigeons. I think this was the real reason why she wanted
to eat here -- she wanted to see her "friends" and share her lunch.
Traveling with Kids, Tip #9
While I had forewarned Martina about the crowds at the Louvre, we were still unprepared for the sheer volume of visitors -- most of them jostling, rushing, taking selfies, pushing and shoving.
In that kind of situation, it's good to find quiet spaces where the child can sit and relax and take a deep breath. We deliberately looked for empty galleries where she could still see art pieces without feeling hemmed in by the crowds.
An 8 year old may not fully appreciate the Mona Lisa but mummies, statues of strange beasts and frolicking cherubs can be a lot more interesting.
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