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Deconfinement does not (yet) rhyme with culture. Despite the authorization to reopen certain museums announced by the french government for May 11, in fact cultural establishments are still few in number to welcome the public again and one wonders when will museums and monuments in Paris reopen?

The reopening is being done gradually to control the flow of visitors, to maintain a social distance and to put in place barrier measures (wearing masks, provision of hydroalcoholic gel) that will help to curb the spread of COVID-19.

In Île-de-France, the reopening of cultural establishments is taking place gradually, but fortunately, more and more museums are announcing a reopening in the coming weeks. So when will we be able to return to the museums? And under what conditions? Here’s an update on the schedule for the reopening of museums and monuments in Paris and the Paris region.

This list will be updated regularly (last update on July 2). Feel free to add a comment to inform me of a new opening.

Museums open in May

  • Museum of Illusions: from May 11th – online booking recommended
  • Espace Lafayette Drouot: from May 12 – online booking recommended
  • French Playing Card Museum (Issy-les-Moulineaux, Hauts-de-Seine): from May 13 – mask required
  • Toy museum (Poissy, Yvelines): from May 13 – by reservation only, mask required
  • Musée de la Batellerie et des voies navigables (Conflans Sainte Honorine – Yvelines): from May 13 – mask required, 30 visitors maximum
  • Giacometti Foundation: from May 15 – online ticketing only, maximum 10 simultaneous visitors, mask required
  • Breteuil Castel (Choisel, Yvelines): from May 15 – mask obligatory in the castle, free entrance for the nursing staff
  • MUS Musée d’Histoire Urbaine et Sociale de Suresnes (Hauts-de-Seine): from May 20th
  • Chantilly Castel (Oise) : from May 21st – except the park and the stables, mask obligatory
  • Vaux-le-Vicomte Castel (Seine-et-Marne): from May 21st – garden and park only (closed castle), online booking required
  • Chaalis Abbey (Oise): from May 21st – mask obligatory
  • Lafayette Anticipations Foundation: from May 25 – 6 simultaneous visitors maximum, mask required
  • Toile de Jouy museum (Yvelines): from May 26 – mask obligatory, 10 simultaneous visitors maximum
  • Atelier des Lumières: from May 26 – online booking required, mask required, temperature control at the entrance, closed cloakrooms
  • Jacquemart André Museum: from May 26 – temporary exhibition only, the permanent route is closed – online booking obligatory, mask obligatory, temperature control at the entrance, cloakrooms closed, maximum 60 simultaneous visitors
  • Maison Populaire de Montreuil (Seine-Saint-Denis): from May 27online booking required, free admission
  • Rosa Bonheur Castel (Seine-et-Marne): from May 27 – online booking required, mask required
  • Bossuet museum (Meaux, Seine-et-Marne): from May 27
  • Photography museum (Bièvres, Essonne) : from May 30 – mask required
  • Maison-atelier Foujita (Villiers-le-Bâcle, Essonne) : from May 30 – port du masque obligatoiremask requiredMuseum of Illusions: from May 11th – online booking recommended
  • Espace Lafayette Drouot: from May 12 – online booking recommended
  • French Playing Card Museum (Issy-les-Moulineaux, Hauts-de-Seine): from May 13 – mask required
  • Toy museum (Poissy, Yvelines): from May 13 – by reservation only, mask required
  • Musée de la Batellerie et des voies navigables (Conflans Sainte Honorine – Yvelines): from May 13 – mask required, 30 visitors maximum
  • Giacometti Foundation: from May 15 – online ticketing only, maximum 10 simultaneous visitors, mask required
  • Breteuil Castel (Choisel, Yvelines): from May 15 – mask obligatory in the castle, free entrance for the nursing staff
  • MUS Musée d’Histoire Urbaine et Sociale de Suresnes (Hauts-de-Seine): from May 20th
  • Chantilly Castel (Oise) : from May 21st – except the park and the stables, mask obligatory
  • Vaux-le-Vicomte Castel (Seine-et-Marne): from May 21st – garden and park only (closed castle), online booking required
  • Chaalis Abbey (Oise): from May 21st – mask obligatory
  • Lafayette Anticipations Foundation: from May 25 – 6 simultaneous visitors maximum, mask required
  • Toile de Jouy museum (Yvelines): from May 26 – mask obligatory, 10 simultaneous visitors maximum
  • Atelier des Lumières: from May 26 – online booking required, mask required, temperature control at the entrance, closed cloakrooms
  • Jacquemart André Museum: from May 26 – temporary exhibition only, the permanent route is closed – online booking obligatory, mask obligatory, temperature control at the entrance, cloakrooms closed, maximum 60 simultaneous visitors
  • Maison Populaire de Montreuil (Seine-Saint-Denis): from May 27online booking required, free admission
  • Rosa Bonheur Castel (Seine-et-Marne): from May 27 – online booking required, mask required
  • Bossuet museum (Meaux, Seine-et-Marne): from May 27
  • Photography museum (Bièvres, Essonne) : from May 30 – mask required
  • Maison-atelier Foujita (Villiers-le-Bâcle, Essonne) : from May 30 – mask required
Vaux-le-Vicomte Castle
Vaux-le-Vicomte Castle

Museums reopening in June

  • Marmottan-Monet Museum: from June 2nd
  • 11 Conti museum (Monnaie de Paris): from June 2nd – free all June, 10 visitors maximum, reservation required, mask must be worn
  • Fontainebleau Castle: from June 2nd – gardens only
  • National Gendarmerie Museum (Melun, Seine-et-Marne): from June 3 – reduced fare for all until August 31
  • Exploradôme (Vitry-sur-Seine, Val-de-Marne): from June 3 – online booking required
  • Thoiry Zoo (Yvelines): from June 3
  • Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation: from June 3
  • 104: from June 5
  • Musée d’Art et d’Histoire de l’Hôpital Sainte-Anne: from June 5
  • Versailles Castel (Yvelines): from June 6
  • Museum of art and history of judaism: from June 6
  • Quai Branly musem: from June 7
  • Halle Saint Pierre: from June 8
  • Parc Zoologique de Paris: from June 8
  • Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes: from June 8
  • The Cube (Issy-les-Moulineaux, Hauts-de-Seine): from June 9
  • Art and History Louis-Senlecq museum (L’Isle-Adam, Val d’Oise): from June 10
  • Champs-sur-Marne Castle (Seine-et-Marne): from June 10
  • Maillol museum: from June 10
  • Musée en Herbe : from June 13 – Wearing a mask is required for adults
  • Maisons-Laffitte Castle (Yvelinnes): from June 13
  • Rambouillet Castle (Yvelinnes): from June 14
  • Holocaust memorial: from June 14
  • Palais de Tokyo: from June 15
  • Arc de Triomphe : from June 15
  • Conciergerie : from June 15
  • Panthéon : from June 15
  • Vincennes Castle (Val-de-Marne) : from June 15
  • Bourdelle Museum: from June 16th
  • Libération de Paris Museum: from June 16th
  • Balzac House : from June 16th
  • Petit Palais: from June 16th
  • Cernuschi museum: from June 16th
  • Catacombs: from June 16th
  • Porte Dorée Palace : from June 16
  • Institute of the Cultures of Islam: from June 16
  • Romantic Life museum: from June 16
  • Le BAL: from June 17
  • Architecture and Heritage City: from June 17
  • Gustave Moreau museum: from June 17
  • Frac Île-de-France (The Plateau): from June 17
  • Nissim de Camondo museum: from June 17 – online booking required
  • Chapelle expiatoire : from June 17
  • Air and Space Museum (Le Bourget, Seine-Saint-Denis): from June 19
  • Saint-Denis Basilica (Seine-Saint-Denis): from June 21
  • Orangerie museum : from June 22
  • Delacroix museum: from June 22 – the reservation of a visit slot is recommended
  • Great War museum (Meaux, Seine-et-Marne): from June 22
  • Orsay museum : from June 23
  • Decorative Arts Museum: from June 23 – temporary exhibitions only, online booking required
  • Palais de la Découverte: from June 23
  • Sainte Chapelle: from June 23
  • Grande Galerie de l’Évolution: from June 24
  • Galerie de Paléontologie: from June 24
  • Galerie de Minéralogie: from June 24
  • Musée de l’Homme: from June 24
  • Invalides – Army museum: from June 27
  • Relief-map museum: from June 27
  • National Museum of Ceramics of Sèvres (Hauts-de-Seine): from June 29

Museums reopening in July

  • Grand Palais: from July 1st
  • Pompidou Center: from July 1st
  • City of the economy: from July 1st
  • National Renaissance museum (Ecouen, Val-d’Oise): from July 1st
  • Fontainebleau Castle: from July 1st
  • Cluny museum: from July 1st
  • La Poste museum: from July 1st
  • Louvre museum: from July 6 – the reservation of a visit slot is recommended
  • Decorative Arts Museum (entire museum): from July 7, booking required
  • Museum of Modern Art of the City of Paris: from July 7
  • Cognacq-Jay Museum: from July 7
  • Custodia Foundation: from July 7
  • Rodin museum: from Decorative Arts Museum (entire museum): from July 7, booking required
  • Guimet museum: from July 8
  • Cinémathèque Française : from July 15

Museums reopening in September

  • Gaîté Lyrique: from September 2
  • EDF Foundation: from September 16
  • National Museum of Natural History: from September 16
  • Frac Île-de-France (Rentilly castle, Bussy-Saint-Martin, Seine-et-Marne) : from September 18
  • Louis Vuitton Foundation: from September 23

Later on

Most of the Parisian museums under construction have had their reopening date postponed. With the confinement, the building sites have indeed fallen behind schedule.

Thus, the reopening of the Palais Galliera (fashion museum), the Carnavalet museum, the Hôtel de la Marine, the Zadkine museum, Victor Hugo’s house and the Bourse de Commerce (Pinault collection) have been postponed.

Bourse de commerce Pinault Collection, Paris.
Bourse de commerce, Paris. Pinault Collection ©Patrick Tournebœuf/Tendance Floue for Pinault Collection, Paris.

Elsewhere in France?

The site of the French Ministry of Culture offers a map of cultural places open in France. Although it does not appear to be exhaustive, it does however give an overview of the places that welcome the public throughout the country.


What about exhibitions?

With the closure of the museums, several exhibitions have been postponed, extended or cancelled. The exhibition calendar for 2020 has therefore been completely turned upside down and the reopenings are also being done gradually.

You will find below the calendar of exhibitions announced for the next few weeks (dates confirmed).

MuseumExhibitionBeginning dateClosing dateFree ?
Bourdelle museumThe Strange Tales of N.H. Jacobsen16/06/202026/07/2020
Museum of Romantic LifeHearts of Romanticism in Contemporary Art16/06/202013/09/2020
Museum of the Liberation of Paris1940: Parisians in the exodus16/06/202013/12/2020
Balzac houseThe Human Comedy, Balzac by Eduardo Arroyo16/06/202016/08/2020
Petit Palais, fine art museumThe Power of Drawing - Masterpieces from the Prat Collection16/06/202004/10/2020
National Museum of Natural HistoryPrecious stones16/09/202014/06/2021
Luxembourg museumMan Ray et fashion23/09/202017/01/2021
Marmottan-Monet museumCézanne and the Masters, a dream of Italy02/06/202003/01/2021
Marmottan-Monet museumMartine Martine, tribute to Martine and Léon Cligman02/06/202011/10/2020
Centre PompidouMatisse, like a novel21/10/202022/02/2021
Giacometti FoundationSearching for missing works15/05/202021/06/2020
Guimet museumFuji, land of snow15/07/202028/09/2020
L'enseigne des OudinsThe Verame Phenomenon26/05/202003/10/2020Yes
Army museumLike in the '40s...17/09/202010/01/2021
Ordre de la Libération museum1940 ! Paroles de rebelles17/09/202003/01/2021
Musée de la Carte à JouerCartomancie entre mystère et imaginaire11/05/202007/06/2020
Atelier des LumièresMonet, Renoir... Chagall. Voyages en Méditerranée26/05/202003/01/2021
Atelier des LumièresYves Klein, l’infini bleu26/05/202003/01/2021
Lafayette Anticipations foundationRachel Rose25/05/202013/09/2020Yes
Jacquemart André musemTurner, peintures et aquarelles26/05/202011/01/2021
Espace Lafayette DrouotThe World of Banksy : The Immersive Experience12/05/202031/12/2020
Paris la Défense & Seine Musicale3rd edition of the Extatics26/06/202004/10/2020Yes
Maison Populaire de MontreuilI'm from nowhere good27/05/202011/07/2020Yes
Musée en HerbeSpider, Fireflies and Butterflies13/06/202028/02/2021
Petit PalaisThe Golden Age of Danish Painting (1801-1864)22/09/202003/01/2021
Nissim de Camondo musem61 rue de Monceau, the other Hotel Camondo17/06/202013/09/2020
Decorative Arts MuseumHarper’s Bazaar. First fashion magazine23/06/202004/01/2021
Decorative Arts MuseumThe drawing without restraints. Collections of the Decorative Arts museum23/06/202004/01/2021
Quai Branly museumA toi appartient le regard et (...) la liaison infinie entre les choses30/06/202001/11/2020
Quai Branly museumLes curiosités du monde de Françoise Huguier30/06/202011/10/2020
Palais de la Porte DoréeChristian Louboutin : L'Exhibition[niste]16/06/202004/01/2021
Orsay museumJames Tissot, l'ambigu moderne (1836-1902)23/06/202013/09/2020
Orsay museumAu pays des monstres. Léopold Chauveau (1870-1940)23/06/202013/09/2020
Palais de la DécouverteLove23/06/202030/08/2020
Cité des SciencesSpies27/06/202001/08/2020
Grand PalaisPompéi01/07/202027/09/2020
Centre PompidouChristo and Jeanne-Claude – Paris!01/07/202019/10/2020
Centre PompidouJeremy Shaw01/07/202027/07/2020
Centre PompidouGlobal(e) résistance01/07/2020January 2021
Louvre museumFigure d’Artiste (Petite Galerie)06/07/2020June 2021
Guimet museumFuji, snowy land08/07/202012/10/2020
Guimet museumCarte blanche to Ru Xiao Fan08/07/202021/09/2020
Picasso museumPicasso and comic booksEnd of July 202003/01/2021
Picasso museumPicasso poetEnd of July 202003/01/2021
Musée de ClunyInsights into everyday life01/07/202027/09/2020
Halle Saint PierreThe world according to Roger Ballen08/07/202031/07/2020
Henri Cartier-Bresson FoundationMarie Bovo - Nocturnes03/06/202023/08/2020
Henri Cartier-Bresson FoundationMartine Franck - Face à face03/06/202023/08/2020
Versailles castleVersailles in the comic books19/09/2020December 2020
Versailles castleHyacinthe Rigaud ou le portrait soleil17/11/202014/03/2021
Quai Branly museumLes Olmèques et les cultures du golfe du Mexique13/10/2020Autumn 2021
Musée de l'HommeI eat so I am24/06/202031/08/2020
Musée de l'HommeÊtre beau24/06/202005/01/2021
Institute of the Cultures of IslamBeliefs: making and undoing the Invisible16/06/202027/12/2020Yes
104Circulation(s) Festival05/06/202026/07/2020
Guimet museumCarte blanche to Daniel Arsham21/10/202018/01/2021
Guimet museumMarc Riboud, possible stories02/11/202001/03/2021
Holocaust MemorialThe voice of the witnesses14/06/202003/01/2021Yes
National Museum of Natural HistoryGemstones16/09/202014/06/2021
EDF FoundationCourants vers16/09/202031/01/2021Yes
Le BALThe Beast, a modern tale17/06/202023/08/2020
Musée de l'HommeLast meal in Pompeii08/07/202004/01/2021
Frac Île-de-France (le Plateau)Ben Russell, The Invisible Mountain17/06/202012/07/2020Yes
Frac Île-de-France (Rentilly castle)The cabaret of nothingness18/09/202016/12/2020Yes
Frac Île-de-France (le Plateau)David Douard, O' Ti' Lulaby23/09/202013/12/2020Yes
Museum of Art and History of JudaismJews of Morocco, 1934-1937 Photographs by Jean Besancenot30/06/202002/05/2021Yes
Palais de TokyoUlla von Brandenburg, The middle is blue15/06/202013/09/2020
Palais de TokyoOur world is burning15/06/202013/09/2020
Palais de TokyoKevin Rouillard - The Great Wall15/06/202013/09/2020
Palais de TokyoNicolas Daubanes - Oil and Water15/06/202013/09/2020
Palais de TokyoFutura 2000 - "Violent treasure".15/06/202013/09/2020
Palais de TokyoCarte Blanche to Anne Imhof21/10/202003/01/2021
Italian Cultural InstitutePaolo Pellegrin22/06/202030/09/2020Yes
BnF I François-MitterrandJosef Koudelka. Ruins15/09/202016/12/2020
BnF I François-MitterrandShowtime!22/09/202021/02/2021
BnF I François-MitterrandPascal Quignard, fragments of a handwriting30/09/202030/11/2020
BnF I ArsenalFor the love of books: the Society of French Bibliophiles 1820 - 202006/10/202006/12/2020
BnF I François-MitterrandThe invention of surrealism: from Magnetic Fields to Nadja17/11/202007/02/2021
Orsay museumGirault de Prangey, photographer03/09/202007/02/2021
Grand PalaisBlack & White: an aesthetics of photography12/11/202004/01/2021
Musée d’Art et d’Histoire de l’Hôpital Sainte-AnneUnica Zürn05/06/202026/07/2020
Louis Vuitton FoundationCindy Sherman23/09/202003/01/2021
Louis Vuitton FoundationIcons of modern art. The Morozov Collection24/02/202125/07/2021
Henri Cartier Bresson FoundationGrégory Halpern, Soleil cou coupé08/09/202018/10/2020
Henri Cartier Bresson FoundationSergion Larrain, London08/09/202018/10/2020
Custodia FoundationAnna Metz, eaux fortes07/07/202006/09/2020
Custodia FoundationSiemen Dijkstra07/07/202006/09/2020
Custodia FoundationStudi & Schizzi, Draw the figure in Italy 1450 - 170007/07/202006/09/2020
La Poste museumDream the universe02/09/202010/01/2021
Museum of 11 Conti (Monnaie de Paris)Akan, exchange values08/09/202028/02/2021
Exhibitions in Paris
Vladimir Borovic / Shutterstock

So, what to visit in Paris?

What to do in Paris while waiting for our museums and monuments to reopen? Don’t hesitate to turn to the art galleries, many of which have opened their doors in recent days, and to the churches to (re)discover a magnificent architectural heritage – we’ll talk about it again soon!

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