Ascension Thursday and weekend in Paris.
 

We are arriving in Paris on May 24 and departing May 27. I know that this is Ascension Thursday and that this is a big weekend in France. Will most stores and restaurants be open? Thanks to all.

Stores are closed except the souvenir shops around the big sites and at Rue de Rivoli (Arcades). Wait for your shopping until Friday 25th. <BR>Restaurants and museums however are open. Check with the hotel reception about opening hours. But be warned, Paris will be absolutely packed over that weekend. Have fun!

Ursula, can you give info about museums and other tourist sites on Ascension Day? We're arriving the 24 and leaving the 30 so that involves a holiday, a crowded weekend, and a Monday, all on a six-day trip! Will we be able to get into the Louvre and up the Eiffel Tower? This is my companion's first trip to Paris and I'd like it to be great for him. I guess I should have planned better. Thanks.

Shanna, hi: you can check on-line about opening hours in the weekly Paris What's on called PARISCOPE which runs from Wednesday-Tuesday. However, it's only in French. <BR>Another possibility is to check the site www.parisavenue.com sponsored by the daily paper "Le Figaro". It's also in English and gives already now good inputs what's on and until when (exhibitions). <BR>For the Louvre ask the hotel reception about opening hours on the 24th and be there 1 hour before. Usually, on Thursday the museums have nocturnes until 9 pm and then it's less crowded. But I have my doubts whether they will be open late on Ascension Day. <BR>For the Eiffel Tower, the same. <BR>A good alternative would be La Grande Arche at the Défense (just a couple of métro-stations West of Charles de Gaulle/Place de l'Etoile.). Like this, you could *see* the Eiffel Tower. It's great architecture and far less crowded. <BR>A nice overlook is also guaranteed from the Centre Pompidou terrace on the 6th floor. <BR>Have fun and do some walking in smaller streets to avoid tourist streams and to discover nice typical places to eat. Have fun! <BR>

Wow - many thanks, Ursula. I can manage to read the French sites pretty well and will check. I've been looking for information on events during that period so I could tailor the trip for my guy's interests (scientist - loves plants and bugs). Fortunately, he also loves to walk and talk and EAT/DRINK which was my plan for the 24th. I'm so excited about this vacation (my fourth to Paris, my first with a sweetheart), I'll probably trip over my feet the whole time because I'll have stars in my eyes. Thanks again.

Thanks Ursula. We'll consider Thursday to be a Sunday, and visit the sights on that day. Maybe we won't go to Paris on Thursday and spend it in the countryside or something. We're driving up from the Burgundy area so maybe we'll stay in Chablis. We;ll see.

The Louvre is closed on May 24th. It states this on their website: http://www.louvre.fr/louvrea.htm <BR>

Shanna: forgot about the Pariscope site. It's at <BR> <BR>www.pariscope.fr <BR> <BR>Eva: Thanks for checking the Louvre hours for 24th.

Eva: I am happy to tell you this: <BR> <BR>Louvre is OPEN on May 24 from 9 am to 6 pm! <BR> <BR>(But closed May 1 and May 8, 2001!) <BR> <BR>I just checked at louvre.fr (the French version) <BR> <BR>I wonder whether the English version is different from the French one or you overlooked something.

Many stores and shops will be closed. The Louvre will be open. The markets should be open (in the morning). Most of the resturants will be open. A good day to stroll the parks.

I never thought of Ascension day as a holiday. (Even if I was brought up a Roman Catholic) We were in Quimper last Ascension day and could not get out of town. Not only were all the stores closed, but so were the streets. Bike races, foot races etc. So who knew Ascension day was a big holiday. <BR>Is there a list somewhere about holidays in various countries?

The Louvre's web site says it is open on May 24th on both the English and French versions. I believe the Eiffel Tower is literally open every day of the year (I think it is not publicly owned, that's why), but they have a web site to check (www.eiffel-tower.com). There are some links to various sites and museums on www.paris.org to check opening hours, possibly, of places you are particularly interested in. The Paris Tourist Office site is very good and might have something, but probably not hours for specific venues (www.paris-touristoffice.com), although they have an excellent events calendar. There is also an interesting events calendar on www.viafrance.com. I don't know about a site for all holidays except I think I did find such a thing once and it's sort of an interesting web site: www.holidayfestival.com. It gives you national holidays that are fixed vs. moveable (like this one) and then a calendar for several years into the future with the dates of moveable ones, and a little history of the holiday. For France specifically, there are holiday lists, including school vacations, on www.francetourism.com

The following days are holidays in France and most European countries: <BR> <BR>April 13 Good Friday <BR>April 15 Easter <BR>April 16 Easter Monday <BR>May 1 Labour Day <BR>May 8 Armistice Day (F/GUK,...) <BR>May 24 Ascension Day <BR>June 3 Whitsuntide <BR>June 4 Whitmonday

Sorry la France. Forgot about your 14 juillet!

A few more holidays: <BR>Corpus Christi (Jun 14) (in Catholic areas of Germany, Austria and Portugal) <BR>Assumption (Aug 15) (everywhere except Protestant areas of Germany, Netherlands, Scandinavia, UK and Ire)