Louvre Confusion
 

At one time I read where someone recommended that you use the Louvre-Rivoli metro stop to go to the Louvre instead of the Palais Royale stop. What would be the benefits of using one metro stop over the other? This will be our first visit and want our kids get the best first exposure to the Louvre. Thanks.

Mike, <BR>Upon exiting the Louvre Metro, you see the Louvre from its eastern side, a not overly impressive sight because it gives you no sense of the immensity of the building. The Louvre Metro stop is served by only one line: Pont de Neuilly - Chateau de Vincennes. <BR> <BR>The Palais Royale Metro, about three blocks to the west lets you out facing the long northern facade of the Louvre. It's served by more than one Metro line. <BR> <BR>For a really impressive view of the Louvre and Paris take the Metro to the Tuileries stop on the same line that stops at Louvre. Exit and walk into the Tuileries gardens; Look to the right (west) and see the promenade of the Tuileries leading to Cleopatra's needle in the Place de la Concorde which bisects the Arc d'Triomphe on the Champs Elysees and the arch at Defense beyond. Look to the left (east) and see the inner courtyard and wings of the ouvre with the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel and I.M. Pei's massive glass pyramid. Walk to the pyramid, the Louvre's main entrance, and pass by fountains, pools and statuary on the way.

The advantage of one stop over the other --though I don't remember which -- is that from one stop you can enter directly into the museum shopping arcade area without going up to the sidewalk level. Our experience is that this will get you inside the building MUCH quicker. When you are inside looking at the huge line outside the pyramid -- you won't regret it. <BR>A word of caution -- pick-pockets really work this area. Once inside the museum, you are OK -- but outside, if there is any sort of confusing activity around you, you are probably being picked.

I checked my Paris metro map, so I can now tell you that the Palais Royale stop is where you can enter the museum arcade directly. One (perhaps several) of the exits goes up to sidewalk level, but one (the one I recommend) goes directly to the arcade -- you'll just have to figure out which one. The only problem is that the correct exit from the metro has only two, relatively narrow exit doors with a short "cattle-chute" arrangement. Last time we were there, my wife and I saw a young oriental couple (obviously tourists) pick-pocketed as they were exiting. The technique was as follows: The woman was going in front of the man (a natural motion since the rails of the cattle-chute are only one person wide). After she had entered, pick pocket #1 rushed between her and her companion -- sort of rushing her through the door -- then he stood in the door, acted confused -- like he was making a mistake going out that way -- while his companion rushed the target from behind. The confusion lasted less than 30 seconds, but in that time, the Picket pockets took what they could off of their target. The target could not move left or right because of the cattle-chute bars. His most viable action was either to push the door blocker forward (risks confontation) or to drop to the ground -- but it's hard to think about that in the actual situation.

I checked my Paris metro map, and it looks to me like the Palais Royale stop is where you can enter the museum arcade directly. One (perhaps several) of the exits goes up to sidewalk level, but one (the one I recommend) goes directly to the arcade -- you'll just have to figure out which one. The only problem is that the correct exit from the metro has only two, relatively narrow exit doors with a short "cattle-chute" arrangement. Last time we were there, my wife and I saw a young oriental couple (obviously tourists) pick-pocketed as they were exiting. The technique was as follows: The woman was going in front of the man (a natural motion since the rails of the cattle-chute are only one person wide). After she had entered, pick pocket #1 rushed between her and her companion -- sort of rushing her through the door -- then he stood in the door, acted confused -- like he was making a mistake going out that way -- while his companion rushed their target from behind. The confusion lasted less than 30 seconds, but in that time, the Pick pockets took what they could off of their target. The target could not move left or right because of the cattle-chute bars. His most viable action was either to push the door blocker forward (risks confontation) or to drop to the ground -- but it's hard to think about that in the actual situation.

sorry about the redundant message. had a little computer confusion.

I read earlier about queues for the Louvre. If you buy a museum pass at a less busy museum, e.g. Musee de Cluny, you simply walk past that huge crowd outside the Louvre and show the pass to the guards.

Just got back from France and second the recommendation for a Muse pass. It got us past all the long lines tout suite, and saved lots of $. Note: there is a special exhibit of Van Gogh/Millet at the D'Orsay right now and if you go EARLY (in line by 9:30 am) you can avoid a 2 hour wait, which was still worth it.. <BR>