Just read an article that said museums & monuments closed for 4 days due to strike against ministry of culture, also big rally planned 10/16. We are leaving soon & want to see the museums. Is this info accurate? What is going on in Paris?

Bonnie:

Sorry about that. I hit the wrong key. <BR>I don't want to sound jaded, but, strikes happen too frequently in Paris. It's only really bad when they spread to become general strikes. The good news is that they generally roll from one musuem to another, so if the D'Orsay is hit the Louvre may be open.... The best advice is to have your hotel desk person call the day you wish to visit and to stay flexible. Same thing with the monuments. The last four times (or so) I attempted to visit the Pantheon it was shut due to Les greves (strikes). First time I saw the sign posted I translated the term as a death. <BR> <BR>I do feel sorry for those tourists in town for just a few days (or fewer) who will never have another chance to see a museum locked on their one day to visit.

yeah, they strike a lot, you never know; the museum workers have been striking periodically for some time now, grievances over the RTT which is reduction in hours of work. Not sure all the issues, but they are related to that program. They do vary which museums are closed, however, for example, the Louvre re-opened (yesterday I think, definitely today) but the d'Orsay and some other museums and monuments were closed. They sort of vary closure. I think the 10/16 strike is transport related and is not predicted to affect metro lines in the city, but that may be something other than you are referring to. You'll have to check daily on what's open if strikes are still occurring when you get there.

Last May we got to Louvre for free because of strike. You never know how that works but Parisian museums often rotate during strike. So there are always some museums open. Have a great time!! <BR>There is so much to do and so many museums to see. Try to visit some of those small often forgotten museums

I was in Paris in May and, like Gina, was affected by the strike. However, the striking museums seem to vary from day to day. You just have to call to find out what museum is CLOSED and what museum is on strike but allowing people in without paying. We were in Paris 7 days and only had to pay for Musee D'Orsay. Versailles and the Louvre were free. The only hassle is having to be flexible enough to change your plans depending on what's open. Have a great time and don't let the strikes worry you!

Paris is on strike all the time. I have been at Charles DeGaulle during a baggage strike and while I was in Paris in the summer of 99 the Louvre was on strike. You just have to get used to it and plan your trip around it.

I found Musee D'Orsay to be my favorite. Of course the Louvre is fab'. <BR>D'Orsay is an old train station converted into a museum. If you're into architecture and light, this museum has a 'church effect'. Sounds echo gently through the 'station', close your eyes invision standing on the platform in that immense space "approx". 100 years ago. The ART is bad either..hahahaha!! <BR>

Gabby: How is your answer related to Bonnie's question?

As of a week ago several transportation unions were calling for a national strike on Oct. 16. It was to affect trains, intercity buses and city buses in the provinces. Not clear about the RATP (metro and buses in Paris). These strikes do sometimes spill over into other sectors of the work force who join in solidarity with other state and local government employees. That could include museum workers. I haven't heard anything about it in the last week or so. Anyone living in France have more up-to-date info?

The museum workers have been on strike since 10/8, I think, it has been in the news regularly, so you don't have to live there to know about it, one can just read the news (ie Agence France, there's plenty of French news online, I read Actualites in the French Yahoo version). Some museums are still closed Sunday, 10/13, but they are having a meeting Monday to decide whether they are continuing the strike.

Are they back open?