Paris with mobility issues
 

My MIL is joining us on our trip to Paris in June. She is independent and a great traveler and we enjoy her company very much. I am concerned for her comfort in a couple of instances: while she does walk, although not very far nor quickly, standing in a line of any sort is out of the question. That includes banks, museum admissions, and airport security. MIL typically has wheelchair assistance from the bag check-in to the gate at our vast home airport and then from the arrival gate to the baggage claim. Will this be possible at CDG and BRU? Do I arrange this through the airline (Icelandic) as I would here? We will probably skip the Louvre, but would like to see the d'Orsay, Notre Dame, and some smaller museums - would there typically be wheelchairs for rent/borrow at museums and churches? MIL can manage short amount of steps, eg., bus, but probably not the Metro. We plan a day trip to Chartres by rental car and have a disabled placard, is that appropriate? We do not think it's worth it to rent a wheelchair for the entire time since she prefers to walk a bit, but I don't want to leave her sitting at the entrance either. Any advice much appreciated - thank you.

I too use a wheelchair at airports. I've always arranged it with the airlines here at home before departure. There are wheelchairs at the Louvre and the D'Orsay also the Petit Palais has a handicapped access and chairs available. I avoid the metro at all costs and use the buses. I have always been offered a seat on the bus. You can work out your routes on the RATP website.YOu can avoid lines at the Louvre by entering thru the shopping arcade downstairs, the Carosel de Louvre. For avoiding lines at the D'Orsay I just pick up tickets at the SNCF stores. Sorry I can't remember if the smaller museums have wheelchairs, but I've hadno problemsin any of them. YOu can even get to the top of the Arc by elevator avoiding the stairs . There are about 8 small steps to get out to the viewing platform.

Would she balk at taking a walker which also has a seat? Airlines check those free of charge.

A friend who visited us last summer had a walker/ wheelchair. As a wheelchair it was hopeless on uneven paving. As a walker it was fine. Just mentioning as I wouldn't go that route. He said he should have brought the simpler and much lighter walker/seat.

Forgot to add, we used his disabled placard from the States with no problem. Sometimes it made more sense to drop him off and use regular parking but what ever works best.

I think the major museums have information on their websites about these features, and I know Orsay has wheelchairs available and is very accessible, they have some certificate for that. YOu have to leave some piece of security for the wheelchair loan (passport or some ID). They also have folding chairs available for loan. You can check the Louvre's website, I suspect they have the same thing being so big.

I would not count on real small museums having that, but again, any museum there of any size at all has a website and should mention these conditions.

It isn't even a maybe, there isn't any way in the world she will be able to handle the metro system, don't even consider it.

Thank you, this has been helpful. I've also learned today that churches don't have wheelchairs to loan - and the pictures of St. Chappele look like a vast open space with no place to sit down. Is it?

Sainte Chapelle has seats. The problem might be the access, which is by way of a spiral staircase from the lower chapel. There is a door from the adjoining courthouse that goes directly to the upper level, which I used to enter for a concert some years ago. It is possible that there is handicapped access that allows entry on that level, but I am just speculating.

Ste Chapelle does have elevator access -- But no wheel chairs that I know of. If she is in a chair, they will escort her via the elevator. But I'm pretty sure that is only available on weekdays when the adjacent building is open.

And I have never been able to visit Sainte Chapelle without standing in a queue .... You would need to be aware that buses in Paris are usually crowded and your MIL will not necessarily be offered a seat. Seats are allocated for the elderly and infirm but if one is jammed in they may be difficult to reach, especially if you don't speak French. I would consider taxis, especially if cost is not a problem.
My feeling would be that Paris is not a wheelchair friendly city and of all the areas probably the Marais is easiest to get around. Just a personal opinion though.
You might like to look at http://www.sagetraveling.com/Paris-Disabled-Access
This website is designed for those travelling in a wheelchair but could be useful to you. Sometimes there are more options if you actually in a chair than not.

"<i>And I have never been able to visit Sainte Chapelle without standing in a queue .... </i>"

If one is disabled they don't have to stand in the entrance/security queue. There is a sign directing handicapped visitors to the (different) accessible entrance.

From Ste Chapelle's website: >>Access to the lower chapel is by a ramp whose slope is 10%. Access to the upper chapel is by a lift of the Palace of Justice (note that the width of the wheelchair must not exceed 60 cm). The assistance of a home agent of the monument is required to access this part of the monument.<<

I have issues with walking and balance when standing on a bus, and have found that people always offer me a seat if I appear to be having trouble. The seats allocated for those who have difficulty standing are the ones with the easiest access near the front of the bus.