What's open Easter Sun & Mon in Paris?
 

I've read that "many places are closed" on Easter Sunday (4 April) and Monday, but the information is pretty vague. I know there's plenty to see and do but would like to consider a few things: <BR> <BR>Does anyone know if the Louvre and D'Orsay museums are open on either or both days? Giverny is supposed to open in April but their website doesn't mention the Easter holiday. <BR> <BR>I'm not Catholic but I think it would be interesting to attend Easter services at Notre Dame. Any thoughts on this? <BR> <BR>I arrive on Saturday and know I'll need to change money, buy my weekly metro pass and do whatever shopping I need to last me until Tuesday. Am I forgetting anything? <BR> <BR>Thanks for your help.

Actually, Louvre and Orsay being State museums, they will be open on Monday, since their weekly closing day is Tuesday (and of course they'll be open on Sunday, but if I were you I would try to avoid them on that particular day). For shopping, most shops will be closed, but maybe not the big department stores on boulevard Haussmann. There'll be plenty of bureaus de change open. So, there won't be a lot of difference, except that there will be less metros and more tourists ! And, yes, I would recommend attending the mass in Notre Dame. I'm an atheist myself, but it is always very moving, especially at Easter when we have hordes of Italians in Paris, and those people know how to sing in a mass ! And the organ !

Vincent, I am surprised to hear that government-run institutions like the museums will be open on Easter Monday which I understand is one of the national holidays. For future reference, what does close on national holidays? <BR>Thanks. <BR>

<BR>Go to www.louvre.fr. The museum is closed on April 4, 1999 according to the site. I suspect you can learn the same from the d'Orsay web site.

Merci all. It does indeed appear the Louvre is closed Easter Sunday but open on Easter Monday. The Giverny website doesn't say anything about Easter. Anyone know? <BR> <BR>Vincent, aside from common sense, quiet respect and courtesy, (and perhaps brushing up on a few words of Italian), is there anything else I need to know about Easter services at Notre Dame? I'm sure it will be a moving experience, but like you, I too would not attend for religious or spiritual reasons. Do I just show up? Is there more than one service for the day? <BR> <BR>Thanks again.

Harriet, I think your prerequisites to attend the mass are just fine and, as you mention it, you and I are quite in the same position when attending a mass ! The rare times when I do it, it's like watching a Japanese movie without subtitles : I don't really get what's going on, but I am moved by the overall coherence of the ceremony and the faith I can sense around me. To be more practical, there must be different services, you'd better check at Notre Dame itself. <BR>Elaine, the matter of museums and business being closed on national holidays used to be very simple, but now it's getting blurred, thanks to (or because of ! ) the increasing flexibility among French work laws. Normally, museums stick to their weekly Tuesday closing routine (or Monday for those run by the City of Paris, such as Carnavalet or Musée d'Art moderne). The only days where nearly all museums are closed are 1st May, Christmas and New Year's. But I remember recently to have found a smaller museum (Maison européenne de la photographie) closed on November 11 (Armistice day), whereas all the shops around were open !