It was to be expected. The announcement that the Louvre would introduce a special €30 admission price for non-European visitors as of January 1, 2026, has had a domino effect. According to Le Monde‘s sources, this distinction between Europeans and non-Europeans will also be tested at the Château de Versailles (Paris region), at a monument managed by the National Monuments Center (CMN) – either the Arc de Triomphe or the Conciergerie, both in Paris – at the Château de Chambord, a castle in the Loire Valley (central France), as well as at Paris’ Opéra Garnier.
A source at the Culture Ministry said they were convinced that tourists who have come from afar would not hesitate to pay any price to step back in time with Marie-Antoinette, take a selfie with the Mona Lisa, or enjoy panoramic views of Paris from the Arc de Triomphe.
This measure is expected to be extended to other sites in 2027. The goal is clear: to raise money, at a time when budget cuts threaten public subsidies, sponsorship has been drying up, and construction costs are soaring. At the Château de Versailles, which is always seeking funds to repair a cracked pool, restore a neglected grove, or fix a leaking roof, non-European visitors represent 42% of the monument’s 8 million annual visitors.
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