When the country started exiting containment, French heritage remained on hold. Like restaurants, the 106 monuments, museums and sites managed by the Centre des Monuments Nationaux are still shut down. This Thursday May 28, 2020, Edouard Philippe announced the principles for the second setp of the containment exit starting on June 2, 2020 and has said that from that day, museums and monuments will be allowed to reopen.
As for the Centre des Monuments Nationaux, the reopening is very gradual, and this Friday June 5, 2020 we discover the first cultural places reopening in France:
Saturday May 30, 2020:
Le domaine de Saint-Cloud
Le domaine national du Palais-Royal
Saturday June 6, 2020:
Château d’Angers
Abbaye de Cluny
Villa Kérylos
Monastère de Saorge
Monday June 8, 2020:
Château de Carrouges
La chapelle des moines de Berzé-la-ville
Tours et remparts d’Aigues-Mortes
Monastère royal de Brou
Château de Bussy-Rabutin
Tuesday June 9, 2020:
Trophée d’Auguste de La Turbie
Château de Voltaire à Ferney
Château de La Motte Tilly
Wednesday June 10, 2020:
Château de Champs-sur-Marne
Saturday June 13, 2020
Château de Maisons-Laffitte
Château d’Oiron
Château de Coucy
Château de Pierrefonds
Monday June 15, 2020
The Arc de Triomphe, the emblematic monument at the top of the Champs-Élysées
The Arc de Triomphe, the emblematic monument on the Champs-Élysées that sits at the center of the Place de l'Étoile, is a must-see on your visit to Paris! [Read more]
The Pantheon in Paris: prices, opening hours, tour and history of this emblematic monument
The Paris Pantheon, an emblematic monument in the heart of the capital, reveals the history of France's great personalities. Originally a church dedicated to Sainte Geneviève, the Panthéon is open all year round, giving you the chance to discover its rich heritage and architectural secrets. [Read more]
Château de Bouges
Palais Jacques Cœur à Bourges
Maison de George Sand à Nohant
Château de Talcy
Château d’Azay-le-Rideau
Tour de la cathédrale de Chartres
Château de Châteaudun
Les Tours de La Rochelle
Cloître de la cathédrale de Bayonne
Château et remparts de la cité de Carcassonne
Alignements de Carnac
Cairn de Barnenez
Château de Gramont
Maison d’Ernest Renan à Tréguier
Sites et musée archéologiques de Montmaurin
Tuesday June 16, 2020
Château d’If
Abbaye de Montmajour
Palais du Tau in Reims
Château de Fougères-sur-Bièvre
Ensemble cathédral du Puy-en-Velay
Maison de Georges Clemenceau in Saint-Vincent-Sur-Jard
Wednesday June 17, 2020
The Chapelle Expiatoire in Paris, the monument erected in memory of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette
The Chapelle Expiatoire is one of Paris's hidden monuments. Erected in memory of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, this historic site is well worth a visit! [Read more]
Cloître de la Psalette
Château d’Aulteribe
Château de Villeneuve-Lembron
Friday June 19, 2020
Colonne de la Grande Armée à Wimille
In an interview with the AFP, Centre des Monuments Nationaux president Philippe Bélaval tells us more about what happens backstage so that they can reopen. He says that they will not all open at the same time: the French heritage will reopen gradually: “These reopening are expected to take place between early June and mid-July. We will examine monument by monument, during long meetings especially with the trade unions”.
Amid the coronavirus epidemic, the question of reopening these cultural sites is indissociable from the uphold of the health recommendations. Philippe Bélaval reminds that to do so, tours will have to be redesigned in a case-by-case basis and it could lead to preparatory works: “The abbey at Mont-Saint-Michel is said to reopen somewhere in June, even though the Mont is already open to visitors. As for the Arc de Triomphe, it will not be one of the first sites to reopen, because it is not the simplest. We need to guarantee a climbing flow and a descending flow.”
Yet, Philippe Bélaval wishes these reopening while upholding health conditions for visitors and the staff proceed as soon as possible for three grounds: the will to sustain the cultural public service, the return to social life that it represents for the CMN officers, and last but not least, the loss of income because of the coronavirus crisis. By the way, the perspective of this reopen let us forecast a new challenge: “We face a new situation: it will only be a French public and a close public that will come to our sites. For some of our sites listed at UNESCO World Heritage, we are looking for developing distance-tours for foreigners”.
Dates and Opening Time
Starts May 30, 2020
