Top 20 most visited museums in France

The Louvre Museum in Paris is the most visited museum in France with approximately 8.9 million visitors per year.

The top 5 most frequented museums are: the Louvre Museum (8.9 M), the Palace of Versailles (8.1 M), the Musée d'Orsay (3.6 M), the Centre Pompidou (3.3 M), and the Quai Branly Museum (1.2 M).

Most of the major national museums are free for visitors under 18 and for 18-25-year-old residents of the European Union. On the first Sunday of the month, several national museums offer free entry.

Fine arts museums in Lille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Nantes, and Rouen are among the richest in France outside of Paris.

Prices vary: between 9 and 17 euros for national museums, 3 to 8 euros for municipal museums. Many discounts are available.

The City of Science, the National Museum of Natural History, the Palace of Discovery, and the Confluences Museum in Lyon are particularly suitable for children.

Under 18, 18-25-year-old EU residents, first Sunday of the month, Museum Night, Heritage Days, job seekers, disabled persons, and journalists.

In Paris, most museums close on Tuesday, not Monday. The Louvre and Centre Pompidou close on Tuesday. The Musée d'Orsay closes on Monday.

A national museum is managed by the State, a municipal museum by a commune. Both can hold the 'Museums of France' label.

Major exhibitions change each season. The Louvre, Grand Palais, Musée d'Orsay, and Centre Pompidou host the most high-profile exhibitions.