Several tourist attractions in France are considering introducing tiered pricing, with non-EU visitors charged a higher fee from January 2026.
The French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, said a special admission fee for the Louvre Museum and the Palace of Versailles is expected to be set at €30 (R619) for non-EU visitors. Currently the entrance fee for all visitors to The Louvre is €22 (R454) while a visit to Versailles costs €21 (R434).
This tiered pricing plan may also be adopted by several further landmarks, including the Château de Chambord, and the Opéra Garnier.
Fees for restoration
According to Dati, funds will be used for critical renovation efforts, as the Department of Culture faces budget cuts. The Louvre expects that the increase in ticket prices will generate an additional €20 million (R413 million) annually.
French President, Emmanuel Macron, recently visited The Louvre where he unveiled a 10-year restoration plan that could cost up to €800 million (R16 billion).
Critical restoration work also needs to be done at the Château de Chambord at a cost of up to €100 million (R2 billion) over the next 10 years. Currently, a ticket costs €19 (R392) for non-EU visitors, but this could be increased to €29 (R598).
