In the deserted corridors of the Louvre, tourists from all over the world have given way to employees who transport the works on carts. In the Department of Oriental Antiquities, Mahmoud Alassi, art manager, replaces in a window at the sophisticated opening, pottery dating back several millennia. “It saddens us not to see anyone, he confides, not taking his eyes off the object. We take the opportunity to clean the windows and check the condition of the collections. “ This year, the Louvre welcomed 2.5 million people against around 10 million in 2019. Same observation at the Palace of Versailles where attendance is down 75% with just over a million visitors over the year.
Since the borders closed in the spring, the absence of foreign tourists has been a blow to these sites, which usually receive three quarters of foreign visitors. Very dependent on the ticket office which represents more than half of their revenue, the main Ile-de-France castles are faced with an economic situation that is impossible to keep up with. Despite popular belief, sponsorship and filming only bring about a quarter of the revenue from these areas that are expensive to maintain.
As a last resort, it is therefore the State which intervened to rescue several monuments of the national heritage. At the Louvre, 90 million euros of losses in 2020, the State will pay aid of 46 million euros as part of the recovery plan.
“State aid is essential”
In Versailles, which shows a shortfall of 70 million euros, it will be 87 million euros that the State will pay over two years. “This help is essential to maintain our cultural offer and our influence in the world, indicates Catherine Pégard, president of the public establishment of the castle, the museum and the national domain of Versailles. At the same time, we postponed non-urgent work and saved on bank charges related to ticketing or the management of audiophones. “ Also affected by the drop in its visitors, the Château de Fontainebleau can count on the 10 million euros paid under a vast renovation plan planned over several years.
For private establishments, the situation is also precarious. “Our visibility is zero, confides Nicolas de Voguë, co-owner of the castle of Vaux le Vicomte (Seine-et-Marne). We have reduced our expenses to the strict minimum thanks to short-time working, but the State will have to continue to follow us in 2021. “ Managed by a real estate company, the area which generates 8.5 million euros in turnover per year has seen its attendance drop by 65% this year. At the end of November, this castle which made Louis XIV jealous of Nicolas Fouquet was able to reopen its gardens and its museum dedicated to horse-drawn carriages by imagining outdoor visits.
A few kilometers away, it is the town hall of Provins which has stepped up to support its medieval city. The part of the city classified as World Heritage by Unesco receives around 1 million visitors per year and generates benefits for traders. “Tourism represents 10 to 15% of the city’s employment pool, or around 500 people, explains Robin Lavenka, mayor (LR) of Provins. We canceled the rents of the businesses we own and removed the terrace rights for restaurant owners. “ The city has also put its hand in its pocket to save the tourist office and its thirty jobs from the suspension of payments.
In the spring, the renovation work on several castles was brought to a halt by the first confinement. In Versailles, the restoration of the royal chapel which requires, among other things, 4 kg of gold to gild 335 m² on the roof, took advantage of the absence of visitors in November to catch up. Same observation at Fontainebleau where the repair of the flowerbeds of the Cour d’honneur is going well.
The expected return of French visitors in 2021
Without visibility on the return of foreign tourists, the Ile-de-France castles are counting on French visitors in 2021. To make them want to come back, the Louvre will continue its short visits, in small groups, centered on a theme. “Many adults think they know the Louvre after having visited it in 6e, observes Marina-Pia Vitali, deputy director in charge of mediation in the rooms. We want to showcase little-known collections and allow visitors to ask more questions. “
At the Château de Fontainebleau, where the second confinement facilitated the return of 400 pieces of imperial furniture, we count on Napoleon, whose death is bicentenary in 2021. “We are going to create a dedicated tour in the castle, podcasts and organize reenactments, indicates Jean-François Hébert, president of the public establishment of the castle of Fontainebleau. We are less afraid of the absence of foreign tourists because two thirds of our visitors are French. “
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