One of the oldest articles for this blog is one I wrote on the Paris Museum Pass and whether you should get it when visiting as a tourist. My answer then and now is: only get it if you’re really into art.

That idea of being “really into art” segues nicely into today’s topic, which will cover the two museum annual passes that I have held at different times, the Amis du Louvres and the Orsay’s Carte Blanche. You used to have to go in person to get the cards the first time, but the Orsay has since introduced digital membership and renewal, and the Louvre is in the process of doing both, I think.

Some of the marketing behind such passes is that you will have “broken even” on the cost for these annual passes on the 2nd or 3rd visit. But I think that marketing misses the point entirely. Do not get these passes if you are only going to go to the Louvre or the Orsay a few times in a year. I recommend these cards for those who are going to go a minimum of 12 times in a year. Hear me out.

People save money and wait years so that they can come to these museums sometimes once in their lives. As a resident of the city, and someone who loves art, and has easy access to go during times that are not crowded for a bargain basement price, you’d be silly to pass up on these cards. Let me share a few reasons why you should consider getting them.

You Get to See the Whole Place

While the Orsay can be seen, from start to finish, in one long day, it will take you weeks to accomplish the same thing in the Louvre. Why stress yourself out when you can see both museums at your own pace, dividing your visits into floors and wings, spending an hour or so seeing what you want to see, and then getting out? While you could see the entire Orsay over 2-3 leisurely visits, it took me 10 well-planned visits to see all of the Louvre.

You’ll never do this without a plan, so before you buy these, designate a day you’ll go (e.g. 3rd Thursdays, 2nd Saturdays) and just block that out for the rest of the year. People who just say, “Oh, I’ll go sometime” never end up using these cards.

Exhibitions are Free

Those special rotating temporary exhibitions that everyone else has to pay for? Those are included in your subscriptions. Just flash your card and get your ticket. You’re never confined only to the permanent exhibitions. Even better, with the Amis du Louvre card you get discounts at other museums and with the Carte Blanche you get free access to the Orangerie anytime. The Carte Blanche also offers a discount at the bookstore, while the Amis du Louvre gives a 10% discount in the Carrousel, the mall built under the Louvre.

You Can Bring a Friend

The Orsay used to allow you to bring a friend for free on Wednesday nights. They seem to have removed that benefit but added a new ongoing benefit of entry 30 minutes early (that’s a treat!) as well as “duo” cards which always allow you to bring an additional person with you anytime. The Amis du Louvre card has always allowed free entry on Friday nights (a fantastic time to go, I’ve taken many a friend during this time slot when the weary tourists have given up and have cleared out) even if you only have a solo card. Indeed, if you have a “duo” Amis du Louvre card you’re probably allowed to bring two friends with you.

You Will Sink Into the Art

When you become as familiar with these museums as the layout of your own home, you get to enter into the art in a way that so few can. How many times have I sat and simply people-watched in front of David’s Coronation of Napoleon, one of the largest paintings in the Louvre, and one which is a spectacular accomplishment of memory (and propaganda), and simply enjoyed watching people encounter this canvas for the first time? More than I can remember.

Something else I really enjoyed doing was engaging my friends in conversation to purposely distract them while we were coming up on the staircase that houses Winged Victory. When I knew it was about to come into view, I’d casually say, “Oh, what’s that?” and bask in the pleasure of seeing people take in their breaths as they see a piece of art presented in a stunning manner. We’d then be able to talk more about it as we got closer and I’d quiz them about which wing on the statue is original and which had been reconstructed (you can tell…just take your time looking).

Just as when you revisit great books or films, you’ll find something new, so it is with great art. I’ve gained so many insights just sitting with paintings, sculptures, and objets d’art in an unhurried manner.

You’ll notice that I don’t list “save money” as one of the reasons to get these because that’s not why you’re buying them. You’re buying them for the kind of access that people around the world dream of, and people in Paris take for granted, but you have decided to invest in, on your own behalf (and of your friends), to get serious about the treasures in these museums. You may not renew after a year of access (indeed, I only held both of these cards for one year) but that year that you hold them is going to be a special one.

Photos of my cards.

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