Bienvenu! The Louvre reopens after six month pandemic shutdown as Paris comes back to life

The Louvre museum in Paris, home to the Mona Lisa, has reopened after six months of closure.

The giant building, housing 30,000 of its vast collection of world famous art, is open everyday from 9am to 6pm, except Tuesdays.

It comes as France eases its coronavirus lockdown - reopening restaurants, pubs and permitting groups of up to six people to meet up outdoors.

The country’s nationwide curfew is also being pushed back from 7pm to 9pm.

But everyone visiting the Louvre, including those entitled to free admission, must wear a mask and book a time slot.

The museum advised visitors to bring their own masks and encouraged them to travel light because their cloakroom will no longer be available to the general public.

Its restaurants and cafes are also closed.

The Louvre closed during France’s second lockdown last year after all museums were ordered to shut.

The reopening comes after Louvre saw a 72 percent drop in visitors in 2020 compared to the year before as a result of the pandemic.