2011 was a record year for visitors to some of Paris’ top tourist spots, but increasing tourist numbers are putting strains on some of the city’s finest attractions.

"/> 2011 was a record year for visitors to some of Paris’ top tourist spots, but increasing tourist numbers are putting strains on some of the city’s finest attractions.

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TOURISM

Top attractions struggle with success

2011 was a record year for visitors to some of Paris’ top tourist spots, but increasing tourist numbers are putting strains on some of the city’s finest attractions.

Top attractions struggle with success
Robert S Donovan

A report in Thursday’s Le Figaro says the increasing popularity of Paris as a tourist destination will need to be carefully managed if visitors and the sights themselves are not to suffer.

A record seven million tourists filed past the Mona Lisa, known in France as La Joconde, in 2011. The painting by Leonardo da Vinci is housed in the Louvre museum where it now occupies its own room to cope with its popularity.

According to Henri Loyrette, the president of the Louvre, visitor numbers are manageable at the moment but could eventually become a problem.

“For the time being, visitors don’t complain too much because the Louvre is a must-see,” he told the newspaper.

“But we know the museum would be totally saturated with 12 million visitors.”

It’s not just tourists who could suffer if numbers keep rising. Some of the sights themselves may be damaged.

The Sainte-Chapelle church is visited by 850,000 people each year who cram into its 33-metre long and 10-metre wide space.

“Bit by bit, the breathing of the visitors together with outside pollution is damaging the stained glass,” said Isabelle de Gourcuff who looks after the church.

Seeking to increase its appeal, the Eiffel Tower announced plans this year to renovate its unloved first floor with a revamped visitor area and restaurant. Its visitor numbers are limited by the size of its elevators and the fixed number of trips they can make up the tower each day.

Paris’ most popular sight is the Notre Dame church, which welcomes 13.5 million visitors a year. Other favourites include the Sacré Coeur basilica (10.5 million), the Eiffel Tower (7 million) and the Chateau de Versailles (6.5 million).

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PARIS

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Efforts to relocate wild rabbits that are a common sight on the lawns of the historic Invalides memorial complex have provoked criticism from animal rights groups.

Fluffy nuisance: Outcry as Paris sends Invalides rabbits into exile

Tourists and Parisians have long been accustomed to the sight of wild rabbits frolicking around the lawns of Les Invalides, one of the French capital’s great landmarks.

But efforts are underway to relocate the fluffy animals, accused of damaging the gardens and drains around the giant edifice that houses Napoleon’s tomb, authorities said.

Police said that several dozen bunnies had been captured since late January and relocated to the private estate of Breau in the Seine-et-Marne region outside Paris, a move that has prompted an outcry from animal rights activists.

“Two operations have taken place since 25 January,” the police prefecture told AFP.

“Twenty-four healthy rabbits were captured on each occasion and released after vaccination” in Seine-et-Marne, the prefecture said.

Six more operations are scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.

Around 300 wild rabbits live around Les Invalides, according to estimates.

“The overpopulation on the site is leading to deteriorating living conditions and health risks,” the prefecture said.

Authorities estimate the cost of restoring the site, which has been damaged by the proliferation of underground galleries and the deterioration of gardens, pipes and flora, at €366,000.

Animal rights groups denounced the operation.

The Paris Animaux Zoopolis group said the rabbits were being subjected to “intense stress” or could be killed “under the guise of relocation”.

“A number of rabbits will die during capture and potentially during transport,” said the group, accusing authorities of being “opaque” about their methods.

The animal rights group also noted that Breau was home to the headquarters of the Seine-et-Marne hunting federation.

The police prefecture insisted that the animals would not be hunted.

In 2021, authorities classified the rabbits living in Paris as a nuisance but the order was reversed following an outcry from animal groups who have been pushing for a peaceful cohabitation with the animals.

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