PARIS – The Louvre Museum in Paris had a record number of visitors in 2005, with successful soirees for young people, crowd-pleasing exhibitions and promotion from Dan Brown’s hugely successful novel, “The Da Vinci Code.”
About 7.3 million people visited the art museum in 2005, up from its previous record of 6.7 million in 2004, general administrator Didier Selles told The Associated Press this week.
Selles said Brown’s mystical thriller was in part responsible for drawing fans to the Louvre, though likely “not in gigantic proportions.” Some travel companies offer Da Vinci code tours that make stops at the Louvre.
The museum expects more dramatic results starting this spring, when Ron Howard’s movie based on the novel debuts. The movie stars Tom Hanks and Audrey Tautou, and was shot partly in the Louvre. In one of the opening scenes, a Louvre curator is murdered and discovered naked, arms and legs outstretched, with a five-pointed star drawn on his chest in blood. The murder leads to the search for the so-called Da Vinci code.
Producers are considering hosting the film’s European premiere at the Louvre, but they’re also looking at the Cannes Film Festival in May, Selles said.
Another factor in the museum’s booming attendance was Friday night soirees that are free for those under age 26. The Louvre also made efforts to cut down on waits for visitors.
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