We used the 3 day Carte Musee because it gave us the advantages of popping into small museums without a fee and most importantly, bypassing queues. Over our three weeks there, we got 2 passes. The best queue-jumping was at the Musee d'Orsay, Sainte-Chapelle and the Louvre.

However, the wonderful Carnavalet Museum used to be included on the museum pass but no longer. Since December 2001 it is free to visit the permanent collection.

This museum was one of our happiest surprises. Highlights: fabulous rooms including a whole Art Nouveau jewelry shop by Mucha, rooms that belonged to famous people (Marcel Proust#s bedroom), objects that belonged to Marie Antoinette, Zola, and others. Fine furniture from Louis XIV, Regency, Louis XV, Louis XVI, Directoire, etc. Paintings and scale models that illustrate history: (contemporary paintings of great fires, the tennis court oath, a balloon ascent, building of the Metro, etc.). Beautiful breathtaking wall paneling, some carved, some painted including an amazing ballroom from the Hotel Wendel. There is a private room from the Cafe de Paris. Souvenirs of the siege of Paris (bread in a jar, a carrier pigeon#s feather, etc.) and china made to commemorate important events (tea cups with a guillotine!). All this in a wonderful Marais hotel particuliers.

Frances Toronto, Canada