Where French monuments let tour groups bring their own headsets (2026)

It depends on the building. Nine French sites we checked require audiophones for guided groups, but they disagree on whose equipment counts. The Louvre, the Palais Garnier and Strasbourg Cathedral leave it to the group, three sites are unclear, and Notre-Dame, Orsay and the Orangerie accept only their own devices. Each rule below is quoted from the official text, checked on 2 October 2026.

Nine of the sites we checked make audiophones compulsory for guided groups, from every guided visit at Notre-Dame and Strasbourg to groups of 10 or more at Chartres. For planning, the column that matters most is the last one: whose equipment the site accepts.

At the Louvre and the Palais Garnier, and in practice at Strasbourg Cathedral. These texts leave the equipment to the group or accept outside equipment, so a phone-based system is an option. None of them mentions phones, so confirm your setup with the site in writing before the visit.

Louvre. Article 15 of the visiting rules requires headsets for participants in groups of 7 to 20, "non fournis par le musée" (not supplied by the museum). Groups without headphones are not admitted.

Palais Garnier. The Opéra writes "Les audiophones sont obligatoires pour toute prise de parole" (audiophones are compulsory whenever someone speaks to a group), except for young school classes and groups under seven. It lends a set with a microphone and earphones, and "Le matériel extérieur est accepté" (outside equipment is accepted).

Strasbourg Cathedral. Since 1 March 2017, "Aucun guide ne peut parler à l’intérieur de la Cathédrale sans audiophones" (no guide may speak inside the cathedral without audiophones), however small the group. Handout and collection happen outside, sets are rented from a shop on the square, and phones must stay on silent inside, so describe a phone-based setup to the cathedral first.

All three make audiophones compulsory without settling whose equipment counts. Treat each as an open question until the site answers in writing, and keep a fallback in the budget, such as renting the site's own sets on the day of the visit.

Versailles. The audiophone page says "L'usage des audiophones est obligatoire pour tous les groupes" (audiophones are compulsory for all groups) of 5 to 30 people plus the speaker; the group page says more than two. After exempting school, disability and social-sector groups, it says groups may bring their own equipment or rent on site. Yet the page opens by saying that booking audiophones is mandatory for groups over five.

Musée Picasso-Paris. The 2022 visiting rules read "Le port d’audiophone est obligatoire pour tous les groupes sauf les groupes scolaires" (audiophones are compulsory for all groups except school groups), and speaking groups under five are exempt too. The museum lends audiophones free on request, and its group page puts the cut-off at six.

Chartres Cathedral. The 2025 internal rules state that "l’emploi des systèmes audiophones est obligatoire pour les groupes de 10 personnes ou plus" (audiophone systems are compulsory for groups of 10 or more). Guides request accreditation by email at least 15 days ahead.

At Notre-Dame de Paris, the Musée d'Orsay and the Musée de l'Orangerie, only the site's own audiophones are allowed. Your Next Tours cannot be used inside these buildings. Use it for outdoor stops and the briefing before entry, then switch the group to the site's equipment at the door.

Notre-Dame de Paris. Since 1 July 2026, every visit with an external guide needs a booking, whatever the group size. The cathedral's page says the visit runs "exclusivement avec des audiophones loués auprès du prestataire agréé par la cathédrale" (exclusively with audiophones rented from the cathedral's authorised provider). Groups have 2 to 25 people including the guide, and rental costs 25 to 45 EUR depending on group size (October 2026).

Orsay and the Orangerie. Both museums state that "le port d’audiophones fournis par le musée est obligatoire pour tous les groupes" (wearing the museum's audiophones is compulsory for all groups). A group is seven or more people besides the speaker. Orsay also bans guided commentary on Sundays and public holidays, and building works closed it to groups from 10 June to 5 October 2026.

Outdoors everywhere, and indoors where the site leaves the equipment to the group and confirms your setup. The French texts speak of audiophones and earphones and never mention phones or WiFi. What they protect is the room: the commentary must reach only the group, through earphones.

With Your Next Tours, the guide speaks into their phone, and participants scan a QR code and listen in their phone's browser through their own earphones. Nothing is rented, and a portable WiFi router carries the broadcast without an internet connection. See how it works and our post on multilingual tour groups.

Use your own system where French sites allow it and at every outdoor stop: install the guide app, create a tour and share its QR code before you enter. Compare plans and pricing and see each rule in our tour group headset rules by country.

Translations from French are ours; the French originals are authoritative. Rules checked on 2 October 2026.