Two of Paris’s most famous tourist attractions, the Louvre and Musee d’Orsay, will be closed today due to flooding in the French capital.
Staff at the world famous museums said they were closing to protect vulnerable priceless art works from possible flood damage.
After days of torrential rain, the River Seine has burst its banks in several places after rising five metres above normal levels. Today it is expected to peak at six metres.
Tourist boats have been banned from passing through the French capital and the City of Paris has warned the public to avoid the banks of the river and to not take unnecessary risks.
Emergency barriers are being put up along the Seine to stop more banks bursting.
According to France 24, weather forecasters said the situation was ‘exceptional, worse than the floods of 1910’, the year of the Great Flood of Paris.
Rail operator SNCF has closed the RER C line, which runs alongside the Seine.
At least 11 people have died in flooding across France and Germany and thousands have been forced to evacuate their homes.
More heavy rain is forecast in parts of central Europe this weekend.
