Russians go for art - just for the record

When it comes to behaving badly abroad, young Russians often have no rivals. But when they set foot in Paris, most forget bars, parties and the opposite sex and head straight to... the Louvre.

ґA record number of 8.8 million visitors were registered at the Paris landmark museum last year, with a great many of that number being Russian.

The Louvre`s impressive figures owe much to foreign visitors. According to a report released by the museum, the most devoted art lovers were Americans, Brazilians, Italians, Australians, Chinese, Spaniards, Germans and Russians, half of them under 30 years of age.

From now on, Russians will enjoy a reputation not only as the most generous restaurant clients, leaving enormous tips sometimes bigger than the bill, but also as some of France`s most Louvre-loving visitors.

sections: Society, Culture