The Musée du Louvre, located on the right bank of the Seine, is one of Paris' greatest cultural institutions and a historic landmark of the City of Light. With several million visitors each year, the Musée du Louvre is one of the most visited cultural institutions in the city, and in the world. A veritable landmark of artistic and cultural history, its grandeur and diversity make it a must-see for tourists and art enthusiasts the world over. But before it was a museum, this gigantic palace of over 350,000m2 was a place to live, and more particularly the home of the kings of France.
Originally a fortified castle built by King Philippe Auguste in 1190, it was in 1546 that François I decided to demolish the old fortress and turn it into a Renaissance residence, designed by Pierre Lescot. Work continued during the reigns of Henri II and Charles IX, untilHenri IV decided in 1594 to unite the Louvre with the Palais des Tuileries, built by Catherine de Médicis.
Construction and refurbishment came to an abrupt halt in 1678, when Louis XIV chose Versailles as the court's residence. It wasn't until 1793 that the Louvre became a museum, the Muséum Central des Arts de la République to be precise. Since then, it has housed an entire collection of works of art, from painting and sculpture to furniture and the decorative arts.
If you have the opportunity to visit the Louvre, note that the museum is divided into eight major departments: Egyptian Antiquities, Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities, Oriental Antiquities, Islamic Arts, Paintings, Sculptures, Works of Art and Graphic Arts. Among its most famous works are Veronese's Wedding at Cana, the Victory of Samothrace, the Venus de Milo, the Seated Scribe, the Code of Hammurabi, Delacroix's Liberty Guiding the People and Géricault's Raft of the Medusa.
But it is perhaps the department of Italian paintings that is the most popular - or at least the most visited - with tourists. Among its masterpieces, Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa naturally holds a special place. This fascinating painting, shrouded in mystery and legend, is undoubtedly the museum's most famous and coveted work. With its enigmatic smile, it attracts thousands of visitors every day, eager to contemplate this Renaissance marvel.
By contrast, the Louvre Pyramid, an emblematic glass-clad monument, is more recent: built by Sino-American architect Leoh Ming Pei, it was inaugurated by President François Mitterrand in 1989 and echoes theConcorde obelisk, donated by Egypt to France in 1830.
If you want to visit the Louvre, plan ahead. The best time to avoid the crowds is early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The museum is open every day except Tuesday, and admission is free on the first Sunday of every month. Don't forget to visit the official website for more details and to book your tickets online, to ensure the best possible experience.
Good to know: the museum is so vast that if a visitor wished to contemplate all the works on display and spent 30 seconds in front of each one, it would take 100 years to visit the entire museum. A little too long for a stay, but a very good excuse to come back and visit one of the capital's most beautiful museums. So, shall we buy a ticket?
Musée du Louvre: a free nocturne on May 3, the first Friday of the month
It's the perfect opportunity to take advantage of every month, without exception: the Musée du Louvre opens its doors free of charge to all visitors, on the first Friday of each month, after 6pm. Next date to remember: May 3, 2024 . [Read more]
La fête du muscle, a weekend of sports activities for children, at the Louvre Museum
At the end of April, on Saturday 27th and 28th 2024, the Musée du Louvre is organizing the Fête du Muscle, a cultural and sporting event for the whole family! [Read more]
July 14, 2024 in Paris: the Louvre Museum is free for the National Holiday
In France, the national holiday is celebrated on July 14, 2024. To mark the occasion, the Musée du Louvre is opening its doors free of charge, subject to registration. It's the perfect opportunity to discover this iconic Parisian landmark and explore its collections and masterpieces. [Read more]
A night at the Louvre: stroll and intimate concert with Birds on a wire
Come and spend two special nights at the Louvre with Rosemary Standley and Dom La Nena, aka Birds on a wire. On Monday May 13 and Tuesday May 14, 2024, the two artists are offering two exclusive musical evenings at the famous Paris museum to coincide with the "Revoir Van Eyck. La Vierge du chancelier Rolin" exhibition. [Read more]
Run to the Louvre: sports tours with cardio, yoga and dancehall in the museum
In April and May, the Musée du Louvre invites you to an unusual visit, early in the morning, before the monument opens. On the program: exercise your muscles as you wander through the sculpture collection! [Read more]
The Van Eyck exhibition at the Louvre unveils: (re)discover La Vierge du chancelier Rolin (The Virgin of Chancellor Rolin)
To mark the restoration of Van Eyck's masterpiece The Virgin of Chancellor Rolin, the Musée du Louvre is unveiling an exceptional exhibition featuring the largest number of Van Eyck's works ever presented in France. From March 20 to June 17, 2024, we're off to the second floor of the Salle de la Chapelle to discover some sixty works that allow us to delve into the ins and outs of this creation. [Read more]
Yoga, dance, magic, drawing: unusual activities during nocturnes at the Musée du Louvre
As night falls on Friday evenings, head to the Musée du Louvre to rediscover its collections in a whole new way, with unusual workshops and activities accessible to all, in addition to the current exhibitions! [Read more]
Olympism, a modern invention: the art and sport exhibition at the Musée du Louvre
The Musée du Louvre is gearing up for the Olympic Games, with a brand-new, sporting exhibition. From April 24 to September 16, 2024, discover "Olympism, a modern invention, an ancient heritage". [Read more]
Louvre Museum: Must-see masterpieces
The Louvre Museum is one of the most visited museums in the world, and houses some of the most famous works. Here are the must-sees on your next visit. [Read more]
Visit the Louvre Museum by night every Friday night!
To end your week on a high note, treat yourself to a moment of magic: the Louvre Museum will open at night every Friday evening, starting July 1, 2022. The permanent collections and temporary exhibitions of the most beautiful museum in the world await you! [Read more]
Animal Crossing New Horizons: where to see the paintings and sculptures in the game?
Art or video game lovers, head to the museums of Paris, in search of the works sold by Rounard in Animal Crossing New Horizons, the Nintendo game. [Read more]
Botticelli: where to see his works in Paris museums?
To coincide with the Botticelli, Artist & Designer exhibition at the Musée Jacquemart-André until January 24, 2022, we took a closer look at the artist's works, usually on display in Paris museums. An overview of the works of this immeasurable artist of the Italian Renaissance, to be discovered without having to go to the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. [Read more]
Location
Louvre Museum
musée du louvre
75001 Paris 1
Access
Metro Palais Royal - Musée du Louvre
Prices
Billet sur place: €15
réservation billet coupe-file (en ligne): €17
Official website
www.louvre.fr
More information
Open from 9am to 6pm, until 9:45pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. Closed on Tuesdays
