The Louvre Museum - A Palace of Treasures

At 60,000 square metres, the Louvre Museum in Paris is the largest museum in the world. By comparison, the British Museum in London is 25,700 square metres and the Metropolitan Museum in New-York covers 58,820 square metres. Six million visitors come to the Louvre Museum each year to admire some of the world's greatest art treasures, which cover 11 millennia of civilization and culture.

HISTORY OF THE LOUVRE

The Louvre encompasses eight centuries of history.

Before it became a museum, the Louvre was a medieval castle. The fortress was erected at the end of the 12th century by the Capetian King of France, Philippe-Auguste, to protect the Right Bank of Paris from invasion. Some parts of the original construction still remain, including the dungeon.

	The Louvre Museum and Pyramids Photo Courtesy of F. de la Mure - M.A.E.

In 1528, King François 1st had the main tower of the castle destroyed as he wanted to transform the medieval fortress into a luxury royal residence. Under King Henri II and Charles IX, two wings were added on each side of the former fortress: "Richelieu" and "Denon". Catherine de Medicis had the Tuileries Palace built next to the Louvre. In 1594, Henri IV decided to connect the Tuileries Palace to the Louvre to create a sumptuous palace for the Kings of France. Year after year, numerous elements were added to the Palace by different architects and decorators. The development of the Louvre stopped suddenly in 1678 when Louis XIV decided to have an enormous and glorious castle built in Versailles to assert the power of the French Monarchy.

The Louvre became a museum in 1793. It is one of the oldest museums in Europe. Its creation reflects the trends of the 18th century, the age of enlightenment, also known as the "Century of Light". Philosophers and intellectuals of this period wanted everyone to emerge from ignorance and have access to knowledge, reason and respect of humanity. The Museum's collection has been gradually enhanced by royal collections, donations and a strong acquisition policy.

In 1981, former French President Francois Mitterrand decided to enlarge and restructure the Louvre through a large-scale project called the "Grand Louvre". The architect Pei was selected to built the glass pyramid that now is the main entrance to the museum.

TREASURES OF THE LOUVRE

The Louvre Museum houses 34,000 items in seven departments:

Rinaldo and Armida by François Boucher

The Painting Department features artwork from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Great Britain and the Netherlands. The pieces contained here date from the end of the 13th century to the mid 19th century. The most popular paintings include the "Raft of the Medusa" by Théodore Géricault, "Liberty Leading the People" by Eugène Delacroix and Veronese's impressive "Wedding Feast at Cana". The Department of Painting hosts the Louvre's most prestigious item, Leonardo Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa", also known as "La Gioconda". The painting was bought by Francois I directly from Leonardo da Vinci. As it is protected by bulletproof glass, one needs to get close to the painting to really appreciate its extraordinary realism. Due to its popularity, visitors often have to thread their way through the crowd.

The Department of Egyptian Antiquities features 5,000 works dating back from 4,000 AD to the Christian Era. The collection includes sphinx sculptures, small sanctuaries, sarcophagus, vases and more. The sculpture of the "Seated Scribe" and the "Jewels of Rameses II" are probably the most famous artifacts in the department.

The Department of Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities is dedicated to the Mediterranean Basin with artwork dating back from the Neolithic period (4th millennium BC) to the 6th century AD. The highlights of the department are the marble sculptures the "Venus de Milo" and the "Winged Victory of Samothrace".

The Department of Oriental Antiquities covers the art activity from several civilizations from what is now considered the Middle East. This includes Mesopotamia, Iran, the Syro-Palestinian Coast and Cyprus.

The Objects of Art Department covers artwork such as furniture, tapestries, ivories, gold and silver items, jewellery, glass, faience, porcelain and small bronzes dating from the end of the Antique period to the middle of the 19th century.

The Department of Prints and Drawings features 130,000 pieces from the 14th to the 19th centuries including works by Eugène Delacroix, Antoine Watteau, Francisco de Goya, Rembrandt and more.

	The Marly Court in the Louvre Museum Photo Courtesy of F. de la Mure - M.A.E.

The Department of Sculptures presents European sculptures in marble, stone and bronze from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and modern times. The collection includes the spectacular marble group known as the "Chevaux de Marly". These statues, created by Guillaume Coustou, were originally commissioned by Louis XlV for his castle in Marly. Replicas can be found at the entrance of the Champs-Elysées.

VISITOR INFORMATION

The Louvre Museum is located in the 1st arrondissement of Paris. It is easily accessible by Métro (station: Musée du Louvre/Palais Royal), bus and by the river boat service "Bato-Bus". The Louvre also has an indoor parkade.

Entrances

The Louvre's main entrance is located under the glass pyramid. The Museum also has three secondary entrances: Porte des Lions, Carrousel du Louvre shopping area and Passage Richelieu (only for groups or visitors with prepaid tickets). Free handbooks are available in French, English, Spanish, German, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese, Arabic, Japanese and Chinese.

Hours of Operation

The museum is open daily, except Tuesdays and some French public holidays, from 9am to 6pm. On Mondays and Wednesdays, the museum is open until 9.45pm

Guided Walking Tours

The Louvre is not the kind of museum that can be toured in a few hours. A full visit of the Louvre Museum would require several days. If time is limited, one may choose to view the most popular pieces throughout the museum or visit one specific collection in detail.

Guided walking tours are available for individuals or groups in English and French. A choice can be made to visit the most famous artwork of the Louvre, a specific collection or select a visit among the different themes offered.

For those not interested in group tours, renting an Audioguide is a good alternative. Comments are provided in French, English, German, Spanish, Italian and Japanese.