The Musée du Louvre, located on the right bank of the Seine, is one of Paris's greatest cultural institutions and a historic landmark of the City of Light. With several million visitors every 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-style 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.
Work and refurbishment came to an abrupt halt in 1678, when Louis XIV chose Versailles as the court residence. It wasn't until 1793 that the Louvre became a museum - the Central Museum of the Arts of the Republic, 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 Marriage 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 iconic glass-clad Pyramide du Louvre, built by Chinese-American architect Leoh Ming Pei, was inaugurated by President François Mitterrand in 1989 and echoes theObelisk de la Concorde, a gift from 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?
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Musée du Louvre: a free nocturne on January 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 to all visitors free of charge on the first Friday of each month, after 6pm. Next date to remember: January 3, 2025. [Read more]
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On January 17, 2025, join us at the Musée du Louvre for an exceptional evening of art and madness, to mark the closing of the "Figures du fou" exhibition. The evening will feature dance, music and performances from all horizons. [Read more]
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Take advantage of the festive season to discover the Louvre in a different way: from December 26, 2024 to January 4, 2025, the Paris museum will remain open until 9 pm. [Read more]
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Figures du fou at the Musée du Louvre: a zany exhibition to discover - our photos
Are you crazy? Yes, we are! Everyone's crazy in the Louvre Museum's new exhibition, Figures du Fou: du Moyen-Âge aux Romantiques, on view from October 16, 2024 to February 3, 2025. A plunge into the history of the madman and his representation through the ages. [Read more]
Exhibition event Revoir Watteau at the Musée du Louvre, around the figure of Pierrot - our photos
Following restoration of the work, art lovers are invited to rediscover Antoine Watteau's masterpiece "Le Pierrot, dit Le Gilles" in a new exhibition at the Musée du Louvre, from October 16, 2024 to February 3, 2025. A character who has been the subject of much ink... And a lot of paint! [Read more]
Fashion at the Louvre: the first fashion exhibition in the history of the Musée du Louvre
For the first time in its history, the Louvre will host an exhibition devoted entirely to fashion, from January 24 to July 21, 2025! The iconic Parisian museum will be showcasing its treasures of classical art alongside creations by the greatest couturiers and promising young talents. [Read more]
The Louvre by night: two evenings of art every Wednesday and Friday!
In your busy week, treat yourself to a moment of magic: the Musée du Louvre opens at night every Wednesday and Friday evening. The permanent collections and temporary exhibitions of the world's most beautiful museum await you! [Read more]
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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]
Dates and Opening Time
Starts December 18, 2024
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
Booking
Check the prices of this ticketing service
More information
Open from 9am to 6pm, until 9:45pm on Wednesdays and Fridays. Closed on Tuesdays
