With over 10 million visitors a year, the Louvre is indisputably the world’s most visited museum. Proudly sitting in Paris 1st arrondissement, the museum has an impressive architecture and displays amazing works of art: art pieces from the Middle-Age, from Antique oriental civilizations, Egyptian, Greek, Roman civilizations, graphic arts and Islamic arts. All it requires to attract tourist and art curious! In other words, the Louvre is a true temple of History. Buckle up, and let’s learn more about this iconic museum!
As you know, the Louvre is the biggest museum in the world. But what you don’t know is the records allowing its rank! The Louvre is 35,000 works of art displayed on 70,000sqm! Some of these works are over 7,000 years old and it also houses essential works such as Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo or Liberty leading the People. All this scattered around 400 rooms and 14km of corridors! If our math is good, it would take 96 hours to entirely visit the museum, that is to say 4 days.
Today, no one can picture the Louvre without the famous glass pyramid and yet, at some point, many people wanted to get rid of it! Built in 1985, the pyramid is 21m tall and weighs about 200 tons. But the plates of glass are the main issue. Conspiracy theory fans count 666 plates. This number being associated with the devil, the pyramid is subject to a controversy. Ultimately, the museum’s managing board said they counted 673 plates! Feeling better?
At first, the Louvre wasn’t designed to be a museum. It was a stronghold built to protect the city of Paris in the 12th century. Then, in the 16th century the Louvre becomes a royal palace and becomes the main place of life of the Kings of France who followed one another. Starting with Francis I who, to take over the city, decides with an official statement in 1528 to make it its main home. It’s in 1793 that the Louvre is ultimately turned into a museum.
Voilà, now you know more about this extraordinary place in Paris. By the way, what do you know about the exotic places and underground places in Paris? Come along and discover what these places hide with some fun facts!
