The Louvre

The Louvre

Highlights The Louvre Museum is one of the world’s three most prestigious museums, boasting an unimaginably rich variety of artistic collections with extraordinarily high artistic value. Its three most famous treasures, known to all, are the Venus de Milo, the Mona Lisa, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. Other renowned works include Diana Bathing, The Harlequin, The Coronation of Napoleon I, Liberty Leading the People, and The Lacemaker. This world-renowned palace of art was initially built in the late 12th century as a fortress for defense purposes. After a series of expansions and renovations, it gradually transformed into a magnificent royal palace. Starting in the 16th century, François I began extensively collecting various artworks, a tradition continued by successive French kings, which enriched the Louvre’s collections. Today, the museum houses a collection of 400,000 artworks, spanning seven categories: sculpture, painting, decorative arts, as well as ancient Oriental, Egyptian, Greek, and Roman art.

In 1981, the French government undertook extensive renovations of this exquisite building, and since then the Louvre has become a specialized museum. At the main entrance of the Louvre stands a glass pyramid designed by the renowned Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei. When the pyramid was first completed, it caused strong objections from Parisians, but they soon came to accept it, and now it has become one of Paris’s newest popular attractions.

Transportation Metro Lines 1 and 7, Palais Royal - Musée du Louvre Station. Tickets & Opening Hours €9, or €5 after 3 PM and all day on Saturdays, free on the first Sunday of each month. Opening Hours: 9:00 AM–10:00 PM from Monday to Wednesday, 9:00 AM–6:00 PM from Thursday to Sunday, closed on Tuesdays and public holidays. Friendly Tip: Free Chinese-language maps are available at the ticket hall. On free admission days, visitor numbers are very high—arrive early to queue.

Paris, France