The Louvre Museum in Paris France
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Originally constructed on the site of an ancient castle and expanded upon by several monarchs, the Louvre was a royal residence; however, with the construction of Chateau de Versailles it became obsolete and was then turned into a museum back in the 1700’s.
It was first given the name Musee Central des Arts
then it changed to the Musee Napoleon and from that changed its name again to the official title of Musee du Louvre, as it has been referred to ever since, though people still call it simply The Louvre with respect.
One of the biggest and oldest museums in the world
One of the biggest and oldest museums in the world, it is home to Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, which is arguably the most famous painting in existence. the most famous and most visited art museum in the world with over 8 million visitors coming here every year.
In an easily accessible part of Paris located by the River Seine, The Louvre once again incorporates the beautiful Carrousel and the Tuileries Gardens that are a great place for a casual stroll, yet this means that it brings the museum outside with sculptures and statues from artists such as Aristide Maillol and Auguste Rodin.
Most people now find The Louvre recognisable by the large glass pyramid that is located in the central courtyard and this serves as the main entrance to this awe inspiring Paris museum, which is in alignment with the Champs-Elysees axis, but did you realise that it was only actually built in 1989! And it is from this point that tourists can access different temporary displays, the fascinating history of this world famous museum, along with the bookshop, Le Cafe Marly restaurant, etc., but there’s also a statue of King Louis XIV on horseback outside.
You will have a great day at The Louvre even if you are not an art enthusiast because it has some very amazing collections, including Egyptian
You will have a great day at The Louvre even if you are not an art enthusiast because it has some very amazing collections, including Egyptian, Roman, and and Greek artefacts, sculptures and other works of art that date back to the Middle Ages, right through to around 1850.
Realistically you need at least a day, or even more at The Louvre, as only allocating a few hours does not do the place justice, but it is extremely worthwhile obtaining a map of the place, as it is so vast you could end up missing exhibits you specifically wanted to see, especially if you have time restraints, yet do not be concerned that the exhibits are not all on one level as there are lifts to make them accessible to There is an admission cost, of course, but this and many other museums in Paris are free on the first Sunday of the month. That said, the place gets very busy.wheelchair users.
The Louvre Museum in Paris France
but arriving early and making a bee-line for famous exhibits like Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People, will ensure you get a good view before they get too crowded!
However, there is a vastly different selection of food available in cafeterias and restaurants when you need to recharge or take a well-earned break.
The Louvre Museum in Paris France
When visiting The Louvre, make sure to visit the bookstore in the Hall Napoleon, under the glass pyramid. In addition to offering visitors guides in over ten languages, it has the largest collection of art history books in France, along with a ton of other books, a children’s section, and even thousands of prints available for purchase that are derived from the museum’s collection.
The Louvre Museum in Paris France
Now that we’ve briefly discussed visitors guides, we would say that if you don’t speak French well, you really should get one if you want to fully enjoy the place. Otherwise, if you book your visit to the Musee du Louvre well in advance, you can take advantage of a two-hour guided tour that will show you the most well-known exhibits and leave you free to explore the rest of the museum at your own pace.
The Louvre stands up to its reputation as the greatest museum to visit when in Paris because there is undoubtedly something of interest for everyone there, even kids. Paris, but do bear in mind that it is closed every Tuesday and on national holidays, but is open from 9am to 6pm every other day and also has a late night opening on a Wednesday until 10pm.
