The Louvre

The Louvre is the largest and most visited art museum on earth, a vast former royal palace on the Seine entered through I. M. Pei's glass pyramid. Its collections span thousands of years, from the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo to Egyptian antiquities and the crown jewels, so overwhelming that it rewards choosing a few wings rather than attempting it all.

Background

The palace began as a fortress built under Philip II in the late 12th to 13th century, and medieval remains can still be seen in the basement. In 1546 Francis I made it the main residence of the French kings, until Louis XIV moved his household to Versailles in 1682. From 1692 the royal academies used the building, and in 1699 the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture held the first of its salons here. Opening on 10 August 1793 with 537 paintings, the museum then closed from 1796 until 1801 because of structural problems. It now holds approximately 500,000 objects in eight departments, and since 1993 the main entrance has been the hall beneath the Pyramid.

Source: Wikipedia, "Louvre"

The main sights

• The Mona Lisa - Leonardo's famous portrait, behind glass and crowds.
• The Venus de Milo and Winged Victory - the great ancient sculptures.
• The French and Italian painting galleries - the Old Master masterpieces.
• The glass pyramid and palace - the entrance and the former royal building itself.

When to go

Year-round; a fully indoor museum, worth a half day at least. Book a timed ticket and go early or on a late evening opening to avoid the worst crowds.

Before you go

It is enormous and hugely crowded, so trying to see everything exhausts, and the Mona Lisa in particular is a small painting mobbed by a scrum. Choose a few sections and a plan. Book ahead, as walk-up entry is difficult.

Nearby

The Tuileries Garden, the Palais-Royal and the Seine are alongside; the Musee d'Orsay is across the river.

Key facts