Louvre

Palais du Louvre (1)
Underground: Palais Royal, Louvre-Rivoli
Tel. (0) 1 40 20 51 51/ 53 17
www.louvre.fr
Thursday-Sunday 9am-6pm, Monday/Wednesday 9am-9.45pm. Closed on Tuesday.

This former medieval fortress today houses one of the largest museums in the world. It contains extensive collections of Oriental, Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman antiquities, such as paintings, furniture and sculptures. Philip II August built the Louvre as a defence complex on the bank of the River Seine around 1200. As the strategic location grew less and less significant, Charles V turned the fortress into his private residence in the 14th century. Many more kings and queens added their own alterations and embellishments so that an intricate complex of renaissance façades, labyrinthine courtyards, pavillions, passages, portals and showrooms came into existence.

In 1661, Louis XIV decided to move his court to Versailles. Although the Louvre had now lost its importance as a seat of government, academies and galleries took over the buildings. Shortly after the Revolution the Louvre opened its doors as an art museum. Napoleon extended the collection, and today the Louvre is one of the world’s greatest museums. The spectacular extension that President Mitterrand had in mind when he dediced to build a pyramid, gave rise to much controversy. Today the pyramid, for which 90 tons of glass was needed, is the main entrance to the museum.

 

Back to Sightseeing highlights

Home I  Welcome to Paris  I  History  I  City Tour  I  Practical  I Maps