Before becoming what is now considered one of the most important museums in the world, Le Louvre was the official Royal Palace before Louis XIV decision to construct Versailles in 1674.
Le Louvre is also the biggest palace in Europe.
Le Louvre is recognized as one of the most important museums of our time.
It took approximately 800 years to build Palais du Louvre (as you may know, French people are always in strike and like to take their time at work ;D).
If you want to know more about the construction of the Louvre you should have a look here.
The history of the Louvre palace is fascinating, in its history it has been:
- A medieval fortress from 1180 to 1364
- The Royal French palace from 1364 to 1674
- A deserted building only rarely used for receptions from 1674 to 1699
- An hotel for artists painters, sculptor... and exhibition place since 1699
- Louvre became a museum after the French Revolution in 1789
Today The Louvre is a museum, a commercial centre and an art school.
Inside Louvre's museum you will find art collections divided in several departments:
- Painting from middle Ages to 1848: Ingres, Leonard da Vinci, Nicolas Poussin, Véronèse, Jacques Louis David…
- Collections of Oriental artefacts
- Egyptian, Greek and Roman art: Ramses II statue, Venus de Milo, Victory of Samothrace…
- Sculptures: Antonio Canova…
- Islamic art
- Artefacts: Napoleon III apartments, Crown of Louis XV…
A Sample of Louvre Museum:
How to get to Louvre Museum: Musée du Louvre, 75001 Paris
- M1 Louvre-Rivoli, M1-7 Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre
Bus: 21-24-27-39-48-68-69-72-76-81-95
Vélib': 1025 Oratoire – 1013, 1023 Saint Honoré
Noctilien (Night Bus): N11-N24 Palais Royal Musée du Louvre - Louvre Rivoli or Quai François Mittérand - Pont des Arts, N15-N16 Louvre Rivoli
- Maps: http://goo.gl/maps/gqcwu