What to see at the Louvre Museum in Paris?

Nestled in the heart of Paris, the Louvre Museum stands as a sanctuary of culture and history. Founded in 1793 and rooted in the history of the French capital for nearly 800 years, the Louvre has evolved from a medieval fortress into an iconic museum celebrating its 230th anniversary this year. It embodies the living history of France, from its days of royal glory to the architectural audacity of the Pyramid, adding a modern chapter to its centuries-old narrative.

A true crossroads of the old and the new, the Louvre continues to captivate the world, attracting visitors in record numbers.

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History of the Louvre

The Louvre Museum, today celebrated as the largest art and antiquities museum in the world, has modest and military origins. Its history begins in the 12th century, with the construction of a fortress by Philip Augustus to protect Paris from Viking invasions. This fortress, with its foundations still visible in the museum's basement, was both a symbol of power and a key element in the city's defense.

Over the centuries, the fortress transformed into a royal palace, becoming a residence for the kings of France and a sanctuary for royal arts. It was under Francis I, a great patron of the arts and passionate about the Italian Renaissance, that the Louvre truly began to take shape as a royal residence adorned with artworks.

The French Revolution marked a turning point for the Louvre, as the palace transformed into a museum and opened to the public in 1793. This was a revolutionary act in itself, making art and culture accessible to all, not just the elite. Since then, the Louvre has continued to expand and diversify, hosting works ranging from Antiquity to the Renaissance and beyond.

The museum's 230th anniversary in 2023 is thus a celebration of this rich history, from its defensive beginnings to its current status as a beacon of culture and world art.

The Louvre Pyramid

The Louvre, far beyond its status as the largest art and antiquities museum, is also a place of architectural transformation. At the heart of this evolution stands the Louvre Pyramid, designed by Chinese-American architect Ieoh Ming Pei. Commissioned in 1983 by President François Mitterrand, the pyramid, made of glass and metal, was inaugurated in 1988. It represents a bold bet on the future, combining tradition and modernity.

This masterpiece of steel and aluminum, standing 21.64 meters high and covered with 673 glass panels, is the centerpiece of a vast renovation known as the "Grand Louvre" project. Initiated to make the Louvre a "mass museum," this project marked a museographic revolution, transforming the entire palace into a museum space and reorganizing public access with this new majestic entrance that facilitates access to the museum's wings.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi: a cultural partnership

The Louvre Museum continues to shine beyond France's borders, notably with the inauguration of the Louvre Abu Dhabi in 2017. This cultural partnership, the result of an intergovernmental agreement signed in 2007, created a universal museum within a cultural district on Saadiyat Island, in Abu Dhabi. The project, led by architect Jean Nouvel, received support from France and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in a cultural and geopolitical exchange effort, thus establishing a bridge between cultures and eras.

Current collections and exhibitions

Permanent treasures

The permanent collections of the Louvre Museum are an invitation to travel through time and space, with over 500,000 works that testify to the richness and diversity of world culture. This extensive offering is organized into eight curatorial departments, each specializing in a specific era or region of the world, ensuring a comprehensive and educational experience.

Visitors can explore a wide variety of fields such as architecture, arms and armor, book arts, jewelry, drawings, furniture, coins and medals, paintings, sculptures, textiles, and much more.

Among the masterpieces, the Louvre presents 40 iconic works, revealing the grandeur and depth of its collections. Moreover, the museum continues to enrich its heritage with new acquisitions, like the 124 works added in 2022, thus ensuring the renewal and vitality of its cultural offering.

• Iconic Greek sculptures such as the Venus de Milo stand proudly within the collections, while the caryatids by Jean Goujon recall the elegance and finesse of French Renaissance art.
• The majestic Winged Victory of Samothrace, located at the top of a dramatic staircase, offers a striking spectacle, symbolizing the strength and beauty of Hellenistic art.
• The frescoes by Sandro Botticelli, delicately preserved, offer a glimpse into the Italian Renaissance and its influence on European art.
• The Grande Galerie offers a walk through the masterpieces of the Renaissance, culminating with the world's most famous portrait: The Mona Lisa. This painting by Leonardo da Vinci, also known as Mona Lisa, is the centerpiece of the Denon wing, located in room 711. With its enigmatic smile and gaze that seems to follow the viewer, the Mona Lisa continues to fascinate and draw crowds, symbolizing the artistic genius of the era and the richness of the Louvre's collection.
• The Raft of the Medusa by Théodore Géricault, a powerful work of French Romanticism, provokes intense reflection on the human condition and historical dramas.
• The Slaves by Michelangelo, sculptures that seem to struggle to free themselves from their marble, and the tender kiss of Cupid awakening Psyche by Antonio Canova are examples of the mastery of sculpture that animates the stone.

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Each work in the Louvre tells a story, an era, an artist, reflecting the museum's mission to preserve and share the cultural heritage of humanity. It is a continuous dialogue between the past and the present, offering an inexhaustible source of discovery and inspiration.

Temporary exhibitions

Regarding the temporary exhibitions, the museum recently hosted « Splendors of the Uzbek Oases » from November 23, 2022, to March 6, 2023. This exhibition immersed visitors in the heart of Central Asia, in Uzbekistan, to discover works classified as World Heritage. Nearly 130 works, including monumental murals and treasures in gold, silver, and silk, were presented, showcasing the rich history of this region that fascinated historical figures such as Alexander the Great and the caliphs of Baghdad.

Moreover, the museum also hosts Antoine Compagnon as a writer in residence for one year starting May 24, 2023. Each week, he writes a text about a moment, a sensation, a work, or a person from the museum and shares it on the Louvre's digital platforms. This residency offers a new approach to the museum's universe, enriching visitors' cultural experience with a literary perspective.

The Louvre Museum offers a dynamic program of temporary exhibitions, attracting both art aficionados and casual visitors. Here is an overview of the key exhibitions for the year 2023:

• Naples in Paris: from June 7, 2023, to January 8, 2024, the Louvre partners with the Capodimonte Museum to present a selection of Neapolitan works. This exhibition promises to highlight the cultural and artistic links between Naples and Paris.

• The Treasure of Notre-Dame de Paris: from October 18, 2023, to January 29, 2024, visitors can discover the history and treasures of Notre-Dame Cathedral, from its origins to the era of Viollet-Le-Duc.
• Claude Gillot. Comedies, Fables & Arabesques: this exhibition, held from November 8, 2023, to February 26, 2024, will highlight the work of Claude Gillot, an artist renowned for his influence on decorative arts and French comedy.
• The Sculpted Decor of the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel: from July 12, 2023, to March 11, 2024, the Louvre will offer an exhibition focused on the sculpted decor of the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, allowing for a better understanding of this iconic architectural element of Paris.

These exhibitions are a testament to the Louvre's commitment to making art accessible and creating bridges between cultures and eras. Each one is a unique opportunity to delve into varied and enriching artistic worlds.

Innovations and restorations

The Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel

The Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, an iconic architectural element of the Louvre, is currently undergoing restoration. Funded by the 2018 "Tous mécènes" patronage campaign, this restoration began in November 2022 and will be completed before summer 2024. It aims to restore the monument to its full glory. Built from 1806 to 1810 by architects Charles Percier and Pierre Fontaine, commissioned by Napoleon to honor his armies, the arc is inspired by Roman triumphal arches and decorates the Tuileries Palace with its narrative sculpted reliefs.

The current work is necessary as the last significant restoration was over 80 years ago. Today, erosion and damage make it difficult to read its decor, endangering the very structure of the monument. The restoration plans to consolidate the structure, clean the facades, and restore the sculpted elements for better readability.

Moreover, a fascinating aspect of this restoration is the creation of replicas for the statues of the soldiers of the Grande Armée, too degraded to be preserved. Modern restoration techniques, such as 3D scanning and traditional sculpting, allow for the production of these replicas with remarkable precision, visible through workshops set up at the foot of the monument.

Louvre+: the museum in the digital age

"Louvre+" represents a major advancement in democratizing access to culture and the museum's digital innovation. This diverse streaming platform from the Louvre caters to a varied audience, from young people to seasoned art enthusiasts. Here are some of the platform's offerings:

• Contemporary series: "Regards du Louvre" invites 20 artists to present their vision of the museum through short films, enriching the museum experience with modern creative perspectives.
• History and discovery: the series "A la découverte du Louvre" guides viewers through the museum's history, collections, and masterpieces, offering an accessible cultural immersion from home.
• Education for the young: "Les Odyssées du Louvre", in partnership with France Inter, are educational podcasts designed to captivate children and teach them the history of the museum and its notable works.
• Behind the scenes: "Au cœur du Louvre" allows discovery of the daily life of those who work tirelessly within the museum, offering an intimate look at the internal workings of this institution.
• Crime narratives: "Les Enquêtes du Louvre" offer a playful and intriguing approach to art, turning masterpieces into fictional crime scenes to solve.
• Literary perspectives: With "Mon Louvre par Antoine Compagnon", the museum offers a year of personal and historical narratives by the renowned writer and academician, enriching the Louvre experience with a literary and personal dimension.

These initiatives demonstrate the Louvre's commitment to integrating new technologies to enrich the cultural experience and expand its audience beyond physical boundaries.

The Louvre in focus: Robert Polidori and the Grande Galerie

The photographic exhibition by Robert Polidori at the Louvre Museum presents the Grande Galerie in a new light. Capturing the hustle and bustle of the "Naples in Paris" exhibition setup, Polidori followed this artistic ballet for three months, immortalizing the replacement of Italian Renaissance paintings with those from the Capodimonte Museum. His images reveal a Louvre in motion, where art and history dynamically intersect.

This photographer, known for his color saturation and ability to capture the essence of time, offers a unique vision of the museum, alternating between empty views, action scenes, and animated crowds. The book "At the Louvre," co-published with the museum, is part of this approach, offering a renewed perspective on this iconic place.

Visiting the Louvre

Guided and narrated tours for everyone

The Louvre Museum offers a range of guided and narrated tours designed for a diverse audience, including adults and young people aged 12 and up. Here are some examples of the available tours:

• Exhibition tour: Naples in Paris: a daily journey to discover the masterpieces of the Capodimonte Museum.
• Tour cycles: War and Peace in Antiquity: guided tours delving into the theme of violence and war in ancient history.
• Exhibition tour: The Treasure of Notre-Dame. From its origins to Viollet-Le-Duc: a daily itinerary to explore the history of the famous cathedral's treasure.
• 1 hour 1 artwork: The Treasure of Notre-Dame. The Coronation of Napoleon: a series of weekly tours dedicated to an in-depth study of major works at the Louvre.
• Tour cycle: Portraits in French Art, the blossoming of a genre: tours focused on the evolution of portraiture in French art.
• Mini-discoveries at night: 20-minute tours available on Friday evenings to explore various museum collections.
• Mini-discovery "The Great Italian Masters": evening introductions to the "Naples in Paris" exhibition, perfect for those seeking a brief yet enriching experience.
• Offbeat Tour / In Bloom: unusual monthly night tours to explore specific artistic techniques like flower embroidery.

New digital tools

The Louvre also utilizes digital technologies to enhance the visitor experience. From mobile applications to virtual tours, these tools offer interactive and educational ways to connect with the museum's art and history.

Here are some of the digital tools implemented:

• Online collections database and new website: recently launched, these two digital tools aim to make the richness of the Louvre's collections accessible. The site collections.louvre.fr is a comprehensive platform that gathers all the museum's artworks in one place. It is designed for both researchers and art enthusiasts and already contains over 482,000 entries. It offers simple or advanced searches, entries by conservation department, and thematic albums. Additionally, an interactive map helps visitors prepare or extend their visit, allowing them to explore the museum room by room. The new website louvre.fr is more intuitive, attractive, and immersive, offering a rich experience with images and videos, primarily intended for smartphone use.
• Mobile app "Louvre: My Visit": this app, available since July 5, 2016, uses an indoor geolocation system to help visitors navigate and trace their route through the artworks, collections, and services offered by the museum. It also allows for online ticket purchases.
• Pavillon de l'Horloge: located between the Cour Carrée and the Cour Napoléon, the Pavillon de l'Horloge offers a unique experience with digital tools integrated into its renovated rooms. Visitors can discover the transformation of the royal palace into a museum through animated models, digital labels enriched with archival documents, and 3D films. These tools are available in multiple languages, including French sign language, thus allowing a wide audience to access information interactively and educationally.
• Partnership and collaborative innovation: the digital labels and leaflets were developed in collaboration with the Centre des monuments nationaux, illustrating the sharing of expertise and the Louvre's commitment to renewing its approach to engaging with visitors. This collaborative approach between cultural institutions demonstrates the Louvre's commitment to digital innovation for the dissemination of cultural content.

With these developments, the Louvre Museum continues to position itself as a leader in integrating digital technologies to enhance the cultural and educational enrichment of its visitors.

Information and practical advice

Opening hours

The Louvre Museum is open all year round:

• Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday: from 9 AM to 6 PM
• Friday: from 9 AM to 9:45 PM

Buying tickets for the Louvre Museum

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How to get there

The Louvre Museum is located in the heart of Paris and has several public entrances:

• Louvre Pyramid: this is the main entrance, divided into four lines according to the type of visitors: without ticket, with ticket or Paris Museum Pass, members, and priority access for people with reduced mobility.
• Carrousel Gallery: located at 99, rue de Rivoli, this entrance is open to people with reduced mobility, groups, members, and visitors with a ticket.
• Richelieu Passage: this access, reserved for groups and members, is located on rue de Rivoli and closes every evening from 5:30 PM.
• Lions Gate: on quai François Mitterrand, this entrance is closed on Fridays and has no cloakroom, so visitors cannot come with bulky bags or helmets.

The Louvre Museum is not just a building or an institution; it is a true cultural experience that transcends time and borders. With its priceless collections, exhibitions that connect the past to the present, and innovative digital initiatives, the Louvre continues to captivate and educate visitors from around the world. Whether you are a seasoned art lover or a curious passerby, the Louvre invites you to discover its treasures, physically in its sumptuous galleries or digitally through its online platforms.

Near the Louvre

After visiting the Louvre, enhance your Parisian experience by exploring other must-see sites located just a short walk from the museum. Here is a selection of places rich in history and culture:

• Eiffel Tower: a symbol of Paris, the Eiffel Tower offers breathtaking views of the city and is a must-visit for any traveler.
• Musée d'Orsay: home to the world's largest collection of Impressionist art, the Musée d'Orsay delights art lovers with works by Manet, Monet, and other great painters.
• Arc de Triomphe: this imposing monument celebrates the grandeur of French history and offers a panoramic view of the Champs-Élysées.
• Conciergerie: part of the Palais de la Cité, the Conciergerie is a witness to France's revolutionary history and was the detention site of Marie Antoinette.

These historical sites are close to the Louvre Museum and are easily accessible on foot or by public transport, allowing you to create a rich and diverse cultural itinerary during your visit to Paris.