The Louvre, originally a palace but now one of the biggest and most visited museums in the world, is a must-visit for anyone with a slight interest in art. Some of the museum’s most noted artworks are the Mona Lisa and the Venus of Milo.
Originally a royal palace, the Louvre became a public museum at the end of the 18th century. It is found in the first arrondissement, at the guts of Paris, where you’ll find more than one nice Hotel Paris.
There are roughly 35.000 objects on show, spread outover three wings of the former palace. The museum has a diversified collection ranging from the ancient times up to the mid 19th century. A large part of the collection consists of EU paintings and sculptures. Other rooms contain Roman, Egyptian, Greek and Oriental art. There’s also a section with ‘Objects d’Art’, where objects like clocks, furniture, china and tapestries are displayed.
Some of the most famous artistic endeavors in the museum are the Venus of Milo, the Nike of Samothrake, the Dying Slave by Michelangelo and of course Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.
The Louvre was created in one or two phases. First built as a 12th century fortress, it was converted into a royal palace in the 14th century.
Its current appearance goes back to the 15th century, when the first fortress was demolished and the wing along the Seine river was built. The palace was extended during the 16th century by architect Pierre Lescot, who expanded the palace into a complex with two courtyards. 10 years later Catharina de Medici added the Tuileries palace to the west of the Louvre. Construction on the Louvre was halted for some considerable time when king Louis XIV decided to move to the Versailles Palace.
In the 19th century, during the Second Empire, the Louvre was expanded again with the addition of the Richelieu wing.
The Louvre now had 4 symmetric wings surrounding a huge courtyard. This would not last long, as the Communards burned the Tuileries palace in 1871, opening up the west side of the palace. The Tuileries and Carrousel gardens form an agreeable, leafy setting for the Louvre palace. A pleasure at any season of the year, they provide the perfect place for a calming ramble and offer a variety of activities for visitors of every age. To make your relaxing trip complete reserve a Ferienwohnung Paris.
The collection of the Louvre Museum was first established in the 16th century by King Francis I. One of the works of art he bought was the now famous Mona Lisa painting. The collection grew gradually thanks to donations and purchases by the kings. In 1793, during the French Revolution, the non-public royal collection opened to the general public.
The latest addition to the Louvre was the development of the glass pyramid, which functions as the museum’s main entrance. The pyramid was built in 1989 by the respected Yankee designer I.M. Pei. The glass pyramid allows the daylight to come in on the underground floor.
The modern addition originally received mixed reviews, as it contrasts sharply with the classical design of the encircling buildings, but today it is often accepted as a clever solution that has given the museum aroomy central entrance without the necessity to touch the significant patrimony.