The Louvre

The Louvre is the first and most obvious stop on any art lover’s visit to Paris.

Highlights of the collection

The collection houses more than 35,000 works of art, offering an experience that goes much deeper than a peek at the Mona Lisa and the Dan Brown pilgrimages that have swelled the crowds in Paris and Rome.

The collection includes antiquities from across the ancient world, including sizeable collections from Egypt, the Near East, and Greek, Roman, and Etruscan departments.

The Louvre holds more than 6,000 paintings, including an Italian and Renaissance collection.

There are also collections of sculpture, Islamic art, and Objets d’art (decorative arts).

History of the Louvre

The Louvre first opened its doors on 10th August, 1793, the first anniversary of the French revolution. The majority of the collection was from the Royal Collections, including works that had first been exhibited by the Musée du Luxembourg in its original home in the Luxembourg Palace.

The building itself started life in the 12th century as a fortress, and parts of the original structure are still visible in the crypt of the modern museum.

Visiting the Louvre

The Louvre is centrally located and easy to reach.

The Louvre