The Louvre in Paris

The Louvre? Of course, that rings a bell for everyone, right? But what exactly this cultural goldmine is all about is something very few people are aware of! I'll quickly give you the lowdown on what you need to keep in mind when visiting the glass pyramid. After that, you can start packing your suitcase - after all, Paris is always a good idea!

What or who is the Louvre actually? History of the Louvre All the important info for your visit What else the pyramid has to offer

To give you a little suspense right off the bat and for those who have never heard of or seen the Louvre before: We are talking about a museum. But of course, not just any museum, but another landmark in Paris that enjoys international fame. It's no wonder the Louvre is often a stop for tourists planning a city trip to the City of Love. Approximately 10 million visitors flock to this museum each year, which is located in the Palais du Louvre (aha! - hence the name), the former residence of the French kings. With an exhibition area of over 60,000 square meters, around 380,000 works are showcased there. For those not blessed with the gift of spatial thinking: 60,000 square meters is a lot; in fact, the Louvre is the third-largest museum in the world. We want to tell you more about what has been run by classic archaeologist Jean-Luc Martinez since 2013.

When exactly the Palais du Louvre was built is hard to say today. According to estimates, it was likely around the year 1200. Commissioned by King Philippe II Augustus, a fortress should be erected to serve as protection against intruders and enemies. Already in the 14th century, King Charles V le Sage had the structure converted into a palace, which was then used as a residence for the French kings from the 16th century onward. Over the years of rule, to be more precise, with each change of throne, the palace was both remodeled and expanded, so that today we can witness a 135,000 square meter structure. After the royal court moved to Versailles in the 17th century, the city took over the building and occupied it in various ways: artists, cabaret performers, and the Académie Française benefitted among others.

Now you're wondering when it finally became a public museum? Thanks to the French Revolution. In 1793, for the first time, artwork seized from the nobility by revolutionaries was displayed and presented to the public at the Palais du Louvre. But we must disappoint you: it was only used in this way for eleven years before Napoleon made it his residence and the museum was closed again. The Louvre didn't reopen its doors as a museum until 1873. The last renovation of the museum was done in the 1980s, and in 1989, the glass pyramid was erected and used as the museum's entrance hall.

As mentioned earlier, you will find around 380,000 exhibits in the fantastic area of 60,000 square meters that the museum has. Only the New York Museum of Art and the Hermitage in St. Petersburg captivate their visitors with an even larger area. The treasures in the Louvre are distributed across three parts of the building (Sully, Richelieu, Denon) and four floors - so make sure to wear comfortable footwear. For all those planning a visit to the Louvre - here's a quick overview of all the core information:

Opening hours: Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays: 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM | Wednesdays and Fridays: 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM Unscheduled closures: January 1, May 1, December 25 Admission: $22 Free admission: Youth under 18, EU citizens up to and including 25 years (with proof), unemployed (with proof), disabled individuals and their accompanying person, all visitors on the first Sunday of each month from October to March, all visitors on July 14 (National Day)

Exhibition guide:

Lower Ground: History of the Louvre, Islamic Art from the 7th-9th Century, Egyptian Collection, Works from the Mediterranean Orient in the Roman Empire Ground Floor: Sculptures from the Middle Ages to the 19th Century, Oriental Collection from 700 BC, Egyptian/Greek/Etruscan/Roman Collection, African/Asian/Oceanic/Pre-Columbian Art 1st Floor: Parts of the Painting Collection from the 13th-15th Century (including the Mona Lisa), Graphics, Decorative Arts, Egyptian/Greek/Etruscan/Roman Collection 2nd Floor: Paintings/ Drawings/ Graphics by French Masters, Works by Painters from Germany/Netherlands/Belgium/Scandinavia/Switzerland/Russia

You don't need to be a math genius to guess that with an area of 135,000 square meters, other institutions also find their place in the Palais du Louvre besides the museum. The palace also houses the École du Louvre, a school for art history, the Central Association of Decorative Arts, including its collections and library, and the Center for Research and Restoration of Museums. Additionally, in 1993, the Carrousel du Louvre was opened, a shopping promenade that is connected underground to the Louvre.

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