Louvre Museum
Louvre Museum
5 minutes read•Published on 04-10-2024
Located in Paris, France, the Louvre Museum is one of the most popular art museums in the world. Its vast collection showcases pieces from ancient times up to the 19th century, making it an important symbol of artistic and historical traditions. Not only does it house art pieces, but the museum itself is also situated in a historic site, known as the Louvre Palace. The Louvre Museum, which has been welcoming visitors since 1793, offers a unique chance to discover art and history, attracting millions of enthusiasts every year.
Tickets & tours
A selection of the best tours to experience the Louvre Museum with our partner GetYourGuide. These tours offer the best experience for visitors from all around the world.
A short history
The Louvre Museum is a famous place in Paris, France. It’s one of the biggest museums and many people visit it. The museum used to be a fortress built by King Philip II in the late 12th century. Over time, it became a palace for the royal family.
In the late 18th century, there was a big change in France. This was the time of the French Revolution. The royal palace then became a museum. The leaders then, the National Assembly, decided to show some of the country’s best art in this building. This is how the Louvre Museum began.
The museum officially became public in 1793. The first things people saw there were 537 paintings. The royal family and the noble people of France owned these paintings before. The museum has kept adding more and more art to its collection through gifts and buying new pieces.
Now, the Louvre Museum is a big part of French art and culture. It has about 38,000 pieces, from very old times until now. This includes all kinds of art like paintings, sculptures, and gifts from old civilizations. The most famous pieces in the museum are the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, and the Venus de Milo, among others. Every year, millions of people come to see the museum. This makes it one of the most important museums in the world.
One reason to visit
Mona Lisa
One great reason to visit the Louvre Museum is to see the painting of Mona Lisa. This painting is very important and people all over the world know about it. It was painted by the Italian artist Leonardo da Vinci in the 16th century. Millions of people visit the museum every year just to see this painting because it is very special and makes people feel many things. This painting also has an interesting story. It was stolen and recovered several times, which makes it even more interesting. Many people think and talk about the way the woman in the painting, Mona Lisa, is smiling. This makes a visit to the museum a lot more exciting.
Getting there
Starting from the Châtelet - Les Halles RER Station, head west on Rue des Halles towards Rue Saint-Denis. After a 220m walk, turn right onto Rue de Rivoli. Continue straight on this road for approximately 1km. You will pass by landmarks such as the Hôtel de Ville and the Palais-Royal. Just after passing under the Pont des Arts, you will see a set of steps leading up to the Porte des Lions, one of the entrances to the museum. If you are relying on public transport, you can catch the Bus 72 from the Hotel de Ville or Palais Royal bus stops, which will drop you off right in front of the museum at the Pyramides stop.
To get to the Louvre Museum in Paris by bike, you can use city's bike rental system, the Vélib'. Start at the Boulevard Saint-Germain near Notre Dame, and ride your bike north until you reach the Quai des Grands Augustins. From here, continue west on the Quai François Miterrand along the Seine River. This road will turn into the Quai du Louvre. The museum is just across the river, and you can park your bike in the numerous Vélib' stations near the museum. This route may last for approximately 15 minutes. Just remember to keep an eye on the heavy traffic.
To reach the Louvre Museum in Paris via public transport, you can use the metro, bus, or RER (Regional Express Network). If you opt for the metro, you can take lines M1 (yellow) or M7 (pink) and get off at the Palais Royal – Musée du Louvre station. If you prefer to take the RER, you can use line B (blue) or D (green) and disembark at the Châtelet – Les Halles station, which is a 10-minute walk to the museum. Alternatively, the museum is served by several bus lines including 21, 24, 27, 39, 48, 68, 69, 72, 81, and 95.
If you are planning to drive to the Louvre Museum from the center of Paris, you need to get on Avenue de la Bourdonnais. Then, take Rue de l'Université, Rue de Beaune, and Quai Voltaire to Pont du Carrousel. After crossing the bridge, keep right to turn slightly right onto Quai François Mitterrand. Continue on this road and pass by Le Balcon du Louvre (on the left), the museum will be on your right side. Please remember that parking can be challenging around the museum, consider using the underground parking at Parking Louvre which is located at 99 Rue de Rivoli.
