The Louvre, Paris

About the Louvre

The Louvre is France's national art museum on the Right Bank of the Seine, in the 1st arrondissement. It occupies the Louvre Palace, which began as a fortress in the late 12th to 13th century, whose remains can still be seen in the basement. In 1546 King Francis I turned it into the main residence of the French kings, and the palace was rebuilt and extended many times.

The museum opened on 10 August 1793 with an exhibition of 537 paintings. The collection has since grown many times over: today it spans ancient statues, Egyptian antiquities, Near Eastern art, European painting and sculpture, plus royal apartments and treasures.

What to see in the Louvre

• The Mona Lisa — Leonardo's portrait, always surrounded by a crowd.
• The Venus de Milo — the ancient statue of the goddess.
• The Winged Victory — atop the grand staircase.
• Egyptian antiquities — sarcophagi, statues and papyri.
• The Galerie d'Apollon — the royal jewels.
• The medieval Louvre — fortress walls in the basement.

The great masterpieces

Almost everyone heads first for Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, a small portrait behind glass in a vast hall, always with a crowd in front. Nearby hang Italian Renaissance paintings, including other works by Leonardo, Raphael and Titian, and huge canvases by French painters.

Just as famous are the Venus de Milo, the armless ancient goddess, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace, the winged goddess on a ship's prow who greets visitors at the top of the grand staircase. The Egyptian rooms hold pharaohs' sarcophagi and statues, and the Near Eastern department treasures from ancient Mesopotamia.

The pyramid and the palace

In the Cour Napoléon stands the glass pyramid, the main entrance, opened in the late 20th century. Its modern design was controversial at first, but it's now as much a symbol of the Louvre as its masterpieces. Beneath it is a large hall where escalators lead to the three wings: Denon, Sully and Richelieu.

The palace itself is an exhibit: the Richelieu wing has Napoleon III's lavish apartments, and the Sully basement reveals the medieval fortress walls. Windows look out over the Tuileries Garden and the Seine.

Tips for your visit

The Louvre is enormous and impossible to see in one day. Choose 2–3 departments and your must-see works in advance, and grab a map or the official app. Comfortable shoes are essential, as you'll easily walk several kilometres.

Visit the Mona Lisa right at opening or near closing, when crowds are thinner. There are cafés inside, but queues build in high season; the Tuileries Garden next door is a good place for a snack.

Children love the Egyptian department with its mummies and sarcophagi and the medieval basement with its fortress walls. Family trails and children's audio guides are available.

Places in Paris: compare and choose

Places in Paris rated by YesGo. Click a column header to sort.

Nearby and on the way

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Musée d'Orsay

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Tuileries Garden

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How to do it right

• Book a timed ticket online.
• The Carrousel entrance is quicker.
• Pick 2–3 departments.
• Closed on Tuesdays.

Questions