This is one of the tourist attraction which will top the itinerary of all visitors to Paris, its iconic landmark, Louvre Museum. Home to 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 21st century, the Louvre happens to be the world’s most visited museum. The testimony to its popularity is the fact that Louvre Museum attracts more than 8 million visitors each year, Other than being among the world’s largest museum, the Louvre is also considered an important historical monument. In fact, the museum is housed in the Louvre Palace, which was originally built as a fortress in 1190 by Philip II. It was again reconstructed in the 16th century to serve as a royal palace. Finally, in 1793, the Louvre was declared as an art museum, after Louis XIV moved the royal residence to Versailles. On the day of its first formal inauguration, Louvre Museum held an exhibition of 537 paintings.
Louvre Museum is renowned for housing one of the most impressive art collections in history. However, the Louvre’s most famous work continues to be Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Mona Lisa’, enchanting numerous visitors with her mysterious smile. Other famous masterpieces in Louvre Museum include the Venus of Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace among numerous others.
In 1983, the Louvre underwent a massive renovation plan known as the Grand Louvre which was assigned to architect I.M. Pei. A modern glass pyramid structure was created in the courtyard under this project. The pyramid, which was inaugurated in 1988 has now become synonymous with the Louvre. It represents a blend of the ancient with the modern and has become a celebrated structure of the museum.
Being one of the most visited city in the world, Paris is bustling with tourists all the year round. July and August are the months which are best avoided as the city tends to get way too crowded. The months between April to June and September to November are considered to be the best time to explore the lovely city of Paris, where Louvre Museum is located.
As far as the precise location of Louvre Museum is concerned, tourists should note that it lies in the center of Paris on the Right Bank. The neighborhood is known as the 1st arrondissement. The Louvre has three entrances for its visitors. Inside, the displays are divided into eight departments namely Eastern Antiquities, Egyptian Antiquities, Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities, Islamic Art, Sculptures, Decorative Arts, Paintings, and Prints and Drawings.
The Louvre is open every day except Tuesday. So tourists should plan their visit to Louvre Museum accordingly. On Wednesdays and Fridays, the timings are from 9 a.m. in the morning to 9:45 p.m. at night. For all other days, the timings are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Visitors ought to note that it is impossible to see the Louvre Museum in its entirety in one visit. So, there are various packages available such as ‘Masterpieces Visitor Trail’ which can help tourists utilize their time effectively in the museum. As of 2013, the admission fee to the entire Louvre Museum cost15 euros.
So for a holiday with the perfect blend of romance, adventure, amazement and surprise, plan a visit to Louvre Museum in Paris !!
