There is probably no person in the world who does not know what the Louvre is in Paris. The majestic medieval palace, the former residence of the French monarchs and the most visited museum in the world. The emotions received from the contemplation of the world masterpieces presented here are so vivid and unforgettable that they will not leave indifferent even a person very far from art. The museum is definitely a must visit for anyone planning to visit Paris.
The Louvre is rightfully called one of the world's leading architectural celebrities. His beauty is multifaceted and diverse. In the intricate patterns of stone, wood and glass, the breath of centuries froze, dozens of masters working on creating a masterpiece left their mark. The walls of the Louvre Museum heard a million secrets, witnessed significant historical events, and the floorboards felt the weight of the steps of many great people. The atmosphere of the mysterious building is unique and unforgettable!
History of the Louvre
In Paris, and indeed throughout Europe, one cannot find a second palace with the harmony and elegance inherent in the Louvre. Its unsurpassed beauty has been created over several centuries. The Old Louvre Museum began to be built in the XII century, and the oldest surviving part of the palace was erected in 1546, the complete completion of the construction dates back to 1857. During this period, France saw 13 kings, 2 emperors and 2 republics. Despite such a long period of construction, a multiple change of eras and a combination of various styles of construction, today we are seeing a harmonious architectural ensemble.
The beginning of construction was laid by King Philip Augustus. On his orders, a defensive tower was built on the western border of Paris. Its location was called Lupara, and from there went the name of the castle of the Louvre.
At the beginning of its existence, the tower served as a defensive structure. Later, the treasury was kept in it, then it served as a prison and an arsenal. The Louvre became the residence of the French monarchs in Paris during the reign of Charles V. It was he who commissioned the architect Reymond du Temple to reconstruct the existing building. Thanks to the efforts of this master, the palace acquired royal grandeur and became comfortable for living. New buildings with spacious halls were erected. Light penetrated the interior through huge glazed windows, murals and wooden carvings decorated the walls. The main decoration of the renewed Louvre was the huge solemn staircase "Big Screw".
Construction continues
The magnificent palace was several times renovated and rebuilt during the Renaissance. Dozens of architects worked on its arrangement, trying to bring the ensemble to perfection. At this time, a gallery was built connecting the Louvre with the Tuileries Palace.
The Louvre received a new round in development under Henry IV. The monarch was so passionate about art that he invited artists to his residence, providing them with creative, spacious, bright workshops. So, the birthplace of many masterpieces of French painting was the Louvre Palace in Paris.
During the reign of Louis XIV, the palace was in decline and almost completely lost its status as a royal residence. The monarch settled in Versailles, and only sculptors, painters and architects remained in the Louvre. At this time, there were even plans to demolish the palace. Fortunately, they were never implemented.
The French Revolution made adjustments to the life of the palace. From the beginning of the reign of Napoleon III, he ceased to be the residence of the ruling dynasty and acquired the status of the Central Museum of Art.
At the same time, the construction of the main part of the palace is being completed - the wing of Richelieu is being erected.
First exhibits
The first exhibits of the museum were paintings by Italian masters, obtained from the royal collections. Some of them were collected by Francis I. Among these paintings was a canvas, to this day attracting millions of visitors to the Louvre Museum in Paris - “Mona Lisa”.
The largest acquisition at the time of the opening of the museum is considered 200 paintings of the banker Everard Jabach from the collection of Louis XIV.
During the time of revolutionary France, the museum collection was actively replenished due to the values confiscated from aristocrats. A large influx of exhibits was during the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte. The museum received many archaeological finds and trophies from Egypt and the Middle East.
What attracts the palace today?
The modern Louvre Palace in Paris is primarily a museum. Here are more than 350 thousand outstanding works of art. An impressive amount, isn't it? In order to linger in front of each of them for at least a couple of seconds, it will take more than 20 days.
The Louvre Museum is the third largest art museum in the world. The territory of the exhibition halls is 60,000 m 2 . The entire exhibition is located on four floors in three wings of the building: along the Rivoli street there is a Richelieu wing, the Denon wing stretches along the Seine, a square courtyard surrounds the Sully wing.
Keeping so many values in perfect order is very difficult. The museum employs about 1,600 employees. They conduct excursions, are engaged in scientific and restoration work. Thanks to their efforts, a detailed description of the Louvre appeared.
In Paris, the Louvre is very kind. Every Frenchman is proud of him. The palace is surrounded by nationwide care, and any change in his life is actively discussed in society.
Doubtful architectural element
The most unexpected construction for the visitor on the territory of the complex is the Louvre Pyramid. In Paris, and throughout France, the debate about its relevance and expediency has not subsided for the third decade. Many did not approve of the Art Nouveau glass structure in the courtyard of the classical palace complex. The choice of such a project was a shock for most French. The public calmed down only after the pyramid became very popular among tourists and began to bring tangible income to the city.
Why did you need a pyramid?
The beginning of the 80s of the XX century was a period of active development and renovation in Paris. The Louvre was no exception. A competition was announced for the restructuring project, and to everyone's surprise, its architect Yo Ming Pei won with his glass building.
According to the creator, the pyramid is designed to serve as the main entrance to the building, as it significantly increases the throughput. In addition, natural light enters the large hall through it, and under the "dome" is a shopping and restaurant area.
The construction not only helps to cope with a large crowd of people at the entrance, from it you can quickly get to any hall of the exposition. The pyramid very quickly became one of the symbols of Paris along with the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral.
The main places in the Louvre
Well, you went through the pyramid and thought about the question in which direction to move on.
The exposition is so large that not everyone will be able to examine it in its entirety. Getting lost inside a huge palace is very simple. It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the museum plan in advance, develop and plan a route. It is quite difficult to choose places for the first visit, because all the exhibits presented are the best of the best!
Here are the halls that you definitely can’t miss:
Medieval Louvre.
Egyptian halls are huge, shrouded in a veil of time. You will not see such unique samples anywhere else.
Greek sculptures are the eternal breath of the classics.
Italian painting - from the era of the early objection to Titian and Raphael.
Dutch painting - Vermeer's masterpieces with unique optical effects must be seen with your own eyes.
Napoleon III Apartments with a complete collection of furniture of the era.
And, of course, the portrait of the Mona Lisa - if you say that you visited the Louvre in Paris and did not see the smile of Mona Lisa, they will not understand you.
Entry prices
As in any other museum, you need to buy an entrance ticket before visiting the exposition. The set price is quite affordable: only 12 euros for an adult visitor and 15 euros for a double ticket. If you recall how many outstanding works can be seen in the heart of the museum, the amount will seem very insignificant.
As for children and youth, for tourists under the age of 18, admission is free.
Special benefits apply to young residents of the European Union. They are allowed to enter the museum for free until the age of 26.
How to save when visiting?
Every first Sunday of the month, the Louvre Museum in Paris opens its doors to its visitors for free. Most will say that it's great, you need to plan a trip to the Louvre on this day! However, do not rush. The museum already breaks all records for attendance. Before entering, at any time, you can see a rather big queue, and the most popular exhibits can only be viewed from afar. It is easy to imagine how many visitors the museum collects during the days of free visits. Such crowding can completely ruin the impression of viewing the exposition.
There is another good option for saving. Periodically, the museum provides a substantial discount. All planned actions are indicated on the official website.
How to get to the Louvre without waiting in line?
A large queue at the entrance to the museum few people will be happy. Buying tickets can take a lot of time, and for a tourist who has come from afar, every minute counts.
How long you have to stand in front of the entrance depends primarily on the time of year. For example, in the summer (in season) you can spend several hours on this. Of course, a big role is played by a coincidence of circumstances and simple luck.
Here are some tips to help you visit the Louvre Museum in Paris without spending too much time:
It is highly recommended to buy an entrance ticket in advance, then you can use a separate entrance, bypassing the queue. You can do this online on the museum website.
To visit the Louvre it is better to choose the morning hours - the queue will be less, there will be more time for viewing the exhibition.
Starting from three o'clock in the afternoon, there are much fewer people who want to go inside.
The main entrance to the museum is organized through a glass pyramid in the courtyard, a large concentration of tourists is observed there. But it is not the only one available to visitors. You can enter the Louvre directly from Rivoli and from the Musée du Louvre metro station.
You can get into the space under the dome through the passage leading from the Tuileries Garden. The entrance is invisible, there is no big crowd.
Where is the Louvre
In Paris, every passer-by will be able to suggest the address of the famous museum and the most convenient way of travel. But it is better to familiarize yourself with its location in advance so as not to lose precious time, especially if your French level is far from perfect. So, how to get to the Louvre in Paris?
The address of the palace is Musée du Louvre, 75058 Paris. It is located in the first district of Paris. There you can take the metro on the 1st or 7th line to the Palais-Royal / musée du Louvre station (by the way, you can get into the Louvre halls directly from the metro).
You can use the city bus, routes 21, 24, 27, 39, 48, 68, 69, 72, 81, 95. And the incorrigible romantics will like the water bus - stop on the promenade François Mitterrand.
Working hours
To properly plan a visit, you need to know the opening hours of the museum. The Louvre Museum opens its doors at 9 a.m. daily, except Tuesday (the museum is closed on this day). The work day ends at 6 p.m. on Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. And on Wednesday and Friday it is extended to 21-45 (for the convenience of afternoon visitors).
Living in the Louvre
Visiting the Louvre is great, but living in the Louvre is wonderful. For those who keep in their hearts the love of the magnificent royal palace, it is worth paying attention to the Louvre hotel in Paris. It is located in the very center of the city, in an old building, built in the Ottoman style. Spacious rooms offer wonderful views of the magnificent facade of the Louvre Museum, the Opera Garnier and the famous Comedie Francaise. All interiors are decorated in a classic French style. On the ground floor is the Brasserie du Louvre restaurant, famous for its amazing cuisine and a truly Parisian atmosphere.
Living in a hotel is very convenient. Just a few steps away are all the main attractions of the capital: Place de la Concorde, Marais quarter, Notre Dame Cathedral.
Of course, where to stay - everyone chooses for himself, but perhaps in this hotel you will have a prophetic dream like Karl or Napoleon many centuries ago ...