Louvre Museum Paris: The World’s Largest Museum

The Louvre Museum in Paris is undoubtedly one of the most visited attractions in your Europe Tour Package, attracting millions of visitors every year. Known for its vast collection of exhibits which is 35000 to be precise, it is also home to the famous Mona Lisa Painting by Leonardo Da Vinci. The Louvre Museum architecture is a modern one, and the glass pyramid looks absolutely stunning and worthy of all admiration, making it an architectural masterpiece.

History of Louvre Museum Paris

Louvre Museum, which stands as the most visited museum in the world has quite an interesting history which dates back to the 12th Century. The Museum was initially built as a fortress in 1190 to defend the city against the invaders.

Later in the 14th century, it was transformed into a Royal Palace, however, King Francis I began turning it into a Renaissance-style residence. In 1619 King Francis moved to the Royal Court in Versailles, leaving Louvre for artists and intellectual. During the French Revolution, it was finally transformed into a museum and came to be known as the Museum Central des Arts with 537 artworks, some of which were seized from the monarchy and churches.

At present the Louvre Museum in Paris is the largest museum in the world featuring 35000 artworks from the ancient civilizations to 19th century.

Louvre Museum Timings

• Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m
• Wednesday and Friday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• Tuesday: Closed

Note: The Louvre Museum in Paris also remains closed on 1st January, 1st May, and 25th December.

Louvre Museum Tickets

• INR 1984 Onwards

Louvre Museum Tickets will cost you around INR 1984, however if you wish to take Guided tours and workshops then you need to pay an additional amount of INR 811 apart from the Louvre Museum tickets.

Things To Do At Louvre Museum

If you are under the impression that the Louvre is just an ordinary museum then you could not be more wrong because there are plenty of things to do at the Louvre Museum, let’s check them out:

Iconic Art Works

Witness some of the iconic pieces of artwork whose names have been etched in the history books.

• Mona Lisa: The world’s most famous painting by Leonardo Da Vinci.
• Venus di Milo: An ancient Greek statue that represents the Aphrodite.
• The Raft of the Medusa: A dramatic and emotional painting by Gericault.
• Coronation of the Napolean: A massive detailed painting from history.

Marvel At The Architecture

The design of Louvre Museum is an attraction in itself, allowing you to marvel at the stunning design, which is one of the best things to do in Paris.

• Glass Pyramid: It was designed by I.M.Pie and is an iconic addition to the modern architecture.
• Cour Napolean: It is a grand courtyard surrounding the pyramid.
• Cour Carree: Renaissance-styled courtyard, perfect for taking Insta-worthy pictures.

Visit The Egyptian Antique Section

Learn about the Ancient Egyptian treasures at the Louvre Museum in Paris.

• Great Sphinx of Tanis: A massive and beautiful granite Sphinx.
• Seated Scribe: A limestone statue that has been well preserved.
• Mummies, sarcophagi, and hieroglyph-covered artifacts.

Discover The Hidden Gems

You can also explore some of the hidden treasures in the Louvre Museum in Paris.

• Islamic Art: Marvel on the islamic art collection including carpets, stunning calligraphy, and ceramic.
• Medieval Louvre: Fortress Foundations in the Sully Wing.
• French Crown Jewels: Find dazzling royal treasures in the Apollo Gallery.

Grand Gallery Walk

Walk through the Grand Gallery, the Denon Wing which houses some famous paintings including the masterpieces of the Renaissance. Look up and watch the decorated ceilings.

Discover the Napolean Apartments

Step into the Richelieu Wing where Napolean III’s apartments are kept well preserved, and also find chandeliers, gold plated decor and some extravagant furniture, making Louvre Museum one of the best places to visit in Paris.

Best Time To Visit Louvre Museum In Paris

If you wish to make the most of your Europe Tour, you should be aware about the best time to visit Louvre Museum in Paris.

We would suggest you to visit the museum early in the morning during the weekdays, when it opens, if you are visiting in the peak tourist season. If you wish to avoid crowd it is advisable to visit during the off peak months which is from October to March.

However, If you are planning to visit on Friday, try going later in the evening for a less crowded experience. Louvre Museum at night is a completely different experience, making it the best time to visit Louvre Museum in Paris.

Facts About Louvre Museum

Being one of the largest museums in the world, there are some really interesting facts about Louvre Museum that you should know before you visit:

• The Louvre and its entire content is worth 45.5 billion dollars.
• It will take almost 100 days to witness all the artwork in the Louvre Museum.
• Out of all the paintings, 66% have been made by French artists.
• The museum was once used as a fortress.
• The museum sees 15000 visitors everyday.
• The main Glass Pyramid of the museum is approximately 21 meters tall.
• Some people are of the view that the museum is haunted.
• The galleries of the museum span over 15 acres.
• Abu Dhabi has built its very own Louvre Museum.
• Napoleon renamed Louvre when he came into power.