Louvre Museum

Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France

The Louvre or the Louvre Museum is the world’s largest art museum and a historic monument in Paris, France. A central landmark of the city, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the city’s 1st arrondissement (district or ward). Approximately 38,000 objects from prehistory to the 21st century are exhibited over an area of 72,735 square metres (782,910 square feet). In 2017, the Louvre was the world’s most visited art museum, receiving 8.1 million visitors.

The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace, originally built as the Louvre castle in the late 12th to 13th century under Philip II. Remnants of the fortress are visible in the basement of the museum. Due to the urban expansion of the city, the fortress eventually lost its defensive function and, in 1546, was converted by Francis I into the main residence of the French Kings. The building was extended many times to form the present Louvre Palace. In 1682, Louis XIV chose the Palace of Versailles for his household, leaving the Louvre primarily as a place to display the royal collection, including, from 1692, a collection of ancient Greek and Roman sculpture. In 1692, the building was occupied by the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres and the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture, which in 1699 held the first of a series of salons. The Académie remained at the Louvre for 100 years. During the French Revolution, the National Assembly decreed that the Louvre should be used as a museum to display the nation’s masterpieces.

The museum opened on 10 August 1793 with an exhibition of 537 paintings, the majority of the works being royal and confiscated church property. Because of structural problems with the building, the museum was closed in 1796 until 1801. The collection was increased under Napoleon and the museum was renamed Musée Napoléon, but after Napoleon’s abdication many works seized by his armies were returned to their original owners. The collection was further increased during the reigns of Louis XVIII and Charles X, and during the Second French Empire the museum gained 20,000 pieces. Holdings have grown steadily through donations and bequests since the Third Republic. The collection is divided among eight curatorial departments: Egyptian Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculpture; Decorative Arts; Paintings; Prints and Drawings.

Source : wikipedia   

There are plenty of things to do in Paris but the Louvre museum is one of the most popular Paris attractions. The Louvre is one of the largest museums in the world with around 35,000 pieces of art dating back to prehistoric times and is considered to be the most important and popular museum not only in Paris, but in the world! Covering 60,000 square meters, 653,300 feet, this massive place draws to its gates more than 8 million visitors each year, making it the most visited in the world.

GET TO KNOW THE LOUVRE MUSEUM IN PARIS

The Louvre museum is part of the original Palace which was built as a fortress for Phillip II in the late 12th century. You can still find remains of the fortress in the basement but the building has been transformed into a museum to house the many masterpieces that are on display. Some of the most famous being the Mona Lisa and the Venus of Milo. The museum opened its doors in 1793 exhibiting 537 paintings, with the majority of them royal and confiscated church property. During the reign of Napoleon, the collection was increased and the name was changed to Musee Napoleon. After his defeat at Waterloo, many of the works were returned to the original owners.

Under Louis XVIII and Charles X the collections increased even more, with the main contribution being during the Second French Empire, where the museum gained 20,000 pieces of art. In modern day, you will find that the collections are divided into categories: Egyptian Antiquities, Greek, Near Eastern, Etruscan Roman, Islamic, Sculpture, Decorative, Paintings, Drawings and Prints.

During the French Revolution Louis XVI was imprisoned and the royal collection became national property. It was transformed into a public museum and in 1971 the Assembly declared it a center for science and art. There is no way you can see all of the Louvre in one visit, so plan ahead to maximize your time and always purchase tickets in advance to avoid waiting in long lines – such a waste of your vacation time!

This is not the only museum you should visit in Paris, to learn more about other cultural attractions, watch our free travel guides about Paris sightseeing, and get information about the most popular places to visit in the City of Lights.

Source :  vidtur.com 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmKeRxv-xwM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tHe3E70cwY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNjuSMSy9MU

Reviews
https://bit.ly/2OPr7iI
Opening hours, Prices and getting there : https://bit.ly/2CvL4FL
Suggested duration : 4 hours