Louvre

The Louvre or the Louvre Museum (French: Musée du Louvre, pronounced: [myze dy luvʁ]) is the world's largest 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). Nearly 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 21st century are exhibited over an area of 72,735 square metres (782,910 square feet). The Louvre is the world's second most visited museum after the Palace Museum in China, receiving more than 9.26 million visitors in 2014.

The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace, originally built as a fortress in the late 12th 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 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.

Description

Every trip to the capital deserves a visit to the Louvre to discover the wealth of treasures it contains. The museum houses western works of art dating from the Middle Ages to 1848, in addition to collections of ancient oriental, Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman civilizations, as well as graphic and Islamic arts. From room to room, the former royal palace reveals its masterpieces to the public: the Mona Lisa, The Raft of the Medusa, the Venus de Milo, and The Winged Victory of Samothrace. In total, there are 35,000 works to be discovered or re-discovered! With its eight hundred year old history, the Louvre has been influenced by numerous architectural trends, from the medieval fortress of the 12th century to the glass pyramid by Pei (1989). The latest addition, housing the Islamic arts section, was designed by architects Mario Bellini and Rudy Ricciotti. The undulating glass canopy covers the Visconti courtyard, flooding the 2,800 m² new wing with light. A visit to the museum is particularly pleasant at night: the Louvre is less crowded and visitors can enjoy stunning night-time views of Pei’s glass pyramid, the Cour Carrée and the Seine.

Viewpoint

View from the Carrousel du Louvre of the Champs-Elysées and Arc de Triomphe. The hundreds of windows provide unique views over the Seine, Cour Napoléon, Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois Church, Pont Neuf and Rue de Rivoli.

Architectural style

• Second empire

Collections

• Antiquités
• Archéologie
• Arts décoratifs
• Arts de l'Islam
• Arts graphiques
• Joaillerie
• Mobilier
• Objets d'art
• Peinture
• Sculpture

Epoque des collections

• Renaissance (XVe - XVIe)
• Maniérisme (XVIe)
• Baroque (XVIe - XVIIe)
• Néoclassicisme (XVIIIe - XIXe)
• Romantisme (XVIIIe - XIXe)
• Réalisme (XIXe)
• Impressionnisme (XIXe)
• Symbolisme (XIXe)

Garden

The Tuileries gardens have been linked to the Louvre since January 2005.

SERVICES

Services and facilities of the establishment

• Educational activities
• Gift shop
• Bookshop
• Member of the Paris Museum Pass
• Coach park
• Restaurant
• Visitor tools
• Cloakroom

Languages spoken

• English

Documentation in a foreign language

• English
• German
• Spanish
• Italian
• Japanese
• chinois
• Korean
• Arabic

Visitor tools

Multimedia guide: Featuring a selection of works and a choice of tours in French, English, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean and French sign language. They are available for hire from the Denon, Sully and Richelieu: €5, Under 18s €3

Educational activities

The museum offers children aged 4 years and over (drawing, painting) workshops, stories and tours with a guide who helps them discover the collections in an active way.

Combined tickets

The Louvre entrance ticket also provides visitors with same-day access to the temporary exhibitions and collections at the musée Eugène Delacroix. Price: €16.

Restaurant

Le Grand Louvre

Coach park

Carrousel du Louvre.

PRICES AND TIMES

Entrance fees and modalities

Independent tour

Ticket: €15 - €17 on "ticket.louvre" website, valid on the same day, access to the permanent collections and temporary exhibitions in both the Louvre and the Musée Eugène Delacroix. 

Group tour

Booking required for group tours. There is a maximum of 25 people per group (see terms and conditions at www.louvre.fr). To book a group tour with a museum guide: - By post: Musée du Louvre - Visites-conférences - Service vente et réservation à distance -Direction accueil surveillance vente - 75058 Paris Cedex 01 - By telephone: +33 (0)1 40 20 51 77 - By fax: +33 (0)1 40 20 84 58 Self-guided group tour with an external leader or tour guide: - By post: Musée du Louvre - Groupes autonomes - Service vente et réservation à distance - Direction accueil surveillance vente 75058 Paris Cedex 01 - By telephone: +33 (0)1 40 20 57 60 - By fax: +33 (0) 1 40 20 58 24

Free

Free entry for all on the first Sunday of every month, from October to March, and on 14 July. Free (except exhibitions in the Hall Napoléon) for those under 26 from a country within the European Union, as well as teachers holding the 'Pass Education'. Entry is also free for all under 26 year olds from 6pm on Fridays during late night openings.
Admission to the permanent collections and to temporary exhibitions in the Hall Napoléon is free for the unemployed, visitors receiving French benefits, disabled visitors and war veterans.
Details in the ‘Plan your visit’ section of the website : www.louvre.fr

Free for young people and children

Under 18s go free, as do under 26 year old from within the EU and teachers holding the 'Pass Education'. All under 26 year olds are entitled to free entry from 6pm on Fridays during late night openings.

Methods of payment

• CB/Visa
• Eurocard/Mastercard
• Amex
• Chèque Vacances

Closing times

Tuesday

Exceptional closure

Closed on Tuesdays, January 1st, May 1st and Christmas

Opening times

Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Saunday 9am to 5.45pm.
Wednesday and Friday 9am to 9.45pm.

Except in exceptional circumstances (works, transport strikes, etc.). Certain collections are open or closed on certain days of the week, for more information call +33 (0)1 40 20 53 17.
Access to the museum is via the pyramid for individual visitors; the Richelieu access point is reserved for groups and those who hold the Louvre loyalty card.

Late opening

Wednesday and Friday until 9.45pm

Exceptional opening

• Easter
• Easter Monday
• Ascension Day
• 8 May
• Whitsuntide
• Whit Monday
• 14 July
• 15 August
• 1 November

Source : http://en.parisinfo.com/ / https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louvre