Musée du Louvre

Stretching alongside the Seine and presiding over the Tuileries Gardens, the sumptuous Louvre palace has been centre stage for many major moments in French history. Built in the 13th century by Philippe-Auguste, it was the official royal residence until Louis XIV decided to move his court to Versailles in the 1600s.

After the French Revolution, the palace became a museum, with a priceless permanent collection that now encompasses many centuries of art history. Today the most-visited museum in the world, highlights include spectacular antiquities and a breathtaking hoard of 19th-century paintings. Covering more than 70,000 m2, over four floors and three wings – Richelieu, Denon and Sully –, the Louvre is a city within a city. And even the most ardent enthusiasts will have to accept they can’t see all 35,000 works on display in just one day!

A temple of masterpieces in the heart of Paris

The sections devoted to Egyptology and Eastern and Western Antiquity will fascinate young and old. The covered Marly and Puget courtyards hold monumental sculptures, while on the ground floor of the Sully wing, the Caryatides room is a shrine to Renaissance art. Next, just a step away, you can admire the “Venus de Milo” and the breathtaking “Nike of Samothrace” at the top of the famed marble Daru staircase.

On the lower floor of the Denon wing, under a glass roof, the Visconti courtyard holds more marvels: the museum’s exquisite Islamic art collection. On the first floor, the Salle des États holds the museum’s most famous treasures: Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” and, opposite, Veronese’s “Wedding Feast at Cana”. The neighbouring rooms celebrate great French and Italian painters, including Géricault, Ingres, Delacroix, Raphael, Botticini and Botticelli. If you want to step away from the crowds, the apartments of Napoleon III, on the first floor of the Richelieu wing, give a fascinating insight into the splendour of France’s Second Empire.

An exceptional heritage

The Louvre’s structure provides a fascinating journey through architectural history, encompassing elements of classical, Renaissance, and Second Empire design. More recent additions include I.M. Pei’s iconic 1989 glass pyramids : the largest of which stands at the centre of the Napoleon courtyard, while a smaller, inversed version hangs over the Carrousel du Louvre.

To learn more about the history and evolution of the building, head to the Pavillon de l’Horloge where animated architectural models, interactive displays and archival documents explain how this imposing royal palace was transformed into a museum.

Make the most of your visit

If time is short, head for the Carrousel entrance, which is usually less busy than the main entrance. To prepare your visit, download the museum’s map and free mobile app in advance. Tickets are valid all day, allowing you to set your own pace, but if you think you need extra time, remember the museum is open late – until 9.45 pm – on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Discover the Louvre museum through one of the treasure hunts in the Paris Region Adventures application specially designed for families and downloadable free of charge.

TOP TIP: the admission ticket to the Louvre's permanent collections and temporary exhibitions is included in the Paris Region Pass Experience.