The Louvre 🇫🇷

The Louvre is a national art museum situated on the Right Bank of the Seine River in the 1st arrondissement of central Paris, adjacent to the Tuileries Gardens. Recognized as the largest and most-visited museum in the world, it received 9.0 million visitors in 2025. The complex holds approximately 500,000 total objects and displays roughly 38,000 pieces spanning from prehistory to the 21st century across more than 72,000 square meters of exhibition space. Among its famous canonical works are the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory.

The institution is housed inside the historic Louvre Palace, which was originally established in the late 12th century as a defensive fortress under King Philip II. Remnants of this medieval castle remain visible in the basement. In 1546, Francis I began converting the structure into a French Renaissance palace and primary royal residence. After Louis XIV relocated the royal court to Versailles in 1682, the palace was primarily used to store royal art collections and provide quarters for artists. During the French Revolution, the National Assembly converted the property into a public museum, which officially opened on August 10, 1793.

The museum's permanent holdings expanded substantially over time through royal purchases, military confiscations during the Napoleonic era, state acquisitions, and ongoing private donations. Today, the collection is organized across eight distinct departments: Egyptian Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculpture; Decorative Arts; Paintings; and Prints and Drawings. The exhibits encompass a broad range of items, including paintings, sculptures, drawings, decorative objects, and archaeological artifacts.

Visitors can reach the site via the Louvre–Rivoli or Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre Métro stations, with the latter providing direct subterranean access to the Carrousel du Louvre commercial mall. The primary public entrance is located in the underground Hall Napoléon beneath the Louvre Pyramid, accessible from the glass pyramid, the shopping mall, or the passage Richelieu. A secondary entrance at the Porte des Lions operates on a limited schedule. The museum is routinely open to the public except on Tuesdays and select holidays. Flash photography is prohibited inside, though non-flash photo and video recording are permitted.

The Louvre in pictures