About the museum and the visit
The Louvre Museum, located in the heart of Paris, was originally a medieval fortress built in the 12th century before becoming the residence of the kings of France for several centuries. In 1793 it opened its doors as a public museum after the French Revolution. Today it occupies more than 73,000 m² and houses one of the most important art collections in the world, covering more than 9,000 years of history, from ancient civilizations to the European art of the nineteenth century.
What to see during the visit
The guided tour allows you to discover the museum’s must-see works: the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, the Venus de Milo, the Venus de Milothe Classical Greek sculptures and the Seated Scribe from Pharaonic Egypt. Other highlights include the Gallery of Apollo, the apartments of Napoleon III and great French paintings such as Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix, along with treasures from Mesopotamia and other civilizations of the ancient East.
“Painting is silent poetry.” – Leonardo da Vinci
Curiosities
- Before becoming a museum, the Louvre was a medieval defensive fortress whose foundations can still be visited under the current building.
- The Mona Lisa achieved worldwide fame after its theft in 1911, an event that brought international attention to the work.
- The glass pyramid inaugurated in 1989 was very controversial at the time, but today it is one of the most recognizable symbols of Paris.