Everything You Need to Know about the Louvre Museum, Paris

The Louvre Museum, Paris, is true paradise for art and history lovers. This is one of the largest art museums in the world and boasts a rich collection of artworks representing diverse cultures from different periods of history. Some of the most famous art pieces in this museum include the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory. The best time to visit the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, is either early morning or late evening on weekdays. It remains open on all days of the week (except Tuesdays) from 9 AM to 6 PM. To avoid the tourist crowd, you can go there in the late afternoon as well and explore all the sections.

Some call it the City of Love; some call it the City of Light! Yes, you guessed it right! This is Paris, the capital city of France. Primarily known for its rich history, vibrant culture and thriving cuisine, this is one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in all of Europe. With an endless list of activities to experience and places to visit, the French capital enthrals a large number of tourists throughout the year. While the Eiffel Tower is the first thing that comes to everyone’s mind whenever someone talks about places to see in Paris, the city has a lot more to offer. Paris is known for being home to several other iconic landmarks, and the Louvre Museum is one of them. 

The Louvre Museum, Paris, France 

Are you also planning a trip to Paris and want to visit the Louvre Museum? If yes, here is everything you need to know about this museum: 

Location 

The Louvre Museum is situated on the right bank of the Seine River, in the city's 1st arrondissement (district or ward). This is an area which is also considered the heart of Paris and is easily accessible from various points. So no matter where you choose to stay in the city, you’ll be able to reach here without any hassle. 

History 

This awe-inspiring museum is located in an iconic historical building called the Louvre Palace. This was built in 1546 by Francis I as a royal residence with architect Pierre Lescot, but he could complete only a small part of the final structure. After him, almost every subsequent French monarch made some contribution to this building. Major additions to this structure were made by Louis XIII and Louis XIV in the 17th century. 

The Louvre Palace continued to serve as a royal residence till 1682, which is when Louis XIV moved his court to Versailles. In the 18th century, the idea of turning it into a public museum originated, and in the coming decades, a few significant additions were made to the existing art collection. 

In the 1980s and 90s, this structure underwent some major remodelling in order to become more accessible for visitors. This is when an auditorium, cafeteria, shops, exhibition spaces, storage areas, parking areas, etc., were constructed. A few more wings were created and inaugurated in the following years to give the museum its current form. 

Collection 

The art collection displayed at the Louvre Art Museum in Paris is one of the largest in the world and covers a major part of the vast French history. Currently, this museum has eight different curatorial departments. These are: Egyptian Antiquities, Near Eastern Antiquities, Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities, Paintings, Prints and Drawings, Sculptures, Decorative Arts, and Islamic Art. Here, you can find more than 35,000 pieces of art on display. This collection also includes some of the world-famous masterpieces, such as the Winged Victory of Samothrace, the Seated Scribe, the Winged Bulls of Khorsabad, the Mona Lisa, Michelangelo’s Slaves, etc.

Here is what each one of these 8 curatorial departments of this museum offers: 

• Egyptian Antiquities: This section of the Louvre Museum has a collection of objects related to the expansive history and culture of ancient Egypt. From mummies to jewellery items and religious artefacts, this department has different things that will give you a glimpse into the glorious past of Egyptians.

• Near Eastern Antiquities: This department has artefacts from different regions of the Middle East on display. You can find objects from several ancient civilisations here, such as Mesopotamia, Persia, etc.

• Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities: This department features a collection of sculptures, pottery, and other artefacts that belong to Greece, Etruria, and Rome.

• Islamic Art: In this section of the Louvre Museum, you can find a diverse collection of Islamic art. It includes everything right from ceramics and textiles to calligraphy samples.

• Sculptures: As the name suggests, this department has a wide range of sculptures from various cultures. All these objects are from different periods of history.

• Decorative Arts: This department features a large collection of furniture items, ceramics, and textiles from various periods and styles.

• Paintings: This section features an extensive collection of European paintings, and most of them are made by renowned artists, such as Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael.
• prints and Drawings: This section showcases a rich collection of prints, drawings, and other graphic works. Some of these artworks are by world-famous artists like Albrecht Dürer and Rembrandt.

How to Explore?

You can choose to explore the Louvre Museum either on your own or opt for a guided tour. They organise workshops and guided tours for all visitors who are above the age of 4 years. You can also be a part of detailed lectures providing more information about different art collections. The language you can choose as per your convenience, as the available options are French, English, Spanish and Italian. Other than this, audio guides are also available in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, German, Japanese, Korean and Chinese at a cost of €6. 

Opening Hours 

The Louvre Museum, Paris, is open from 9am to 6pm on all days, except Tuesdays. On Wednesdays and Fridays, it remains open until 9 PM. Like several other tourist places in the city, this museum closed on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. Apart from these, it is open for visitors on all other public holidays. 

Tickets 

Each visitor needs a paid or free admission ticket in order to visit the Louvre Museum. For one person, the price of an admission ticket is €22. If you wish to book a guided tour, the cost can vary between €9 and €12, and the combined ticket (guide + entry) costs €31. There are no entry charges for individuals who are below 18 years old or are below 26 years old and from a European Economic Area country. Other than this, teachers, Ministry of Culture staff members, ICOM members, job seekers, and recipients of minimum social benefits also don’t need tickets for the Louvre Museum, Paris. Whether you are eligible for free entry or not, it is strongly recommended to book a time slot on https://www.ticketlouvre.fr prior to your visit. Although these prices and terms & conditions remain the same throughout the year, it is always best to check them once (online or offline).

Being one of the major tourist attractions in the city of Paris, the Louvre Museum enthrals a large number of visitors every day. With the help of this comprehensive guide, you can easily explore this large museum in the most hassle-free manner. Or, you can also book one of our Paris tour packages to make sure that you cover all the important places this city has to offer. At Veena World, we have an extensive collection of all-inclusive tour packages, designed to cater to the diverse needs of travellers. Whether you’re looking for a Paris honeymoon package or a guided tour suitable for your solo adventure, you can find everything here.