First stop in Paris for most art lovers is the Louvre, the
largest museum in the western world. Originally the building was a
fortress and if you go to the basement you can see the original walls which
date from 1190.
In the 16th Century it was turned into a Renaissance style
palace which housed the royal art collection which consisted of a dozen
paintings by such artists as Leonardo di Vinci and Raphael that had been stolen
from Italy. The palace was expanded and renovated and was the home of King
Louis XIV until he moved to Versailles and the place fell into disrepair, full
of bums, bars and brothels. (Actually it must have been amazing during that
period).The Louvre once again became the home for some of the royal art of
Louis XIV and Marie Antionette shortly before their beheadings in 1793 when it
held over 2500 pieces. Though originally only kings and royalty were able to
view the art, after the French Revolution the doors were opened for everyone.
It contains some of the most famous pieces in the world including the Venus di
Milo, Mona Lisa, Winged Victory of Samothrace and the best collection of Greek,
Roman, and Egyptian antiquities, and paintings from the middle agesto be
found under one roof.
Unless you are a gifted athlete with a photographic memory
that enables you to take in a piece of art in three seconds, don't even
try to see the whole museum in one day. Make a mental list of the works
you want to see and find them on the map and you will see plenty of
other things on the way. You can always come back and you probably will.
The entrance is through the glass pyramid in the
Cour Napoleon (Courtyard of Napoleon) which anyone who has read The
DiVinci Code will be familiar with. Beneath the Pyramid is the Hall
Napoleon, a 700 foot cavern which holds the ticket office, the excellent book
store and the entranceways to all the exhibit areas. There are other bookstores
in the different sections of the museum. Be sure to pick up a map at
the information desk. You will need it. Guided tours are offered several times
a day except Sunday and Tuesday. Expect to stand in line though the more
off-season you go the shorter the line will be. You can also do a Skip the Line Tours of the Louvre and avoid the
waiting. Otherwise, you can also buy tickets at Virgin Mega Stores
and Paris Railway Stations. The museum is open daily, except Tuesdays and
certain public holidays, from 9am to 6pm.
The Louvre is open evenings until 9.45pm on Wednesdays and
Fridays. Tickets for the permanent exhibitions is 8.50 euros before
6pm and 6 euros after 6pm. You can also buy anadmission package for 13 and
11 euros that gets you in to see all the temporary exhibitions as
well as the permanent ones. There are grouprates too. The museum is free
on the first Sunday of each month. It is also free to young people under 18,
disabled and the unemployed.
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