On the right bank of the Seine in the center of Paris rises a magnificent Baroque palace complex, which houses a grandiose collection of masterpieces of art from ancient and Western European civilization. It's worldwide famous museum Louvre.
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Before becoming the largest in the world, the palace experienced many tragedies, intrigues, conspiracies and uprisings. At various times it served as a medieval fortress, a royal residence and a people's assembly. The formation of the complex is integrally connected with the history of France.
At the end of the 12th century, on the initiative of King Philip II Augustus, a fortress was erected to protect Paris from the invasion of the Normans and English. The structure was a cylindrical tower surrounded by reliable high walls with massive gates. The medieval feudal castle was named Louvre, which translated from Frankish meant “to be on guard.” It housed the treasury, valuable archives and a prison.
Over time, Paris grew. The emergence of new buildings around the fortress contributed to a significant transformation of the Louvre. Finding itself in the center of the city, the castle lost its defensive significance. In the 14th century, monarch Charles V transformed the gloomy citadel into a royal residence. New towers were built, a luxurious garden was laid out, and pompous royal apartments were furnished. Harsh winters, famine, plague, peasant uprisings and wars with England long years brought the residence of the French kings into a pitiful state.
Throughout the 15th century, the Louvre was in disrepair. The monarchs lived far from the capital. Dramatic changes occurred in the 16th century, when Francis I ascended the throne of France and returned the royal residence to Paris. The castle is being completely rebuilt in the Renaissance style. Instead of medieval tower structures and walls, the long construction of a palace begins with new wings, a courtyard, an arcade, expanded state rooms, a covered passage and decorated facades.
The reconstruction of the Louvre was suspended for some time when, in 1682, King Louis XIV decided to move his residence to Versailles (a suburb of Paris). Despite the fact that the building remained unfinished, the royal apartments housed French painters, sculptors, scientists and traveling traders. Since 1699, the palace began to host art exhibitions for the privileged nobility.
After the French Revolution, the Louvre became the cultural heritage of the people. The first art museum in France was opened there. From now on, Parisians can admire masterpieces of art royal collection. The complex became available for public viewing. During the reign of Napoleon I, the Louvre was replenished with new works of art confiscated from the nobility, emigrants and clergy. The emperor's military victories enriched the complex with unique exhibits taken by French troops from conquered countries.
Royal Palace
Over the course of several centuries, the royal palace of the Louvre, which is a symbol of the French state, was repeatedly rebuilt and expanded. Each monarch made his own adjustments to the appearance of the architectural complex. It acquired its modern appearance in 1871. The perimeter is more than 1.5 kilometers.
The architectural ensemble consists of three main buildings. One wing extends along the Seine embankment, the other runs parallel to the Rue de Rivoli. In the center there is a square building with a courtyard. The facades are decorated with luxurious arcades, colonnades with ornate capitals, pilasters, relief images, balustrades, semicircular and triangular pediments and numerous sculptural sculptures.
Creating a collection
King Francis I laid the foundation for the Louvre's first art collection. Having visited Italy, the monarch was fascinated by the splendor of the cultural achievements of the Renaissance. He brought to France many paintings and sculptures that convey the idea of man's eternal striving for perfection. In 1517, Francis I invited to France famous artist Leonardo Da Vinci.
The king gave the master a warm welcome and appointed him chief court painter. After death the brilliant Leonardo 19 of his paintings remain in the Louvre, among which the most famous painting was a portrait of Mona Lisa. The royal collection was constantly replenished artistic masterpieces, glorifying the power of the monarchy. The great ministers of France were especially zealous connoisseurs of works of art. different eras: Richelieu, Mazarin and Colbert.
They did not skimp on paintings from all over the world. Since the 19th century, archaeologists actively working in Egypt and the Middle East have contributed to the formation of the Louvre collection. Unique ancient artifacts, manuscripts and ancient statues were brought.
Louvre today
The area of the museum's internal territory is 60,000 square meters. More than 8 million tourists visit the landmark of the French capital every year. The museum's collection is represented by 370,000 exhibits, dispersed in the buildings of the palace complex. Today, the Louvre is one of the most major museums peace. The palace has a rich collection of works of art from ancient times to mid-19th century. The Louvre is on the list world heritage UNESCO.
The abduction of Gioconda
In 1911, one of the museum’s old employees freely entered the pavilion with works of art and stole Leonardo Da Vinci’s “La Gioconda.” Only a day later the disappearance of the canvas was discovered. For several years, the police could not find the portrait, which had been in the robber’s modest apartment all this time.
An incredible scandal broke out because of the incident, after which the painting by the Italian master became the most famous and mysterious masterpiece in the history of art. It became obvious that the museum was experiencing difficulties in ensuring the safety of storage of the collection. The Louvre needed internal reforms in this area. Instead of the position of museum director, a commissioner was appointed, who increased the number of security guards and introduced strict rules for visiting the Louvre. All were refurbished exhibition halls, an elevator has been installed and electricity has been installed.
Why was the pyramid needed?
The glass pyramid of the Louvre serves as the main entrance. The structure was erected in 1989 by the American architect Bei Yuming, according to major project for the restoration of the complex. The structure contrasts with the magnificent buildings and gives the architectural ensemble a certain modern charm. The initial task of creating a pyramid with an underground entrance to the museum was to unload the historical entrances, which had great difficulty coping with endless streams of visitors.
Description
It consists of three buildings. They are connected to each other by an underground passage. These are the wings of Richelieu, Denon and Sully. In the spacious premises of the Louvre you can see numerous objects of art that characterize different historical eras- paintings, sculptures, royal furniture, porcelain, tapestries, household items, jewelry, antique statues and artifacts.
The luxurious interiors of the museum will take your breath away. The halls are decorated with ceiling arches with graceful columns, frescoes and bas-reliefs. The premises in which antique exhibits of Ancient Greece, Egypt, and the Middle East are exhibited are located on the ground floors. Fine and applied arts occupy the second and third floors.
Exposition
The pavilions of the Louvre present collections of the most valuable exhibits that embody the cultural heritage of different eras and peoples. The exhibition is divided into thematic zones. These are Egyptian and Middle Eastern antiques, Greek and Roman sculptures, artifacts of French kings, paintings by great artists from all over the world. Deserves attention Big hall with an arched ceiling, where Greek sculptures stand among slender columns. Antique sculptures express the beauty of the human body.
An important place in the Louvre exhibition is occupied by an armless marble statue of the Venus de Milo. This is the only original in the world ancient greek goddess love and beauty with a completely preserved head. Crowds of tourists flock to see priceless masterpiece museum.
The Louvre's most popular exhibition space is art Gallery. Its walls are decorated with paintings by Italian painters - Raphael Santi, Domenico Ghirlandaio, Caravaggio, Leonardo Da Vinci and many others. The museum has more than 6,000 paintings. The collection of fine art is amazing. Visitors are presented with works by artists of the Renaissance, classicism, impressionism and modernism.
The Louvre's vibrant exhibition hall is called the Apollo Gallery. The ceiling is decorated with magnificent frescoes depicting scenes Greek mythology. The paintings are enclosed in gilded frames, decorated with ornate stucco. This room also houses a collection of jewelry from French kings.
The most famous paintings
The Louvre attracts the attention of a huge number of true connoisseurs of antiquity. They come to the capital of France to see with their own eyes one of the largest and most luxurious museums on our planet. It is the third largest in the world in terms of area, occupying 160,106 square meters. meters, of which 58,470 thousand square meters are allocated directly for exhibitions. meters.
A few years ago, a kind of record was set: the former royal residence was visited by more than 9.7 million tourists, which allows us to talk about the Louvre as the most popular museum With unique traditions collecting. After all, exhibits that are national treasures are stored here. They cover a huge historical period, starting from approximately the 10th century, when the Capetians ruled France, and ending with the 19th century. However, the Louvre would not be the Louvre if it reflected the history of only one country...
From the residence of kings to the museum
Previously, French kings lived in the Louvre. Each of them contributed to the construction of this magnificent palace, which lasted a total of a thousand years, and also determined its further role, endowing it with certain functions. Here are the main milestones in the development of the future museum.
1190 The so-called Great Tower of the Louvre was built. It is clear that this was not yet a palace in modern understanding, but just a castle-fortress. It was erected by the then monarch Philip II Augustus, known by the nickname Crooked, and who was the son of Louis VII the Young. At that time, the building was of military-strategic importance. It was built in such a place that it was possible to view the lower reaches of the Seine, which were used by the Vikings for raids.
1317 The Louvre acquires the status of a royal residence for the first time. And all thanks to King Charles V the Wise. This happens after a significant historical event - the transfer of the property of the spiritual-knightly Order of the Templars to the Order of Malta. At the same time, the treasury of the kingdom was transferred to the Louvre.
1528 The Great Tower of the Louvre is losing its original strategic importance. King Francis I of Valois gives the order to destroy it as an obsolete object.
1546 After the destruction of the tower, His Majesty thought about future fate Louvre. And he decided to turn the former fortress into a luxurious royal residence. It is a pity that Francis I himself did not see the further progress of construction: a year later he died. The work begun by the architect Pierre Lescaut was continued under Henry II and Charles IX. At this time, two new wings were added to the main building.
1594 King Henry IV of Navarre (Bourbon) comes up with the wonderful idea of uniting the Louvre and the Tuileries, a palace built in 1564 on the initiative of the Dowager Queen Catherine de Medici, into a single palace and park complex. The creation of the square courtyard of the Louvre is the merit of the Lemercier architects.
1610-1715. During the era of Louis XIII and then his son Louis XIV, the scale of the palace was increased fourfold. During the latter’s tenure, the Louvre and the Tuileries were connected by a passage. Artists such as Romanelli, Poussin and Lebrun were involved in the design and decoration of the palace complex.
1667-1670. The time of appearance of the Colonnade of the Louvre - the eastern and at the same time the main facade, overlooking the square of the same name. It was built by the architect Claude Perrault, brother of Charles Perrault, author famous fairy tale about Puss in Boots. The original design of Louis Levo was taken as a basis. The colonnade stretches for 170 meters. It evokes genuine admiration as a masterpiece of French classicism.
1682 Work on the expansion and improvement of the Louvre is suddenly frozen. And all because Louis XIV decides... to move out of it along with the entire court. He chooses the Palace of Versailles as his new royal residence.
1700s. The voices of those who propose to turn the Louvre into a big museum. Under Louis XV the Beloved, even a whole project for such a reconstruction appeared. However, that project was not destined to come to fruition, as the Great French Revolution broke out. But the museum was still opened to the public, and this happened on August 10, 1793, when the revolution was still ongoing.
1800s. When Napoleon I Bonaparte came to power after the revolution, he decided to continue work at the Louvre Palace. The architects he invited, Fontaine and Percier, began constructing the northern part of the building, which runs in the direction of Rivoli Street. But it was completed during the tenure of Napoleon III. Then the construction of the Louvre was finally completed. During the First French Empire, the Louvre was called the Napoleon Museum. The future museum acquired its current appearance, well known to millions of tourists, after the events of May 1871, when the Paris Commune was besieged. Then the Tuileries Palace burned down.
1985-1989. President François Mitterrand, who wanted to see the former royal palace as the largest museum in the world, came up with the initiative of the “Grand Louvre” to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution. The idea was to extend the so-called historical axis of Paris or the Route de Triomphe. It just starts from the Pyramid of the Louvre, built during these years in Napoleon’s courtyard and which is now the main entrance to the palace museum (author - Yo Ming Pei). Nearby there are three more pyramids, but smaller in size - they serve as portholes. There, in the courtyard, there is a stone statue of Louis XIV.
How were the Louvre collections replenished?
At first, the Louvre's funds were replenished by collections collected at different times by royalty. For example, Francis I collected Italian paintings. Among them are the famous “La Gioconda” by Leonardo da Vinci and “The Beautiful Gardener” by Raphael.
Two hundred paintings - once the property of the banker Everard Zhabach - ended up within the walls of the palace thanks to Louis XIV, who acquired them. In total, by the time the museum opened, the “contribution of the kings” amounted to about two and a half thousand different paintings. Statues from the Museum of French Sculpture were also relocated to the Louvre, and in large quantities. Numerous samples of property of nobles confiscated during the years of the revolution also ended up in the Louvre.
The founder and first director of the Louvre museum was the French engraver and amateur Egyptologist Dominique Vivant-Denon, also known as Baron Denon. He had the opportunity to work in this capacity during the era Napoleonic wars. What bore fruit: the museum contained valuable military trophies, as well as archaeological finds from the Middle East region. Thus, “The Marriage in Cana of Galilee” (artist Paolo Veronese) was brought from Venice in 1798. A little earlier, in 1782, King Louis XVI acquired “The Little Beggar” by Murillo. “Self-Portrait with a Thistle” (Dürer) and “The Lacemaker” (Vermeer) were acquired by the museum in late XIX- first half of the twentieth century.
So, in XIX-XX centuries collections were replenished different ways: something was purchased, and something was presented to the museum as a gift. Let's say that Edmund Rothschild's collection moved here according to the will of the famous banker. El Greco’s canvas “Christ on the Cross” seemed to have fallen from the sky: it was taken in 1908 from a courthouse in the Eastern Pyrenees.
From the most famous sculptures Let's call the Louvre Venus de Milo (located in a special gallery on the first floor). This ancient greek sculpture, also known as Aphrodite of Milos, was found here by the French sailor Olivier Voutier in 1820. At the same time, the French ambassador purchased it from the government Ottoman Empire. Let us also mention the Nike of Samothrace. She was also a find, only on another island - Samothrace. It was found, in parts, by the archaeologist and French vice-consul in Adrianople, Charles Champuzeau.
Museum halls: admiration of splendor
In addition to paintings and sculptures, the Louvre presents ceramics, drawing works, archaeological finds, etc. Its walls accommodate about 300 thousand of a wide variety of exhibits, of which only 35,000 are exhibited in the halls. A significant part is in storage for reasons of safety and is exhibited for a short time, not exceeding three months. For convenience, numerous collections are divided into halls or, in other words, departments. There are eight of them in the museum. The names speak for themselves: “Objects of Art”, “Sculptures”, “Ancient East”, “ art", "Ancient Egypt", "Graphic Art", "Ancient Greece, Etruria, Rome", "The Art of Islam". Let's talk a little more about some of them.
The so-called oriental collection, formed in 1881, displays art objects from the ancient Mezhriverchensky states and the Middle East. Here you can see the Stele of Hammurabi, the king of Ancient Babylon. The department has three subsections: “Interfluve”, “East of the Mediterranean (Palestine, Syria, Cyprus)”, “Iran”. The Ancient Egyptian department appeared in 1826: here you can see examples of round sculpture, reliefs, decorations, art objects, paintings, as well as papyri and sarcophagi. But the Gallery of Ancient Greece, Etruria and Rome appeared earlier, in 1800. This collection of antiquities contains many original Greek monuments, covering the period from the Aeginetan era to the Hellenistic era. Among the sculptures of that time we will name Hera of Samos, Archaic kouros, Apollo from Piombino and the so-called head of Rampen.
The modern Louvre is a living organism. Its collections are constantly updated and supplemented with new exhibits. Among the exhibits that appeared not so long ago, we note the helmet of King Charles VI. It was found in pieces, but skillfully restored, and it took its place in the new “Medieval Louvre” department. The museum is constantly being modernized; its interior spaces have become wider and generally very elegantly decorated. For example, the Gallery of Apollo and the Hall of the Caryatids, considered the oldest in the palace. The halls are equipped with the latest technical advances, and all this is for the convenience of visitors. The halls of the Louvre are equipped with the most modern security systems, which allows you to reliably protect historical relics from criminal attacks.
During the excursions you will be able to admire the architectural views of the Louvre. Don't doubt it: there is something to see here too.
- According to one version of the origin of the name “Louvre”, translated from Old French the word “lauer” or “lower” means “watchtower”.
- While visiting the museum, you must adhere to six basic rules. They are presented in the form of graphic symbols that will be encountered during the excursion.
- At the beginning of the 17th century, King Henry IV, a great admirer of the arts, made an offer to artists to settle in the palace. He promised to give spacious halls to workshops and housing.
- The Louvre became the residence of artists, architects and sculptors under Louis XIV, when he moved to Versailles. As a result, the former residence fell into such disrepair that they were already thinking about its possible demolition.
- Under Napoleon III, the dream of Henry IV came true: the Richelieu wing was added to the Louvre. However, a large part of the museum burned down during the Paris Commune, and the palace lost its newfound symmetry.
- In 2012, the Louvre got a “brother”, or rather a satellite museum. It was built by decision of the French government in the town of Lens, in the north of the country (Nord-Pas-de-Calais region). The site chosen was the territory of a former coal mine. Reason for the decision: the Parisian Louvre is overcrowded and needs to be “unloaded.”
- In 2017, it is planned to open a branch of the Louvre in the capital of the UAE, Abu Dhabi. The exhibition in the Emirates will have a mission to build bridges between East and West.
Palais Royal, Musee du Louvre,
75001 Paris, France
www.louvre.fr
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There is probably not a person in the world who does not know what the Louvre in Paris is. A majestic medieval palace, the former residence of French monarchs and the most visited. The emotions received from contemplating the world masterpieces presented here are so vivid and unforgettable that they will not leave indifferent even a person very far from art. The museum is a must-visit for anyone planning to visit Paris.
The Louvre is rightfully called one of the world's main architectural celebrities. Its beauty is multifaceted and varied. The breath of centuries froze in the intricate patterns of stone, wood and glass; dozens of craftsmen who worked to create a masterpiece left their mark. The walls of the Louvre heard a million secrets, witnessed significant historical events, and the floorboards felt the weight of the steps of many great people. The atmosphere of the mysterious building is unique and unforgettable!
History of the Louvre
In Paris, and throughout Europe, you cannot find a second palace that has the harmony and elegance inherent in the Louvre. Its unsurpassed beauty was created over several centuries. The Old Louvre began to be built in the 12th century, and the oldest part of the palace that has survived to this day was erected in 1546; the complete completion of construction dates back to 1857. During this period, France saw 13 kings, 2 emperors and 2 republics. Despite such a long period of construction, multiple changes of eras and a combination of various building styles, today we see a coherent architectural ensemble.
Construction began with King Philip Augustus. By his order, a defensive tower was built on the western border of Paris. Its location was called Lupara, which is where the name of the Louvre castle came from.
At the beginning of its existence, the tower served the functions of later, they began to store the treasury in it, then it served as a prison and an arsenal. The Louvre became the residence of the French monarchs in Paris during the reign of Charles V. It was he who commissioned the architect Raymond du Temple to reconstruct the existing building. Thanks to the efforts of this master, the palace acquired royal grandeur and became comfortable for living. New buildings with spacious halls were erected. Light penetrated into the interior through huge glazed windows, the walls were decorated with frescoes and wooden carved elements. The main decoration of the renewed Louvre was the huge ceremonial staircase “Grand Screw”.
Construction continues
The luxurious palace was renovated and rebuilt several times during the Renaissance. Dozens of architects worked on its arrangement, trying to bring the ensemble to perfection. At this time, a gallery was built connecting the Louvre with
The Louvre received a new round of development under Henry IV. The monarch was so passionate about art that he invited artists to his residence, providing them with spacious, bright workshops for creativity. Thus, the birthplace of many masterpieces French painting became the Louvre Palace in Paris.
During the reign of Louis XIV, the palace experienced times of decline and almost completely lost its status as a royal residence. The monarch settled in Versailles, and only sculptors, painters and architects remained to live in the Louvre. At this time, plans even appeared to demolish the palace. Fortunately, they were never implemented.
The French Revolution made its own adjustments to the life of the palace. Since the beginning of the reign of Napoleon III, it has ceased to be the residence of the ruling dynasty and acquired the status of the Central Museum of Art.
At the same time, the construction of the main part of the palace was completed - the Richelieu wing was being erected.
First exhibits
The first exhibits of the museum were paintings by Italian masters obtained from the royal collections. Some of them were collected by Francis I. Among these paintings was a painting that to this day attracts millions of visitors to the Louvre Museum in Paris - the Mona Lisa.
The largest acquisition at the time of the museum’s opening was considered to be 200 paintings by the banker Everard Jabach from the collection of Louis XIV.
During revolutionary France, the museum’s collection was actively replenished with valuables confiscated from aristocrats. There was a large influx of exhibits during the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte. The museum has received many archaeological finds and war trophies from Egypt and the Middle East.
What attracts the palace today?
Modern in Paris is first and foremost a museum. More than 350 thousand are represented here outstanding works art. An impressive number, isn't it? In order to linger in front of each of them for at least a couple of seconds, it will take more than 20 days.
The Louvre is the third largest art museum in the world. The exhibition hall area is 60,000 m2. The entire exhibition is located on four floors in three wings of the building: the Richelieu wing is located along the Rue de Rivoli, the Denon wing stretches along the Seine, and the square courtyard surrounds the Sully wing.
In Paris, the Louvre is treated with great reverence. Every Frenchman is proud of him. The palace is surrounded by national concern, and any change in its life is actively discussed in society.
Questionable architectural element
The most unexpected building for a visitor on the territory of the complex is the Louvre Pyramid. In Paris, and throughout France, debates about its relevance and expediency have not subsided for the third decade. Many did not approve of the Art Nouveau glass structure in the courtyard of the classical palace complex. The choice of such a project came as a shock to most French people. The public calmed down only after the pyramid gained enormous popularity among tourists and began to bring significant income to the city.
Why was the pyramid needed?
The beginning of the 80s of the twentieth century was a period of active development and renovation in Paris. The Louvre was no exception. A competition was announced for the reconstruction project, and to everyone's surprise, architect Yo Ming Pei won with his glass structure.
According to the creator's plan, the pyramid is intended to serve as the main entrance to the building, as it significantly increases the throughput. In addition, natural light flows through it into the large hall, and under the “dome” there is a shopping and restaurant area.
The building not only helps to cope with large crowds of people at the entrance, but from it you can quickly get to any exhibition hall. The pyramid very quickly became one of the symbols of Paris, along with the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral.
Main places in the Louvre
Well, you have passed the pyramid and are thinking about the question of which direction to move next.
The exhibition is so large that not everyone will be able to see it in its entirety. It is very easy to get lost inside the huge palace. It is recommended to familiarize yourself with the museum’s plan in advance, develop and lay out a route. It’s quite difficult to choose places to visit first, because all the exhibits on display are the best of the best!
We list those halls that you definitely can’t miss:
Medieval Louvre.
Egyptian halls are huge, shrouded in the veil of time. You will not see such unique samples anywhere else.
Greek sculptures are the eternal breath of classics.
Italian painting - from the era of early objections to Titian and Raphael.
Dutch painting - Vermeer's masterpieces with unique optical effects need to be seen with your own eyes.
Apartments of Napoleon III with a complete collection of furniture from that era.
And, of course, the portrait of Mona Lisa - if you say that you visited the Louvre in Paris and did not see the smile of the Mona Lisa, they will not understand you.
Entrance prices
As in any other museum, before viewing the exhibition you need to buy an entrance ticket. The set price is quite affordable: only 12 euros for an adult visitor and 15 euros for a double ticket. If you remember how many outstanding works can be seen in the heart of the museum, the amount seems quite insignificant.
As for children and youth, tourists under 18 years of age have free entry.
Special benefits apply to young residents of the European Union. They are allowed free entry to the museum until they are 26 years old.
How to save money when visiting?
Every first Sunday of the month, the Louvre Museum in Paris opens its doors to its visitors completely free of charge. Most will say it's great, you should plan a trip to the Louvre for this day! However, there is no need to rush. The museum is already breaking all records for attendance. In front of the entrance at any time you can see a rather large queue, and the most popular exhibits can only be viewed from afar. It’s easy to imagine how many visitors the museum attracts every day free visits. Such a crowd of people can completely spoil the impression of viewing the exhibition.
There is another good saving option. From time to time the museum provides a significant discount. All planned promotions are listed on the official website.
How to get to the Louvre without queuing?
A long queue in front of the museum entrance will not please anyone. Buying tickets can take a lot of time, and for a tourist coming from afar, every minute counts.
How long you have to stand in front of the entrance depends primarily on the time of year. For example, in the summer (during the season) you can spend several hours on this. Of course, random coincidence and simple luck play a big role.
Here are some tips to help you visit the Louvre Museum in Paris without wasting too much time:
To visit the Louvre, it is better to choose the morning hours - the queue will be shorter and you will have more time to view the exhibition.
Starting from three o'clock in the afternoon there are significantly fewer people wanting to go inside.
The main entrance to the museum is organized through a glass pyramid in the courtyard; a large concentration of tourists is observed there. But it is not the only one available to visitors. The Louvre can be entered from Rue de Rivoli and directly from the Musée du Louvre metro station.
The space under the dome can be accessed through a passage leading from the Tuileries Garden. The entrance is invisible, there is no big crowd there.
Where is the Louvre
In Paris, every passerby can tell you the address of the famous museum and the most convenient travel option. But it’s better to familiarize yourself with its location in advance so as not to waste precious time, especially if your French level is far from perfect. So how do you get to the Louvre in Paris?
The palace address is Musée du Louvre, 75058 Paris. It is located in the first arrondissement of Paris. You can get there by metro along lines 1 or 7 to the Palais-Royal/musée du Louvre station (by the way, you can get directly from the metro to the halls of the Louvre).
You can take the city bus, routes 21, 24, 27, 39, 48, 68, 69, 72, 81, 95. And incorrigible romantics will love the François Mitterrand embankment stop.
Working hours
To plan your visit wisely, you need to know the museum's opening hours. The Louvre opens its doors at 9 a.m. every day except Tuesday (the museum is closed on this day). The working day ends at 6 pm on Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. And on Wednesday and Friday it is extended until 21-45 (for the convenience of afternoon visitors).
Live at the Louvre
Visiting the Louvre is great, and living in the Louvre is great. For those who hold in their hearts a love for the majestic royal palace, it is worth paying attention to the Louvre Hotel in Paris. It is located in the very center of the city, in an ancient building built in the Ottoman style. From the windows of the spacious rooms there is a marvelous view of the magnificent facade of the Louvre Museum, the Opera Garnier and the famous Comédie Française. All interior spaces are decorated in classic French style. On the ground floor there is the Brasserie du Louvre restaurant, famous for its amazing cuisine and truly Parisian atmosphere.
Living in the hotel is very convenient. Just a few steps away are all the main attractions of the capital: Place de la Concorde, Marais quarter, Notre Dame Cathedral.
Of course, where to stay - everyone chooses for themselves, but perhaps it is in this hotel that you will have a prophetic dream, like Charles or Napoleon many centuries ago...
The Louvre Museum is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the world. It is located on the right bank of the Seine River in the center of Paris (France). The Louvre is the most visited museum in the world. In 2009, 8.5 million people came to see the museum’s masterpieces. The richest collections of the Louvre consist of works of art from different civilizations and eras. In total, there are more than 300 thousand exhibits and only 35 thousand of them are shown in the halls. There are more than six thousand paintings in the collection alone. The first building on the site of the current museum was a medieval fortress, erected to protect against the furious attacks of the Vikings, who sailed here along the Seine River.
For this purpose, at the end of the 12th century, the construction of two fortress towers began - on the left and right banks of the river. One of them was called the Louvre, and a fortress wall was later erected near it. At the beginning of the 14th century, they decided to surround Paris with a new fortress wall, so the Louvre Tower began to lose its military value.
King Charles V in 1317 ordered his treasury to be transferred for storage to the Louvre Castle, which by that time had already become quite large. A little later it became a royal residence. The King of France is also transporting his extensive library here, for which they even built a special tower. It was this collection that became the basis of the famous French National Library. Unfortunately, after the death of Charles V the Royal Castle for half a century it fell into disrepair, as subsequent kings preferred other palaces in Paris - Saint-Paul and Tournelle.
During the reign of King Francis I in 1528, the obsolete Louvre Tower along with the fortress wall was demolished, and in 1546 the transformation of the former fortress into a beautiful royal palace began. The architect was Pierre Lescot, who continued his work under other kings until his death in 1578. There is absolutely no point in listing under which king and which architect undertook to rebuild and complete the palace, however, this continues right up to our time: it is impossible to find a period of time in history when the Louvre was not standing among the scaffolding.
The last major construction of the museum was the construction of a pyramid right in the courtyard of the complex, completed in 1989. This building made of metal and glass was designed to relieve all the historical entrances to the Louvre, which were no longer able to cope with the flow of visitors. Now, after entering the pyramid, tourists first go down to the huge lobby below, and then go up to the Louvre Museum itself.
The Louvre Palace first opened its doors as a museum in 1793, during the famous French Revolution, when the masterpieces contained in the palace were declared nationalized, combined with church ones and shown to the public. Over time, the most valuable masterpieces from the royal collection were added to the Louvre Museum's collections. Also, many exhibits ended up in the beautiful exhibition halls of the palace due to numerous confiscations during the revolution.
The museum's collections themselves are huge and cover art Ancient Rome, Ancient Greece, the Islamic world and Ancient Egypt, the culture of the Etruscans, and also include a collection of graphics, paintings and sculptures from various eras. In addition, visitors have the opportunity to see a fragment of the fortress wall of the first castle and some surviving medieval halls, as well as the apartments of Napoleon III, striking in their splendor.
The main problem The problem that tourists in Paris who visit the Louvre face is simply a catastrophic lack of time. After all, you can walk endlessly through the magnificent galleries and halls of museums. In each of them, visitors are treated to increasingly beautiful and amazing sights. It is very noteworthy that the exhibitions of the Louvre Museum present only a small part of all the masterpieces of world art, while the rest are housed in special storage facilities. This is due to the fact that most of the exhibits are too fragile, they cannot be on public display for a long time. However, tourists coming from all over the world are eager to see even such a small part of the masterpieces. For many of them, just to cross the threshold of the Louvre Museum - after all, this alone is worth a whole trip to Paris!
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Every person, even those not connected with art, has heard about the Louvre Museum in Paris, which Parisians themselves often call the Palace of the Muses. It is located in the very center of the historical part of the city on Rivoli Street (La rue de Rivoli). The famous treasury of Paris rivals the most famous attractions in terms of attendance. But the wealth is stored not only inside the Louvre; the history of the museum itself is rich and amazing.
History of the Louvre
Why is the Louvre called this way? A clear answer to this question not yet. There are several theories that are equally valid. The place where the museum complex is now located used to be a suburb of Paris. A guard fortress was located here, so some researchers believe that the name Louvre comes from the Old Saxon “lower”, which means “fortress”. But during her time, dogs of a special breed were bred for hunting wolves - “Louvrier”, which also echoes the name, and “loup” (lu) means “wolf”. The third version is that the name comes from the name of the village of Louvres, which was located near Saint-Denis, a suburb of Paris.
In any case, the Louvre was not originally intended to be a museum. In the 12th century, it was one of the fortresses that made up the defense system of Paris, which were built on the orders of King Philip Augustus.
In 1307 King Charles V turned the Louvre into his residence. At that time, the castle-fortress was a structure with a square layout with a tower at each corner. In the center was a powerful citadel 30 meters high. It served as a prison, a safe, an archive and the main treasury. Karl also moved his extensive library there, numbering more than 1,000 handwritten books, eventually building a special library tower for them. It was this collection that became the basis for the French National Library.
The Louvre began to take on the appearance of a palace in its usual sense at the beginning of the 16th century, when King Francis I decided to settle there. He hired the architect Pierre Lescot, ordering him to add several buildings, lay out a garden, and remove part of the defensive wall. The famous architect and his assistants actively modernized and expanded the Louvre even after the death of King Francis I, continuing work under other rulers until his death.
In general, each of the monarchs of France, regardless of whether he lived in the Louvre or not, added and changed something in this palace. Gradually, the castle was filled with more and more exhibits, the main one of which is the famous “La Gioconda”. It was given to France by Leonardo da Vinci himself as a sign of gratitude for the hospitality the country showed him. Therefore, the Mona Lisa can be considered the ancestor of the collection of masterpieces of the famous museum.
The palace was completely given over to scientists and artists at the end of the 17th century, after King Louis IV moved to Versailles. The Louvre received its first visitors as a museum in 1747.
The most famous exhibits of the museum
The museum complex occupies about 210 thousand sq.m., but only 60,600 sq.m. are given over to exhibitions. It is very difficult to place all the treasures that the Louvre possesses in this square. Therefore, most of the works are stored in storage rooms.
The exhibits are divided thematically into collections, each of which has its own gems.
The Ancient East
The collection is represented by statues, figurines and monuments, the most famous of which are: two Shedu statues, representing fantastic bulls with wings from the palace of Sargon II (8th century BC); Sumerian stela of Eannatum (XXV century BC); alabaster figurine of Ibi-ila from Mari (3 thousand years BC).
Ancient Egypt
The department contains many statues, sarcophagi, papyri, jewelry, knives, etc. One of the most famous exhibits This gallery is a knife from Jebel el-Arak made of flint (3400 BC).
Ancient Greece, Rome, Etruria
The symbols of the ancient Greek collection are the famous statues of the Nike of Samothrace (early 2nd century BC) and Venus de Milo (2nd century BC).
The Etruscan part of the collection is represented by painted terracotta figurines. But the most famous exhibit is the sarcophagus with carved sculptures of a married couple from Cerveteri (6th century BC).
Ancient Rome is represented by mosaics, sculptural portraits, and medals. The highlight is the treasures from Boscoreale - dishes and jewelry made of gold and silver. Boscoreale was a neighbor of Pompeii, and shared its sad fate during the eruption of Vesuvius.
Applied arts
The museum has a rich collection of applied art objects. Monuments of the Middle Ages occupy a special place in it. For example, the treasuries of the Abbey of Saint-Denis are represented by Italian majolica, church utensils, Limoges enamel, porcelain, bronze, furniture, and that’s not all. A special place in the collection of applied art is occupied by jewelry that once belonged to the French kings.
Sculptures
The rich selection represents masterpieces of the Renaissance and works of French and Italian sculptors, the most famous of which are the figures of slaves by Michelangelo, the marble relief of Donatello's Madonna and Child and the reliefs of the Fountain of Nymphs by Jean Goujon.
Painting
The Louvre within its walls contains a magnificent collection of paintings, which are represented by the works of the most famous masters different eras. It is impossible to list everything, therefore, in addition to “La Gioconda,” several paintings can be especially highlighted: “The Penitent Magdalene” by Georges de Latour, “The Coronation of Napoleon” by Jacques Louis David, “The Bather” by Ingres, “Frescoes of the Villa Lemmi” by Botticelli, “The Assumption of Mary” by Caravaggio, “ The Beautiful Gardener" by Raphael, portraits by Goy and Velazquez. The works of Leonardo da Vinci, who is a symbol of the Louvre itself, stand out separately. In addition to the Mona Lisa, there is a Madonna and Child with Saint Anne and a Madonna in the Grotto.
Ticket prices and map of the Louvre Museum in Russian
The Louvre does not have a main entrance as such. You can get into it either through a glass pyramid or through a huge underground store. At the entrance you will definitely be given a guidebook (you can also download it here Information and plan of the Louvre in Russian). But the building is so huge and intricate that it will take some time to study the entrance diagrams and the layout of the galleries. It is simply impossible to see all the exhibits in one day. It is better to check the possibility of viewing and opening hours of specific galleries on the official website of the museum http://www.louvre.fr
You can explore the Louvre either independently or as part of a guided tour. An entrance ticket to the Louvre costs 12 euros, a double ticket costs 15. Children under 18 years of age enter for free, and on the first Sunday of the month admission is free for all visitors. Tours of the museum take place from 18:00 to 20:00 and cost 60 euros per person. For lovers individual programs the excursion will cost 250 euros per person. Although they can hardly be called individual, rather excursions are designed for small groups of no more than 8 people.
Location and how to get there
The Louvre is located on Rue de Rivoli, and this is the very center of the capital. So you can get here without any problems by bus, metro, taxi or on foot. Bus routes No. 21, 24, 27, 39, 48, 68, 69, 72, 81, 95 have stops just opposite the entrance to the pyramid. If you take the metro, you should get off at the Louvre Rivoli station on line 1 or the Palais Royal Musee du Louvre station on line 7. If you get to the city center from the airport, the trip by taxi will cost 45-70 euros, by bus 5.7-10 euros, by metro - 9.10 euros.
Louvre overview video
