Why Go On a Louvre Guided Tour?

Guided Tours

• You will be accompanied by an expert tour guide who will give you a keen insight into the history of the museum and its artworks.
• Guided tours have a fixed itinerary which is helpful when you have to explore a large museum like the Louvre.
• You get to skip past long lines and get right into the museum on priority. 
• These tours are conducted in small groups for a more wholesome and interactive experience.

Non-Guided Tours

• With a general admission ticket, you can avail of an audio guide to learn about all the artworks inside. 
• You get to explore the museum at your own pace as opposed to going at the pace of a group.
• You will have to wait in line to get inside the museum which could take between 30 minutes to 1 hour on less crowded days. During peak hours and weekends it could take up to 2 hours to get inside.  

Venus de Milo

Venus de Milo is an ancient Greek sculpture dating back to around 150 and 125 BC. Based on the inscription on the sculpture, the masterpiece was crafted by Alexandros of Antioch. This is by far the most famous sculpture across the world and has been kept in the Louvre in 1820. The sculpture is missing one entire arm and a major portion of the other, as well as its original plinth.

The Winged Victory of Samothrace

Standing tall atop the iconic Daru staircase is the statue of the Winged Victory of Samothrace. The statue represents the Goddess of Victory and is also known as the Nike of Victory. Dating back to the second century BCE, the statue is a masterpiece of Greek art. Although the exact origin of the piece is unknown, it was found on Samothrace island, towards the north of the Aegean sea.

French Paintings

There are several magnificent French paintings housed in the Louvre Museum. Your tour guide will point out the most noteworthy ones and tell you about them in detail. Be sure to look out for The Raft of Medusa by Gericault, Liberty Leading the People by Delacroix, The Coronation of Napoleon by David, and the Rape of the Sabine Woman by Poussin to name a few.

Italian Paintings

Some of the largest and most exquisite Italian paintings can be found in the Grande Galerie of the museum. This part of the palace has a long history. It was initially built as a connecting path between the Louvre Palace and the Tuileries Palace, which no longer exists. Take a walk through this remarkable gallery as you admire the many masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance.

Egyptian Collection

Behind the Crypt of the Sphinx is a massive collection of Egyptian antiques. Inside this collection are over 6000 pieces of Egyptian history, spanning almost 5000 years of the country's civilization. What initially started off as a four-room showcase, eventually extended to cover two floors of the museum. Stroll through the extensive collection as you learn about the fascinating history of ancient Egypt.

Sculptures

The courtyards of the Louvre are adorned with beautiful sculptures bathed in natural light. Most of these sculptures were created for the gardens of palaces including the Château de Versailles, Château de Marly, and the Tuileries Palace. Some noteworthy sculptures to look out for are Perseus and Andromeda and Milo of Croton, both of which were part of the Château de Versailles gardens. The pieces here were created between the 17th and 19th centuries by renowned French sculptors.

Royal Apartments

Get a glimpse of how French monarchs lived back in the day as you tour the royal apartments of Napoleon III. This section of the museum has been preserved for about 150 years and was the home of Napoleon III IN 1861. Inside this area, you will find many objects including furniture, chandeliers, vases, and more, that once served the monarch of France. The Napoleon III apartments are located on the first floor of the Richelieu Wing.