Louvre Museum Paris | Discover the Most-Visited Museum In The World
It is said that if you go to Paris and don’t visit the Louvre, you haven’t visited Paris. This is fairly true, as the grandeur of the Louvre Paris is hard to miss. This iconic museum stands on the right bank of the River Seine and is the largest art gallery in the world.
Louvre Museum houses the heritage of the great French history, along with other important works from around the world, such as Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Home to more than 35,000 exhibits in its centuries-old building, the museum attracts millions of visitors from all over the world every year.
Louvre Museum | Quick Facts
- Also Known As: Musée du Louvre, Great Louvre, Grand Louvre
- Location: Louvre Museum is located at Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France.
- Date of Opening: Louvre Museum opened to the public on 10 August 1793.
- Entrances: The Louvre has four entrances: I.M. Pei Pyramid, Carrousel du Louvre, Passage Richelieu, and Porte des Lions.
- Number of visitors per year: Over 9 million.
- Collection size: 615,797 in total as of 2019. Of this, 35,000 works are on display.
What Is The Louvre?
Housed in the Louvre Palace built by Philip II (Philip Augustus), the Louvre Museum is a world-renowned art museum that is located in Paris, France. The museum contains a vast collection of artwork from various time periods and styles, including sculptures, paintings, and artifacts from ancient civilizations.
The most famous exhibit in the Louvre Museum is Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. Some other notable works include Winged Victory of Samothrace, Venus de Milo, and Antonio Canova's Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss.
Book Tickets to Louvre MuseumLouvre Museum Collection
The massive collection of the world’s largest art gallery consists of over 35,000 artworks and it spans eight thematic departments. The vast collections include artworks and artifacts dating back centuries, representing almost 11,000 years of human history and culture. The museum’s permanent collection consists of great works of art by maestros like Leonardo Da Vinci, Delacroix, Rubens, and Vermeer, among others. It also houses Egyptian, Islamic, and Greco-Roman collections of art. The eight thematic departments of the Louvre are:
Paintings
The most popular section of Louvre Museum Paris, the painting department, exhibits more than 7,500 works of art. The department is further divided into schools of work based on regions such as French, Italian, German, Flemish, English, Dutch, and Scandinavian.
Know More
Egyptian Antiquities
The Egyptian collection of the Louvre is considered to be one of the most extensive in the world, housing over 50,000 pieces. It deep dives into the lives of the ancient Egyptians and includes artifacts from the Nile civilization (4,000 BC) to the 4th century AD.
.jfif?auto=format&w=340.58181818181816&h=267.59999999999997&q=90&fit=crop&ar=14%3A11)
Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities:
The Greek, Etruscan, and Roman antiquities department of the Louvre Museum focuses on Mediterranean history dating from the Neolithic era to the 6th century. One of the oldest departments of the Louvre, a large part of the collection was inducted by the French royalty in the 16th century.
Near Eastern Antiquities
This department is massive with 25 rooms dedicated to the exhibition of art and artifacts from early Near Eastern civilization. The department is divided into three geographic areas: the Levant, Mesopotamia (Iraq), and Persia (Iran).
Sculptures
The department for Sculpture at the Louvre Paris is rich with works created before 1850 that do not belong in the Etruscan, Greek, and Roman department. It holds the largest collection of French sculptures in the world. Some of the notable works are Satan by Jean-Jacques Feuchère and Diana the Huntress by Jean-Antoine Houdon, among others.
Islamic Arts
The department of Islamic Arts at the Louvre is the newest section in the museum. Founded in the year 2003, the collection features 3,000 works from the Arabian peninsula spanning the 7th to 19th centuries. Some important works showcased in this section are the Plate with Peacock, three pages of the Shahnameh, and the Barberini Vase.
.jpg?auto=format&w=340.58181818181816&h=267.59999999999997&q=90&fit=crop&ar=14%3A11)
Decorative Arts
The department of Decorative Arts at the Louvre consists of artifacts, tapestries, ceramics, stained glass, and more from the Middle Ages to the mid-19th century. Some highlights of the department include the coronation crown of Louis XIV, Giambologna's bronze Nessus and Deianira, and Napoleon III's apartments.
Prints & Drawings
This department houses the largest collection of drawings in the world with 1,40,000 pieces in the Louvre’s catalog. It is the least known part of the museum as most of the works cannot be displayed due to the fragility of the drawings. The collection is organized into three sections: the core Cabinet du Roi, royal copper printing plates, and the donations of Edmond de Rothschild.
What's Inside the Louvre?
Home to over 480,000 works of art, there is a lot to see inside the Louvre. Here are some of the must-see masterpieces
Mona Lisa
Painted by Leonardo da Vinci in the 16th century, this is considered one of the greatest works in the history of world art. Famous for the enigmatic smile and the positioning of the eyes, this painting has been the main highlight of the museum for nearly two centuries.
Know More
Liberty Leading the People
One of the most iconic works by Eugène Delacroix, the painting was transferred to the Louvre Museum in 1874. The painting shows a woman personifying Liberty with a French flag in one hand and a bayoneted musket in the other.
Venus de Milo
The iconic sculpture was discovered in 1820 on the Greek island of Milos, in the Cyclades Archipelago. The sculpture, however, was not found in its original form, as it took a trial of time on the island and lost its arms.
Winged Victory of Samothrace
Made in Ancient Greece, the sculpture depicts Nike, the goddess of victory. The marble statue is about 8 feet high, and is one of the most celebrated works in the Western world. It is believed that it commemorates a victory, most likely, a naval victory.
Great Sphinx of Tanis
The Great Sphinx of Tanis is dated to 26 century BC, and is one of the largest sphinx outside of Egypt. Made of granite, this sculpture is impressively detailed, making it one of the highlights of the Egyptian Antiquities section at the Louvre Paris.
The ceiling of the Galerie d’Apollon
The Galerie d’Apollon houses the French Crown Jewels at the Louvre. It is famous for its high vaulted ceilings with stunning artwork on the ceiling. One of the oldest parts of the museum, today, it is considered a heritage site.
Plan Your Visit to Louvre Museum in Paris
Address: Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France
The Louvre museum is located inside the Louvre Palace, in the center of Paris, in the 1st district. It stands adjacent to the Tuileries Gardens.
Nearest Metro Station: Palais-Royal–Musée du Louvre
Get Directions to Louvre MuseumWednesday to Monday: 9 AM to 6 PM.
Last Entry: 1 hour before closing.
Closed: Tuesdays, and on 1 January, 1 May, and 25 December. It remains open on all other public holidays unless they fall on a Tuesday
Best Time To Visit LouvreLouvre Museum Tickets & Guided Tours
Louvre Museum Tickets
These tickets will allow you to skip the queue at the entrance and head straight into the world's most-visited museum. With these tickets you will be able to visit all the galleries and browse through the 35,000 artworks on display at your own pace.
With these tickets, you will also be able to enjoy same-day access to the temporary collections and free admission to the Musée Eugène-Delacroix within 48 hours. Upgrade your ticket to get hold of the audio guide, which is available in 9 languages.
You can also opt for a combo tour, which will allow you access to another important Parisian landmark, such as the Palace of Versailles, Orsay Museum, or Picasso Museum.
All Louvre Ticket Options
Guided Tours
With 35,000 works of art on display, visiting the Lourve can be a rather overwhelming experience. If you are an art aficionado or simply someone who hopes to make the best of their visit, taking a guided tour of the Louvre Museum would prove to be extremely helpful. You can choose between an Express Tour (90 minutes), Comprehensive Tour (3 hours), and Small Group (<15 members) based on how deep you want to delve into the world of the Louvre.
While the Express Tour is available in English, Spanish, and French, the latter two options are only available in English. Your expert guide will take you through the various galleries inside Louvre and show you some of the most iconic works housed here. The only downside? The fixed routine and route that are decided at the discretion of the guide.
Louvre Guided Tour OptionsHow To Buy Louvre Museum Tickets & Tours?
Frequently Asked Questions About The Louvre Museum in Paris
A. The Louvre is an art museum and historic site in Paris. The museum, established in 1793, has an impressive collection of artwork and artifacts that trace 11,000 years of human civilization and culture.
A. Yes, you need tickets to enter the Louvre Museum in Paris. You can buy Louvre tickets online.
A. Yes. In fact, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is best to purchase your tickets in advance and online. You can purchase Louvre museum tickets here.
A. Yes, children under 18 years of age can visit the museum free of cost.
A. The Louvre is located at Rue de Rivoli, 75001 in Paris, France.
A. The Louvre is open Wednesday to Monday from 9 AM to 6 PM.
A. The best time to visit the Louvre is Wednesday and Friday evenings when the museum is open until 9.45 PM, and the crowd is comparatively less.
A. The Louvre is the world's largest and most-visited museum. It houses one of the most impressive art collections in history, with 480,000 works of art spanning centuries and regions.
A. The Louvre Museum opened to the public on 10 August 1793, making the museum 229 years old.
A. With galleries spreading over 15 acres, and an impressive collection of 480,000 works of art, the Louvre in Paris is the largest museum in the world.
A. The Louvre is extremely popular. An important landmark in Paris, the Louvre attracted approximately 9.6 million visitors in 2019, making it the most visited museum worldwide.
A. Inside the Louvre Museum you will find 35,000 works of art displayed across eight curatorial departments. You will find sculptures, decorative objects, paintings, drawings, and archaeological finds inside.
A. The Louvre collection includes over 480,000 artworks, of which 35,000 are on display.
More Reads
Inside the Louvre
Exhibitions at Louvre
