The Louvre - Paris - TravBuddy

The Louvre is one of the oldest, largest, most famous and most visited (8.3 million visitors in 2006 alone) museums in the entire world. It is located in Paris, France on the bank of the Seine River not far from Notre Dame Cathedral. Le Louvre is the home to many famous masterpieces such as Leondardo DaVinci’s Mona Lisa, Alexandros of Antioch’s Venus de Milo and many more paintings, sculptures, artifacts and antique furniture.
The structure’s contruction began in 1535 after a castle that was previously located on the property was demolished. Pierre Lescot was the architect behind this brilliant project and designed the palace in true Renaissance style. The building housed members for the French royalty until King Louis XIV relocated his royal court to the Palace of Versailles. Since 1793 the Louvre has had it’s doors open to the public as the museum we know today.
Over the years several wings were added onto the palace. King Henry IV, for instance, added the Grande Galerie. He invited hundreds upon hundreds of artists and craftsmen to live and work on the buildings bottom floors. Upon doing so, the Louvre became the longest building of its kind in the world. Subsequent French kings added additional wings such as the Richelieu Wing (commissioned by Louis XIII).
As recently as the 1980’s additions were being made to the buildings décor. In 1989 I.M.Pei inaugurated a glass pyramid to be placed in the courtyard in front of the Louvre. The pyramid served as a new entrance to the museum. Many Parisians felt that the glass pyramid was far too modern for the museum and to this day it serves up quite a debate.
There is a reason why so many people return to the Louvre visit after visit. There is simply so much to see that every time you go you see or learn something new. The museum houses 6000 European paintings dating from the 13th century to the 19th century. Its largest collection is of drawings and prints amounting to an impressive 130,000. There are approximately 400,000 pieces of artwork and artifacts housed at the Louvre. The galleries are separated into Oriental antiquities, Egyptian antiquities, Greek and Roman antiquities, Sculptures, Furniture and Objects of Art, and paintings. If you were to spend 10 seconds in front of each item, eight hours a day, five days a week it would take 4 whole months to get through the Louvre! This being said, make sure you grab a handy museum map as you enter the building so you don’t get lost. There are signs throughout the museum indicated the directions to major pieces. The collection can be overwhelming or awe inspiring, depending on how you look at it.
Expect to find a decent sized queue waiting to view the Mona Lisa. Also be warned that no flash photography is allowed of the painting. There is a sign next to it in about every language possible telling you so, so it will be hard to play stupid on this one. Be sure to spend time with the other paintings in this room as well. While the Mona Lisa is famous, it really isn’t all that fascinating in person. It’s small, and given the distance between you and the painting you can’t make out all of the details. If you’re in a mad rush, simply stand next to the queue and see it from beside the line, the view is the same…I promise.
Be sure to check out the sculptures. There are some fantastic pieces that beg to be seen.
I am fairly certain that every time I visit the great city of Paris, the Louvre will be on my “Must See” list time and time again. It is an amazing place that I think everyone should see if given the opportunity. There are several shops located in the building if you would like to pick up a mini Mona Lisa as well as a food court that serves food from around the world at a reasonable price. Expect to wait in lines and if you’re traveling with a large group, try to snag a table as soon as you see it (even if it’s before you send someone into the line) because it may be hard to get a table here. The food has been delicious each and every time I’ve been here. Everyone in my group ate at a different “country” and we all enjoyed our food.