One of the main attractions in Paris is the Louvre. What is the Louvre? Description, history, excursions, opening hours

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-07 19:44

Probably, there is no person in the world who does not know what the Louvre in Paris is. The majestic medieval palace, the former residence of the French monarchs and the most visited museum in the world. The emotions received from the contemplation of the world masterpieces presented here are so bright and unforgettable that they will not leave indifferent even a person who is 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 major architectural celebrities. Its beauty is multifaceted and varied. In intricate patterns of stone, wood and glass, the breath of centuries has stopped, dozens of craftsmen who worked to create a masterpiece have 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 andunforgettable!

History of the Louvre

In Paris, and indeed in all of Europe, you will not find a second palace that has the harmony and elegance inherent in the Louvre. Its unsurpassed beauty has been created over several centuries. The old Louvre began to be built in the XII century, and the oldest part of the palace that has survived to this day was erected in 1546, while the 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 change of eras and a combination of various building styles, today we are witnessing a well-coordinated architectural ensemble.

The construction was started by King Philip Augustus. By his order, a defensive tower was built on the western border of Paris. Its location was called Lupara, hence the name of the Louvre castle.

At the beginning of its existence, the tower served as a defensive structure. 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 carvings. The main decoration of the renovated Louvre was a huge solemn staircaseBig 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 Tuileries Palace.

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 Louvre Palace in Paris became the birthplace of many masterpieces of French painting.

During the reign of Louis XIV, the palace was in decline and almost completely lost its status as a royal residence. The monarch settled in Versailles, and only sculptors, painters and architects remained in the Louvre. At this time, there were even plans to demolish the palace. Fortunately, they were never implemented.

The French Revolution made its own adjustments to the life of the palace. From the beginning of the reign of Napoleon III, it 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 is being completed - the Richelieu wing is being built.

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 canvas that to this day attracts millions of visitors to the Louvre Museum in Paris -Mona Lisa.

200 paintings by the banker Everard Jabach from the collection of Louis XIV are considered the largest acquisition at the time of the opening of the museum.

During the days of revolutionary France, the museum's collection was actively replenished with valuables confiscated from aristocrats. A large influx of exhibits was during the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte. The museum received many archaeological finds and spoils of war from Egypt and the Middle East.

What attracts the palace today?

The modern Louvre Palace in Paris is first and foremost a museum. More than 350 thousand outstanding works of art are presented here. An impressive number, isn't it? It will take more than 20 days to linger in front of each of them even for a couple of seconds.

The Louvre is the third largest art museum in the world. The territory of the exhibition halls is 60,000 m2. The entire exposition is located on four floors in three wings of the building: the Richelieu wing is located along Rivoli Street, the Denon wing stretches along the Seine, the square courtyard surrounds the Sully wing.

Keeping so many valuables in perfect order is very difficult. The museum employs about 1600 employees. They conduct excursions, are engaged in scientific and restoration work. Thanks to their efforts, a detailed description of the Louvre appeared.

In Paris, the Louvre is treated very reverently. Every Frenchman is proud of him. The palace is surrounded by national care, and any change in its life is actively discussed insociety.

Dubious architectural element

The Louvre Pyramid is considered the most unexpected building for the visitor on the territory of the complex. In Paris, and throughout France, for the third decade, disputes about its relevance and expediency have not subsided. Many disapproved of the Art Nouveau glass structure in the courtyard of a 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 immense popularity among tourists and began to bring tangible income to the city.

Why was the pyramid needed?

The beginning of the 80s of the twentieth century is a period of active development and renovation in Paris. The Louvre is no exception. A competition was launched for a rebuilding project, and to everyone's surprise, architect Yo Ming Pei won with his glass structure.

As conceived by the creator, the pyramid is designed to serve as the main entrance to the building, as it significantly increases the throughput. In addition, natural light enters the large hall through it, and under the "dome" there is a shopping and restaurant area.

The building not only helps to cope with a large crowd of people at the entrance, from it you can quickly get into any exhibition hall. The pyramid very quickly became one of the symbols of Paris along with the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral.

Highlights at the Louvre

Well, you have passed the pyramid and thought about the question of which direction to move on.

Exposureso 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 plan of the museum in advance, develop and lay a route. It is quite difficult to choose places for a priority visit, because all the exhibits presented are the best of the best!

Let's list those halls that are definitely not to be missed:

1. Medieval Louvre.
2. Egyptian halls - huge, shrouded in the veil of time. You will not see such unique samples anywhere else.
3. Greek sculptures - the eternal breath of the classics.
4. Italian painting - from the era of the early objection to Titian and Raphael.
5. Dutch painting - Vermeer's masterpieces with unique optical effects must be seen with your own eyes.
6. Napoleon III's apartment with a complete collection of period furniture.
7. And, of course, the portrait of Mona Lisa - if you say you visited the Louvre in Paris and didn't see Mona Lisa's smile, they won't understand you.

Entry prices

As in any other museum, you need to buy an entrance ticket before starting to view the exposition. The set price is quite democratic: only 12 euros for an adult visitor and 15 euros for a double ticket. When you consider how many outstanding works can be seen in the heart of the museum, the amount seems quite insignificant.

As for children and young people, admission is free for tourists under the age of 18.

Special benefits apply to young residents of the European Union. They are allowed to enter the museum for free until they are 26.

How to save money when visiting?

Every first Sunday of the month, the Louvre Museum in Paris opens its doors to its visitors for free. Most would say it's great to schedule a trip to the Louvre for the day! However, do not rush. The museum is already breaking all the attendance records. Before entering at any time you can see a rather big queue, and the most popular exhibits can only be seen from afar. It is easy to imagine how many visitors the museum collects on the days of free visits. Such a crowd of people can completely spoil the impression of viewing the exposition.

There is another good way to save money. Periodically, the museum provides a significant discount. All planned promotions are listed on the official website.

How to get to the Louvre without a queue?

A long line in front of the entrance to the museum will please few people. Buying tickets can take a lot of time, and for a tourist who has come from afar, every minute counts.

How long you have to stand in front of the entrance depends primarily on the season. For example, in the summer (in season) you can spend several hours on this. Of course, coincidence and simple luck play a big role.

Here are some tips to help you visit the Louvre Museum in Paris without wasting your time:

• It is highly recommended to buy your ticket in advance so that you can use the separate entrance without having to queue. You can do this online on the museum website.
• To visit the Louvre, it is better to choose the morning hours - the queue will be shorter, there will be more time to view the exposition.
• Starting from three in the afternoon, there are significantly fewer people who want 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. You can enter the Louvre from Rue Rivoli and directly from the Musée du Louvre metro station.
• You can get to the space under the dome through the passage leading from the Tuileries Garden. The entrance is invisible, there is no big crowd there.

Where is the Louvre

In Paris, every passer-by will be able to tell you the address of the famous museum and the most convenient way to get there. But it is better to familiarize yourself with its location in advance so as not to waste precious time, especially if your level of French is far from perfect. So how do you get to the Louvre in Paris?

The address of the palace is Musée du Louvre, 75058 Paris. It is located in the first arrondissement of Paris. You can get there by metro on the 1st or 7th line to the Palais-Royal / musée du Louvre station (by the way, you can get to the halls of the Louvre directly from the metro).

You can use the city bus, routes 21, 24, 27, 39, 48, 68, 69, 72, 81, 95. And incorrigible romantics will like the river bus - the François Mitterrand embankment stop.

Opening hours

Toto plan a visit correctly, you need to know the opening hours of the museum. The Louvre opens its doors at 9 am every day except Tuesday (on this day the museum is closed). The working day ends at 18 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

To visit the Louvre is great, but to live in the Louvre is great. For those who keep in their hearts the love of 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 old building built in the Ottoman style. The windows of the spacious rooms offer a marvelous view of the magnificent facade of the Louvre Museum building, the Opera Garnier and the famous Comédie Francaise. All interior spaces are decorated in classic French style. On the ground floor is the Brasserie du Louvre, renowned for its delicious cuisine and true Parisian atmosphere.

Living in a hotel is very convenient. All the main attractions of the capital are just a few steps away: Place de la Concorde, the Marais, Notre Dame Cathedral.

Of course, where to stay - everyone chooses for himself, but perhaps it is in this hotel that you will have a prophetic dream, like Charles or Napoleon many centuries ago…