About the museum
The Louvre Museum, located in the heart of Paris, has its origins in a 12th century medieval fortress built to protect the city. Over the centuries it was a royal palace until, after the French Revolution, it was transformed into a public museum in 1793. Today it is a universal cultural symbol and one of the most important museums in the world.
What to see during the visit
The Louvre houses more than 35,000 works that span the history of art from Antiquity to the 19th century. During your visit, you can admire iconic pieces such as the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, the Victory of Samothrace and the Venus de Miloas well as works by artists such as Delacroix, Vermeer, Raphael and sculptures from ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome.
“Art is not studied, it is contemplated.” – Honoré de Balzac
Curiosities
- Remains of the original medieval fortress are still preserved underneath the museum.
- The famous glass pyramid was inaugurated in 1989 and generated great controversy at the time.
- The Mona Lisa is relatively small and has been protected by armored glass since 1956.