The Louvre, originally a palace but now one of the largest and most visited museums in the world, is a must-visit for any one with a slight interest in art. Some of the museum’s most renowned works of art are the Mona Lisa and the Venus of Milo.

Originally a royal palace, the Louvre turned into a public museum at the end of the 18th century. It is located in the initial arrondissement, at the heart of Paris, where you’ll find more than one nice Hotel Paris.

There are about 35.000 objects on show, spread evenly over 3 wings of the previous palace. The museum has a wide-ranging collection ranging from the ancient times up to the mid 19th century. A large part of the collection consists of western european paintings and sculptures. Other rooms contain Roman, Egyptian, Greek and Oriental art. There’s also a section with ‘Objects d’Art’, where objects such as clocks, furniture, china and tapestries are displayed.

Some of the most renowned artworks in the museum are the Venus of Milo, the Nike of Samothrake, the Dying Slave by Michelangelo and naturally Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa.

The Louvre was made in a couple of phases. Built originally as a 12th century fortress, it was converted into a royal palace in the 14th century.

Its current appearance goes back to the 15th century, when the original fortress was demolished and the wing along the Seine stream was built. The palace was extended in the 16th century by designer Pierre Lescot, who expanded the palace into a complicated with two courtyards. Ten years later Catharina de Medici added the Tuileries palace to the west of the Louvre. Construction on the Louvre was halted for some considerable time when king Louis XIV decided to move to the Versailles Palace.

In the 19th century, in the Second Empire, the Louvre was expanded again with the addition of the Richelieu wing.

The Louvre now had four symmetric wings surrounding a large courtyard. This wouldn’t last long, as the Communards burned the Tuileries palace in 1871, opening up the west side of the palace. The Tuileries and Carrousel gardens form anice, leafy setting for the Louvre palace. A pleasure at any season of the year, they provide the perfect place for a relaxing ramble and offer a variety of activities for visitors of every age. To make your relaxing trip complete reserve a Ferienwohnung Paris.

The collection of the Louvre Museum was first established in the 16th century by King Francis I. One of the works of art he acquired was the now famous Mona Lisa painting. The collection grew steadily thanks to donations and purchases by the kings. In 1793, in the French Revolution, the non-public royal collection opened to the public.

The most recent addition to the Louvre was the development of the glass pyramid, which functions as the museum’s main entrance. The pyramid was built in 1989 by the famous Yankee designer I.M. Pei. The glass pyramid allows the daylight to come in on the underground floor.

The modern addition originally received mixed reviews, as it contrasts sharply with the classical design of the encompassing buildings, but today it is often accepted as a clever solution which has given the museum aroomy central entrance without the necessity to touch the historical patrimony.

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