Built in the 12th century, the Louvre originally served as a fortress and then a royal palace in France. After serving as a palace for almost four centuries, the building became home to a series of French paintings and sculptures.
It wasn’t until 1793 that the Louvre was opened to the public as a museum. At the time of its opening it had a collection of about 500 artworks. Today, it houses one of the richest collections of art in the world, showcasing the evolution of human culture and civilization. The complete collection of the museum includes about 480,000 pieces.
History of the Louvre PalaceHome to around 480,000 works of art, including some of the most celebrated paintings in the world, there is much to see inside the Louvre Museum. Here’s what to expect on your visit.
Room 711, Denon wing, Level 1
The Salle des Éstats is the largest room inside the Louvre Museum. It is only fitting that it houses the world’s most famous painting inside, the Mona Lisa. You will also find other renowned Venetian paintings such as The Wedding Feast at Cana by Veronese. This room was built between 1855 and 1857 and was designed by architect Hector Lefuel.
Room 344, Sully Wing, Left 0
Inside this room is a collection of ancient Greek sculptures and antiques, including its most famous one, Venus de Milo. This sculpture of Venus de Milo is one of the most cherished female sculptures in the whole museum. The gorgeous red marble that adorns the room was commissioned by Emperor Napoleon I during the 19th century.
Room 703, Denon wing, Level 1
One of the most iconic spots inside the Louvre Museum, the Daru Staircase was built in the 19th century by Hector Lefuel. Placed on top of the staircase is a rare Greek statue of the goddess of victory, The Winged Victory of Samothrace, the exact origin of which still remains unknown.
Room 637, Sully wing, Level 1
Opened on 15 December 1827, this part of the museum was officially established as an Egyptian museum. The museum was named after King Charles X, who was present for the opening of the museum. Inside this museum are ancient objects and artifacts that help bring light to the fascinating history of Egypt.
Room 338, Sully wing, Level -1
A striking feature of the Louvre, the Great Sphinx of Tanis guards the entrance to a room filled with Egyptian antiquities. The Sphinx embodies a half-human and half-animal creature, the body of which represents a lion and the face is of an Egyptian king. Here you will find more than 6000 artworks covering about 5000 years of history.
Room 710, Denon wing, Level 1
Inside the Grande Galerie are some of the largest and most renowned Italian paintings. This part of the museum sees a lot of visitors throughout the year. Dating back to the 16th century, this part of the museum was initially built as a connection between two palaces - the Louvre and Tuileries. It was one of the first parts of the palace to become a public museum.
Room 705, Denon wing, Level 1
Inspired by King Louis XIV, the famous monarch of France, the Galerie d’Apollon is a representation of Apollo, the Sun God. King Louis often identified himself as an embodiment of Apollo. This bright and royal gallery was created by some of the best sculptors and architects of the day. It is now home to the French crown jewels and other royal artifacts.
Room 700, Denon wing, Level 1
Named after its majestic red walls, the Red Rooms are home to the largest paintings in the Louvre. Showcased here are the works of some of the greatest French artists from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, including Jaques-Louis David, Eugène Delacroix, and Théodore Géricault. Most of the paintings here fall into the ‘historic paintings’ category at the Louvre.
Room 403, Denon wing, Level 0
The name Michelangelo is known throughout the world. Dedicated to the mastermind Renaissance artist, this gallery showcases the best of Italian sculpture, including the Dying Slave, created by Michelangelo himself. All the sculptures in this gallery were created during the 16th and 19th centuries. Other notable works include Flying Mercury, Mercury Abducting Psyche, and Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss.
Salle 410, Aile Denon, Niveau 0
Initially, these rooms served as the summer house of Anne of Austria, the mother of Louis XIV. During the 1800s, the rooms were used to house ancient antiquities by Napoleon Bonaparte. Inside the rooms are an array of Roman sculptures and antiques, located on the ground floor of the Louvre. The ceiling of these rooms are the original ones from Anne’s summer apartments.
Room 348, Sully wing, planta 0
Established in the 17th century, this splendid gallery was designed as a royal ballroom. With an exquisite collection of ancient sculptures, this room marks the beginning of Renaissance architecture in Paris. The room gets its name from the four iconic columns inside, adorned with sculptures of female figures. Among many remarkable sculptures, the most notable ones are of Greek gods, goddesses, and mythical entities.
Room 652, Sully wing, Level 1
Giving visitors an insight into ancient Greek pottery, this gallery houses vast columns of vases, plates, cups, and the like. Marquis Giampietro Campana was a collector of these objects and so the room was graciously named after him. He had the most extensive collection of these objects in the whole of Europe. You will also find a range of private collections of Italian paintings inside this gallery.
Room 185, Denon Wing, Left -1 & Room 186, Denon wing, Level -2
Dating back to the rise of Islam in the 7th century, the Cour Visconti is a section in the inner courtyard of the Louvre dedicated to Islamic art. Included here are objects and artifacts collected from Spain, India, North Africa, and Egypt. These collections span from the 7th century till the 19th century, including over 3000 pieces that represent the luxurious lives of the Sultans and Princes of the time.
Room 229, Richelieu wing, Level 0
This courtyard contains the relics of a massive city that was built in the 8th century. It took less than ten years to build the entire expanse under the reign of the Assyrian Empire. An area that is now a part of Iraq, was once a prestigious capital built by King Sargon II in Khorsabad near a place called Mosul. The remains of the capital were excavated in the 19th century and now lie in the first-ever Assyrian museum inside the Louvre.
Room 301, Richelieu wing, Level 0
Inside this part of the museum are some of the oldest pieces in the whole of the Louvre. With neoclassical decor and five adjoining rooms, the space houses a range of antiques under the title of Near Eastern collections. Lying here are remarkable works from ancient Iran and the Levant - an ancient land that now spans across Syria, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Cyprus.
Room102, Richelieu wing, Level 0
The courtyards of Puget and Marly form an especially aesthetic part of the museum. Built to showcase sculptures that were designed for the outdoors, the pieces here are adorned with natural light shining through glass ceilings. Most of the French sculptures here were created for the garden spaces of the Tuileries or the Château de Versailles. Notable works you will see here include Milo of Croton and Perseus and Andromeda.
Room 544, Richelieu Wing, Left 1
Take a walk through the luxurious life of Kings and Emperors of the past in the glamorous Napoleon III Apartments. Overlooking the Napoleon Courtyard, this part of the museum once served as the official apartment of Napoleon III during 1861. It is located on the first floor of the Richelieu wing and has been preserved for over 150 years! Take a look at portraits, vases, chandeliers, and more in these royal apartments.
Salle 801, Aile Richelieu, Niveau 2
Named after the renowned works of artist Peter Paul Rubens, this gallery is home to some of the largest decorative paintings in the Louvre. Included here are a series of large paintings depicting the life of Marie dé Medici. Major events in the Queen’s life are represented on a series of canvases arranged in chronological order. She commissioned these paintings in 1622 after returning from exile.
Room 631, Sully Wing, Left 1
It is no surprise that Kings and Queens lived a luxurious lifestyle. Showcasing furniture and other objects from the 18th century, this part of the gallery boasts of the revered French art of living. Included here are a range of artifacts such as Marie Antoinette’s travel case, a chest of drawers with decorative monkeys, a tapestry depicting the story of Don Quixote, a Turkish armchair, and many other such collections.
Rooms 424, 427, 429, Denon Wing, Left 0
Inaugurated in 2000, the Pavillon des Sessions was opened to showcase a series of artworks from all around the world including Africa, Asia, Oceania, and America. A total of 120 masterpieces include African sculptures and a ceremonial house post from the Solomon Islands. Designed by architect Hector Lefuel during the Second Empire, the gallery houses art from every continent.
Rotonde Sully North
Close to the iconic Pyramid, is the Rotonde Sully, a space that houses a range of drawings and prints. Here you get to explore various techniques used by renowned European artists and admire their work closely. Over 250,000 pieces of pastels, drawings, prints, and miniatures are showcased here, created between the 11th and 19th centuries. It is the largest collection of graphic arts in the world!
Inside the Louvre Museum are an extensive collection of artworks, sculptures, and artifacts from around the world.
Yes. You can go inside the Louvre Museum. To visit the museum, you need to purchase an entrance ticket.
Louvre Museum tickets start from €17.
We recommend spending at least 2 - 3 hours inside the Louvre Museum.
There are more than 35,000 artworks on display inside the Louvre Museum.
There are a wide variety of paintings inside the Louvre Museum created by some of the finest European artists of the time including Michelangelo, Delacroix, Da Vinci, and more.
The most famous artworks inside the Louvre Museum are the Mona Lisa, The Wedding at Cana, Venus de Milo, and The Winged Victory of Samothrace, among others.
Yes. You haven’t seen Paris if you don’t go inside the Louvre Museum. It is one of the best and largest museums in the world. Inside the Louvre is an extensive collection of artworks from all over the world, including a large number of masterpieces that you must see on your visit.
Photos and videos for personal use can be taken inside the Louvre Museum.
Yes. Parts of the movie the Da Vinci Code were shot inside and outside the Louvre Museum.