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

Probably, there is no man in the world who does not know what the Louvre is in Paris. The majestic medieval palace, the former residence of French monarchs and the most visited museum of the world. 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 far from art. The museum is sure to be visited by everyone who plans to visit Paris.

The Louvre is rightly called one of the world's major architectural celebrities. His beauty is multifaceted and diverse. In the intricate patterns of stone, wood and glass, the breath of the centuries died down, dozens of masters who worked on creating the masterpiece left their mark. The walls of the Louvre heard a million secrets, witnessed significant historical events, and the floorboards felt the weight of many great people's steps. The atmosphere of the mysterious building is unique and unforgettable!

History of the Louvre

In Paris, and throughout Europe, there is no second palace with the harmony and elegance inherent in the Louvre. His unsurpassed beauty was 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, the complete end of construction dates back to 1857. During this period France saw 13 kings, 2 emperors and 2 republics. Despite such a long period of erection, a multiple change of epochs and a combination of various styles of construction, today we see a well-coordinated architectural ensemble.

The beginning of construction was laid by King Philip Augustus. On his orders, a defensive tower was built on the western border of Paris. The place of its location was called Lupar, and from there the name of the Louvre castle came.

At the beginning of its existence the tower served as a defensive structure. Later it began to keep the treasury, 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 Reumont du Temple to reconstruct the existing structure. Thanks to the efforts of this master, the palace acquired royal grandeur and became comfortable for living. New buildings were built with spacious halls. In the inner rooms, light filtered through the huge glassed windows, the walls were decorated with frescoes and carved wooden elements. The main decoration of the renovated Louvre was the huge solemn staircase "Big Screw".

The construction continues

The luxurious palace was renovated several times and rebuilt during the Renaissance period. Dozens of architects worked on its arrangement, striving to bring the ensemble to perfection. At this time, a gallery was built, connecting the Louvre with the Tuileries Palace.

A new round in the development of the Louvre was given under Henry IV. The monarch was so keen on art that he invited artists to his residence, providing them with creative, spacious workshops. Thus, the birthplace of many masterpieces of French painting was the Louvre Palace in Paris.

During the reign of Louis XIV, the palace experienced a time of 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, even there were plans for the demolition of the palace. Fortunately, they were never implemented.

The French Revolution made its adjustments to the life of the palace. Since the beginning of the reign of Napoleon III, he ceased to be the residence of the ruling dynasty and acquired the status of the Central Art Museum.

At the same time, the construction of the main part of the palace is being completed - the wing of Richelieu is being built.

The first exhibits

The first exhibits of the museum were canvases of Italian masters, obtained from royal collections. Some of them were collected by Francis I. Among these paintings was a canvas, to this day attracting millions of visitors to the Louvre Museum in Paris - "Mona Lisa".

The largest acquisition at the time of the opening of the museum are 200 paintings by banker Everar Jabah from the collection of Louis XIV.

In the time of revolutionary France, the collection of the museum was actively replenished due to the values confiscated from aristocrats. A large influx of exhibits was during the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte. The museum received many archaeological finds and military trophies from Egypt and the Middle East.

What attracts the palace today?

The modern Louvre palace in Paris is primarily a museum. There are more than 350 thousand outstanding works of art. Impressive amount, is not it? In order to stay in front of each of them for at least a couple of seconds, it will take more than 20 days.

The Louvre Museum is the third largest art museum in the world. The territory of exhibition halls is 60 000 m ² . The entire exposition is located on four floors in the three wings of the building: along the Rivoli street there is the Richelieu wing, the Denon wing stretches along the Seine, the square courtyard surrounds the Sully wing.

It is very difficult to keep so many values in an ideal order. The staff of the museum employs about 1600 people. 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 are very reverent. Every Frenchman is proud of him. The palace is surrounded by a national concern, and any change in his life is actively discussed in society.

Doubtful architectural element

The most unexpected for the visitor building on the territory of the complex is the pyramid of the Louvre. In Paris, and throughout France, for the third decade, disputes about its relevance and expediency have not ceased. Many did not approve of the glass structure in the Art Nouveau style in the courtyard of the classical palace complex. The choice of such a project became a shock for most of the French. The public calmed down only after the pyramid gained immense popularity among tourists and began to bring a tangible income to the city.

Why did you need a pyramid?

The beginning of the 80s of the 20th century is a period of active development and renovation in Paris. The Louvre was no exception. A competition was announced for the project of perestroika, and to the general surprise, its architect, Yo Ming Pei, won with his glass structure.

According to the idea of the creator, the pyramid is designed to serve as the main entrance to the building, as it significantly increases the capacity. In addition, natural light is fed through it into the large hall, and under the "dome" is a shopping and restaurant area.

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

Main places in the Louvre

Well, you went through the pyramid and pondered the question of which direction to move on.

The exposition is so great that it is not everyone who can examine it. To get lost inside a huge palace is very simple. It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the museum plan in advance, develop and plan a route. It is rather difficult to choose places for priority visits, because all the exhibits are the best of the best!

Let's list those halls that you definitely can not miss:

1. The medieval Louvre.

2. The Egyptian halls are huge, shrouded in a veil of time. You will not see such unique samples anywhere else.

3. Greek sculptures are the eternal breath of the classics.

4. Italian painting - from the era of early objection and to Titian and Raphael.

5. Dutch painting - masterpieces of Vermeer with unique optical effects you need to see with your own eyes.

6. Apartment Napoleon III with a complete collection of furniture of that era.

7. And, of course, the portrait of Gioconda - if you say that you visited the Louvre in Paris and did not see the smile of Mona Lisa, they will not understand you.

Login prices

As well as in any other museum, before the beginning of examination of an exposition it is necessary to buy an entrance ticket. The fixed price is quite democratic: only 12 euro for an adult visitor and 15 euro for a double ticket. If you recall how many outstanding works can be seen in the heart of the museum, the amount will seem quite insignificant.

As for children and young people, tourists who have not reached the age of 18 are free.

Special benefits apply to young people in the European Union. Free admission to the museum is allowed up to 26 years.

How to save money on a visit?

Every first Sunday of the month the Louvre Museum in Paris opens its doors to its visitors for free. Most will say that it's great, you need to plan a trip to the Louvre for this day! But do not hurry. The museum already beats all records on attendance. Before the entrance at any time you can see a rather long queue, and the most popular exhibits will be considered only from afar. It is easy to imagine how many visitors the museum collects on the days of free visits. Such a congestion of the people can completely spoil the impression of viewing the exposition.

There is another good saving option. Periodically, the museum provides a substantial discount. All planned shares are listed on the official website.

How to get to the Louvre without waiting in line?

A large queue in front of the entrance to the museum few people will rejoice. Buying tickets can take a lot of time, but for a tourist who has come from a distance, every minute counts.

How long will it take to stand in front of the entrance, depends primarily on the time of the year. For example, in summer (in a season) you can spend a few hours on it. Of course, an important role is played by a coincidence and simple luck.

Here are a few tips to help you visit the Louvre Museum in Paris, without having spent too much time:

• It is strongly recommended to buy an admission ticket in advance, then you can use a separate entrance, bypassing the queue. You can do it online on the museum's website.

• To visit the Louvre it is better to choose the morning hours - the queue will be smaller, there will be more time to examine the exposition.

• Beginning at three o'clock in the afternoon, those wishing to go inside become much less.

• The main entrance to the museum is organized through a glass pyramid in the courtyard, a large number of tourists are observed there. But it is not the only one available to visitors. In the Louvre you can enter from the side of Rue de Rivoli and from the metro station Musée du Louvre directly.

• In the space below the dome you can get to the transition leading from the Tuileries garden. The entrance is invisible, there is no big crowd.

Where is the Louvre

In Paris, each passer-by will be able to tell the address of the famous museum and the most convenient option for travel. But it is better to get acquainted with its location in advance in order not to waste precious time, especially if the level of your 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 district of Paris. There you can take the metro on the 1st or 7th branch to the Palais-Royal / musée du Louvre station (by the way, directly from the underground you can get to the halls of the Louvre).

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

Working hours

To correctly plan the visit, you need to know the opening hours of the museum. The Louvre opens its doors at 9 am every day, except Tuesday (on that day the museum is closed). The working day ends at 6 pm on Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. And on Wednesday and Friday it was extended to 21-45 (for convenience of afternoon visitors).

Live in the Louvre

To visit the Louvre is great, but to live in the Louvre is great. For those who keep their love for the magnificent royal palace in their hearts, it is worth paying attention to the Louvre Hotel in Paris. It is located in the heart of the city, in an old building, built in the Ottoman style. From the windows of spacious rooms, you can admire the magnificent façade of the Louvre museum building, the Opera Garnier and the famous Comedie Francaise. All interior spaces are decorated in a classic French style. On the ground floor is the Brasserie du Louvre restaurant, famous for its amazing cuisine and a truly Parisian atmosphere.

Living in a hotel is very convenient. Just a few steps away are all the main sights of the capital: Place de la Concorde, Mare Quarter, Notre Dame Cathedral.

Of course, where to stay - everyone chooses himself, but perhaps in this hotel you will have a prophetic dream, like Karl or Napoleon many centuries ago ...