victoria de samotracia

Don't miss the world-famous Mona Lisa, Delacroix's Liberty Leading

the People and Venus de Milo at the iconic Louvre Museum
The Louvre Museum is unquestionably one of the finest art galleries in the world. Home to
hundreds of thousands of classic and modern masterpieces, the Louvre is the icing on the
cake of French culture and a testament to European art history its not surprising that its also
the most visited art gallery in the world!
Tours depart every 30 minutes between April-September, and every hour October- March and
tours last for 60 minutes.

Highlights:

Classic works of art from Mona Lisa to Venus de Milo

Around 380,000 objects from pre-history to the 21st century with 35,000 works of art
over 8 departments

Fronts onto the gorgeous landscaped Tuileries Gardens

Did you know:

The Louvre was originally built as a fortress in 1190, but later reconstructed to be a
royal palace in the 16th century before the monarchy moved out to Chteau de
Versailles

The first Louvre Museum opened in 1793, during the French Revolution, with a
collection of only 537 paintings

Napolon decided to rename the Louvre Muse Napolon under his reign and
increased the collection (although after his defeat, many pieces were returned to their
owners!)

Since being stolen in 1911, the famous and enigmatic Mona Lisa portrait is framed
and covered with bullet proof glass and protected by guards at all times (dont worry, it
was returned in 1913)

Don't miss:
Egyptian Antiquities
From 4000 BC to the 4th century the Egyptian Antiquities department is well worth a visit for its
huge span of artefacts from Ancient Egypt to the Byzantine era, and everything in between.
Artefacts include the Large Sphinx, papyrus scrolls, mummies, jewels and clothing, among
objects from the Middle Kingdom such as the statues of Amenemhatankh, Nephthys and
Hathor.
Greek, Etruscan and Roman Department

Notre Dame pier is the second location you can board the Bateaux ParThe Greek, Etruscan
and Roman collection dates from the Neolithic (New Stone Age) to the 6th century and the
decline of the Roman Empire. As one of the oldest departments at the Louvre, it was initially
curated by Francis I in the 16th century, who acquired marble statues such as that of Venus de
Milo. Artefacts from the Durand collection were later acquired in the 19th century, such as the
bronze Borghese Vase. You can also admire pieces from the Hellenistic Era and intricate
Greek pottery.

Sculpture

With a collection of ancient sculpture to Medieval and Romanesque, admire works of Daniel in
the Lions Den and the Virgin of Auvergne. The collection features works from the eras
following the Greek, Etruscan and Roman Department up to 1850. Now, the department is split
into two spaces: the French collection in the Richelieu wing and the foreign works in the Denon
wing.
Decorative Arts

Spanning from the Middle Ages to 19th Century the Decorative Arts department was originally
part of the royal property and artefacts transferred from the Basilica Saint-Denis, the burial
ground of French monarchs. These included vases and bronzes, ceramics, enamels and
stained glass. Now you can see Renaissance and Medieval artwork, jewellery and maiolicas
and plush tapestries.

Painting
With over 7,500 works covering nearly 600 years, nearly two thirds of the works on show are
by French artists. Others include Italian paintings that date back to the collections of Francis I
and Louis XIV; from the Napoleonic times and more recent purchases. Notable masterpieces
include the Mona Lisa, which was procured by Francis I, Hyacinthe Rigaud's Louis XIV;
Jacques-Louis David's The Coronation of Napoleon and Eugne Delacroix's Liberty Leading
the People.

Description
Every trip to the capital deserves a visit to the Louvre to discover the wealth of treasures it
contains. The museum houses western works of art dating from the Middle Ages to 1848, in
addition to collections of ancient oriental, Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan and Roman civilizations,
as well as graphic and Islamic arts. From room to room, the former royal palace reveals its
masterpieces to the public: the Mona Lisa, The Raft of the Medusa, the Venus de Milo, and
The Winged Victory of Samothrace. In total, there are 35,000 works to be discovered or re-
discovered! With its eight hundred year old history, the Louvre has been influenced by
numerous architectural trends, from the medieval fortress of the 12th century to the glass
pyramid by Pei (1989). The latest addition, housing the Islamic arts section, was designed by
architects Mario Bellini and Rudy Ricciotti. The undulating glass canopy covers the Visconti
courtyard, flooding the 2,800 m new wing with light. A visit to the museum is particularly
pleasant at night: the Louvre is less crowded and visitors can enjoy stunning night-time views
of Peis glass pyramid, the Cour Carre and the Seine.