Don't miss the world-famous Mona Lisa, Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People and Venus de Milo at the iconic Louvre Museum
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 Château de Versailles
- The first ‘Louvre Museum’ opened in 1793, during the French Revolution, with a collection of only 537 paintings
- Napoléon decided to rename the Louvre Musée Napoléon 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 (don’t 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 Lion’s 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 Eugène Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People.
How to get there:
- Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre (metro 1 & 7)
- Louvre-Rivoli (metro 1)
- Louvre-Rivoli (metro 1)
Make the most of your Paris Pass:
- Free entry to the Louvre Museum – normal admission cost €12
- Skip the queues with exclusive Fast Track Entry
- Please Note: The Paris Pass will only be accepted for parties of 6 people or less at a time.
- Skip the queues with exclusive Fast Track Entry
- Please Note: The Paris Pass will only be accepted for parties of 6 people or less at a time.
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