The Louvre Museum, widely regarded as the most stunning museum in the world, receives an average of 8 million visitors annually, making it the most popular. Its galleries cover at least 72,000 square meters, and 35,000 works of art are on display. There is no need to remind you that you must be prepared before entering the museum since if you had to spend 10 seconds studying each item, it would take you 96 hours to see the entire collection. This comprehensive reference to the Louvre Museum includes information on how to get there, how much it costs, how to navigate the museum, and how to have the best possible experience there. In the event that you are taking the Louvre Museum tour, make sure that you go through this guide to have the best time possible. Here goes:
Where is the Louvre located?
On the right side of the Seine, between the Rue de Rivoli and the Seine, in the first district of Paris, is where you’ll find the Louvre Museum. The huge glass pyramid in the middle of the main courtyard (cour Napoléon) makes it simple to identify. The commencement of the Axe Historique (historical axis), which runs through the Champs-Elysées, the Place de la Concorde, the Tuileries Garden, and the Arc de Triomphe, connects the Louvre Palace to the Grande Arche de la Défense. The equestrian statue of King Louis XIV is positioned close to the entrance.
Getting there
The Louvre Museum is conveniently located. You can take line 1 or line 7 to the Palais Royal/Musée du Louvre stop on the metro to get there. By passing via the Carrousel du Louvre’s underground shopping mall, you can access the glass pyramid directly from this station. You can also use the metro, line 14, and exit at the Pyramids stop.
Bus lines 21, 24, 27, 39, 48, 67, 68, 69, 72, 81, 85, and 95 can be used to travel to the Louvre. Near the Louvre, they all halt.
Schedule and Costs
Except on Tuesdays, the Louvre Museum is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm. Additionally, there are evening hours on Wednesdays and Fridays until 9.45 p.m. On nights when doors are opened, rooms close between 5.30 and 9.30 p.m.
Except for the firsts of January, May 1 and 8, and December 25, the Louvre is open on holidays. A museum admission ticket costs €15, or €17 if you purchase it online.
When to Visit
Every season can be used to visit the Louvre, however, summer often draws the most people. But there are usually a lot of tourists because it is the most visited museum in the world. The busiest times are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., therefore it is preferable to visit in the morning, on a Wednesday, or on a Friday when the store is open late.
What to See
Mona Lisa: It is a well-known artwork that was created in the 16th century and is considered a great masterpiece. According to estimates, half of Louvre tourists solely visit the museum to view this Leonardo da Vinci painting. It must be acknowledged that its fabled half-smile and unparalleled beauty are masters at deceiving the masses.
The Venus de Milo: This well-known sculpture, which was created approximately 100 BC, was found on the island of Milos in 1820, from which it derives its name. It symbolizes Venus, or Aphrodite in Roman mythology, the goddess of love. One of the top three works of art in the museum.
Napoleon’s Coronation, by Jacques-Louis David: Napoleon is shown in this artwork at his ordination and Empress Josephine’s coronation in the Cathedral of Notre Dame. It was created between 1806 and 1807. The Palace of Versailles houses a replica.
Author Theodore Gericault’s The Raft of the Medusa: Not for the weak of the heart is this piece of art. This work of art depicts the shipwreck of the Medusa, which took place in 1816, and is incredibly realistic.
Veronese’s The Wedding Feast at Cana: Having dimensions of 6.66 meters in height and 9.90 meters in length, this painting is the largest piece of art in the museum. It depicts the biblical account of the Cana Wedding Feast, where Christ performed his first miracle by turning water into wine, and was painted between 1562 and 1563.
The Tanis Great Sphinx: This sculpture, which dates to circa 2600 BC, shows a sphinx, a chimaera with a lion’s body and a human head. Sphinx guarded the tombs of the Pharaohs and served as symbols of their authority. We can interpret inscriptions on this sphinx that mention Ammenemes II, Merneptah, and Shoshenq I.
