THE LOUVE
Not All Art In Paris is in Museums
Everywhere
you stroll in Paris there is art to look at in one form or another,
from
classic statues on its bridges, parks, palaces and the
artists who draw tourist sketches at Sacre Cour, to modern displays of
public art in
front
of the Paris Opera House, on the sides of a bus, and overlooking the
Galleries Layfaette shopping store. But
where best to see the art treasures of Paris than the Louvre
Museum. The
Musée
du Louvre holds 35,000 art works in eight departments, displayed in
more than 60,000 square
meters of exhibition floors dedicated to the permanent collections, spread
through three main building sections, Richelieu, Sully and Denon. Visiting
the Louvre to see all its massive collections can be a multi-day
process (See Collections
of the Louvre).
Originally
built as a defensive fortress in 1190 by Philippe Auguste on the banks
of the Seine as part of a wall around the old medieval city, the Louvre
was transformed into a palace and sometimes in-town residence after
Paris
grew beyond it’s early walls in the 14th Century as medieval Europe’s
largest city. The Lower Hall (Salle Bassel) is all that’s left
today of the Louvre’s original medieval interior. When the Tuilleries
Palace was built by Louis XII a passage was built between the two palaces
which became the Grand Gallerie. The Louve as it is today was largely
the result of building expansion under Loius XIV and Louis XV. But
the
Louvre became a secondary residence after the construction Versailles
and the French royalty began housing some of its art treasures in the
spaces of the Lourve Palace. After the Tuilleries burnt down in the 1800’s
the Louvre became almost totally dedicated to culture and ultimately
the
museum it is today.
Visiting The Louvre
Entrance
to the museum is through the modern underground concourse from the
Louvre Carrousel parking area, a surprising contrast to the
period architecture of the palace above, the Louvre is a cavernvous
marble world
of
automated
ticket
kiosks, shops, restaurants and rental car agencies. The main entrance
is under the glass pyramid made infamous now from the Da Vinci Code into
the Napoleon reception hall. Filled with families, children and
adults alike seem 
fascinated by the underside of the central pyramid,
a gathering
sight for family photographs and kid play. The museum offers recorded
self guided tours, and even what they call the Da Vinci Code Soundwalk,
a tour theme based on the book with the voice of Jean Reno in his French
detective character from the movie version of the popular book. Group
tours for 7 or more can be arranged. Full price for admission to the
musee is 8.50 Euro with a reduced admission of 6 Euro for evening openings
after 6 pm.
The
displays are divided by subject and category, Sculptures, Paintings,
Antiquties, Objets d’Art
and Louvre History over the three different palace halls. One wing
of the former palace has been left as it was under Louis Napoleon and
the
French
kings to
experience
the opulent lifestyle of royalty. Take your time to explore the museum
by taking cross-department approach, by theme or purely
choose
the kind of art that interests you. © Bargain
Travel Europe
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Web
Info
The
Louvre
SEE ALSO:
RODIN
MUSEUM PARIS - Art For Lovers and Thinkers
EUROSTAR
- LONDON-PARIS High-Speed “Chunnel” Train
PARIS ELEGANCE ON A 3-STAR BUDGET
A SAINT IN CHATILLON-SUR-SIENE
DAY TRIP TO PARIS FROM LONDON BY EUROSTAR
EIFFEL TOWER - ONLINE TICKETS & RESTAURANTS
