The Louvre

About the museum

The Louvre (Musée du Louvre) is the world's largest art museum and a historic monument in the heart of Paris on the Right Bank of the Seine. It began as a medieval fortress built around 1190, became a royal palace, and opened as a public museum in 1793 during the French Revolution.

The glass Pyramid by architect I. M. Pei, opened in 1989, is its main entrance. The collection spans some 8 millennia and holds around 35,000 works on display.

What it is famous for

• The Mona Lisa (La Joconde) by Leonardo da Vinci.
• The Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace.
• Vast Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Islamic art collections.
• Being the most visited museum in the world.

Good to know

It is enormous — focus on a few wings rather than trying to see everything. The Pyramid entrance can be busy; there are other entrances. Admission is free for under-18s and on certain evenings and days; check the official policy before you visit.