Louvre Museum: A Journey Through Art and History

They say that Disneyland is the happiest place on earth. For me, the happiest places are the ones steeped in history, intrigue and death. Perhaps the dark tourist in me, or maybe the historian, makes me yearn to learn more about the past. I’ve been to many such places, and the Louvre Museum is one of the most incredible places offering all those things.

There are many fantastic museums in Paris that offer access to unparalleled art. But, if you’re only going to see one of them, then you should definitely visit the Louvre Museum. It is one of the world’s largest and most diverse museums, and according to my Lonely Planet guidebook, “it would take nine months to glance at every piece” inside. Talk about goals. Here is what you need to know about visiting the Louvre Museum.

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History of the Louvre Museum

At first glance, the Louvre Museum looks more like a fancy European castle than a museum. That’s because it was once a medieval fortress that later became home to French royalty for centuries. King Philippe Auguste’s finest engineers were set to work around 1190, as he was set to head off to fight in the Crusades. They created a square structure with a moat and circular defensive towers. It was a garrison fortress on the outskirts of the city.

Although the French kings lived mainly in Loire Valley, that changed sometime during the 16th century when the Louvre became a royal residence of choice. Significant upgrades and renovations transformed the fortress into a luxurious abode to make it suitable for the royals. It was Francis I who brought the French Renaissance style to the Louvre and many of the items in the collection, including the famous Mona Lisa.

The Louvre also became a residence for the various artists of the day who flourished under the patronage of the kings. Quite fitting when you think about it today. The Louvre officially became a museum in the 18th century after the French Revolution and is now one of the most visited museums in the world.

Facts about the Louvre Museum

The Louvre is the world’s largest art museum, covering over 72,000 square metres.
It houses approximately 380,000 items, but only 35,000 are publicly displayed.
Artifacts range from prehistoric times to the 21st century.
The exhibition area spreads over 652,300 square feet (60,600 square meters).
During World War II, thousands of artworks were hidden across France to protect them from Nazi looting.
The iconic glass pyramid entrance was designed by architect I. M. Pei. It was initially controversial but is now a beloved feature.
The glass pyramid stands 21 metres high and features exactly 673 glass panels.
The Louvre once served as Napoleon’s residence, and visitors today can explore his luxurious apartments reflecting his opulent lifestyle.
The Louvre received nearly 9 million visitors in 2024

The architecture of the Louvre Museum

I don’t think it’s possible to see all of the Louvre Museum in one day. To fully appreciate and take in all the priceless art housed here would take longer than that. I’ve been here a few times and still feel I haven’t seen it all. Of course, if you’re an art lover, you will want to come back again and again.

The building that houses the museum is stunning, and you can’t help but admire it as you stroll inside and outside. Spanning over four floors, several courtyards and three wings – Sully, Denon and Richelieu. You can easily imagine the royal court members going on about their daily lives in the hallways and on the grounds.

The Louvre Museum has an impressive castle-like vibe. Long, wide hallways, narrow windows and impressive chandeliers are just some of the special touches that remind you of that fact. High, vaulted ceilings often adorned with exquisite details are often just as worthy of admiration as the art displayed here.

The Louvre Museum collections

There are over 35,000 works of art from the Louvre Museum’s extensive collection displayed across eight curatorial departments. These include paintings by famous Italian masters, sculptures and various objects d’art from around the world. The departments include:

Egyptian antiquities: Covering artifacts from 4,000 BC to the 4th century AD, the collection covers 20 rooms and is one of the largest Egyptian collections in the world. Covering items from the Middle Kingdom, the New Kingdom and Coptic art, as well as the Roman, Ptolemaic and Byzantine periods.

Near Eastern antiquities: This collection spans 9,000 years, from prehistoric to the early Islamic Period. Geographically, it covers the area from North Africa to the Indus Valley and Central Asia and from the Black Sea to the Arabian Peninsula.

Greek, Etruscan and Roman art: This collection is pretty much what the name says. Greek, Roman and Etruscan artworks from Neolithic times to the 6th century AD make their home here.

Decorative arts: Home to a wide range of items from the early Middle Ages to the mid-19th century, here you’ll find everything from jewellery, ceramics, glass, furniture, rugs and anything else that was used for decoration by our ancestors.

Napoleon III Apartments: The stunning rooms, decorated in the Second Empire style, are a glimpse of what the luxury at the Louvre looked like. This is one of my favourite parts of the museum. The apartments went through a restoration and reopened to visitors in July 2024.

Islamic art: Louvre’s newest collection spans 1,300 years and three continents. Objects from Spain to Southeast Asia include ceramics, ivory, textiles and many other pieces.

Paintings: 12 curators oversee this extensive collection of paintings by European masters from the 13th century to 1848.

Prints and drawings: This collection covers works on paper. Books, drawings, manuscripts, woodcuts, copperplate and lithographic stones of the past are displayed here.

Sculptures: Dedicated to sculptures from the Medieval, Renaissance and Modern times, the collection covers artworks done before the mid-19th century.

Must see in the Louvre Museum

With countless masterpieces on display, prioritizing what to see at the Louvre Museum can be challenging. To make your visit more manageable, I’ve put together a shortlist of highlights you won’t want to miss.

Paintings in the Louvre Museum

While the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci is undoubtedly the most famous painting here, don’t miss other remarkable works like Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix, depicting the French Revolution. Another must-see is The Wedding at Cana by Paolo Veronese, the largest painting in the Louvre. Caravaggio’s dramatic Death of the Virgin also captivates visitors with its powerful realism.

Louvre Museum’s famous statues

The Louvre Museum also houses iconic sculptures that are absolute must-sees. The Venus de Milo, dating from about 100 BC, is a fascinating blend of beauty and mystery. Equally impressive is the Winged Victory of Samothrace, a majestic sculpture depicting the Greek goddess Nike. Don’t miss Michelangelo’s Rebellious Slave and Dying Slave, each reflecting stunning artistry and emotional depth.

Tips for visiting the Louvre Museum

As the largest and most visited museum, the Louvre Museum can be busy. While you can get tickets on-site, they are subject to availability and might not be available during peak seasons. To ensure you get your ticket, I recommend booking ahead.

PRO TIP: The Louvre Museum offers free entrance for all visitors on the first Friday of the month after 6 p.m. (except in July and August) and on 14 July.

The Louvre Museum hours and tickets

The Louvre is open daily except Tuesdays. Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Wednesdays and Fridays, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. The last admission is one hour before closing.

Type	Price	Details
General Admission	€22	Access to permanent collections and temporary exhibitions.
Audio Guide	€6	Available in multiple languages (English, French, Spanish, etc.)
Guided Tours	€31	Prices vary based on selected tour theme and duration.
Free Admission	Free	Under 18, EEA residents aged 18–25, disabled visitors (with a companion)

There are three cafes inside available for you to visit. The most extensive lineup is through the Grande Pyramide entrance. However, you can also enter the museum under the Arc du Carrousel (Palais Royal-Musee du Louvre metro stop.) You should plan at least half a day to visit, which probably won’t be enough.

Final thoughts about visiting the Louvre Museum

As someone who loves museums, I absolutely adore the Louvre. It’s a beautiful place in terms of architecture and worth exploring for that alone. In this stunning building, you will find paintings larger than life that make you wonder how they managed to paint them. Not to mention how long it took to paint them.

The museum has numerous benches where you can sit down and admire the art around you. The whole place can be overwhelming, so an opportunity to pause and absorb it all is a welcome one. After all, you are in the company of priceless works of art painted by the masters centuries ago. It doesn’t get better than that.