Filed under: Art, Attractions, museum, top-feature
A Visitor’s Guide to The Louvre
The I.M. Pei Pyramid makes a striking juxtaposition against the historic Louvre.
The Musée du Louvre is the most famous museum in the world. Not only does it provide a home for over 35,000 priceless works of art by masters like da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael, Caravaggio, and Delacroix to name a few (and I do mean a few), the building itself is a work of art, steeped in French history from Medieval times to the present.
When planning our trip to Paris I consulted many friends who had visited before and the number one piece of advice I received was, “Don’t try to do the entire Louvre in one day!” The size and scope of the art in the Louvre – and of the Louvre itself – seems daunting, but first time visitors can benefit from the advice I received. And I have included a few tips of my own.
The famous Venus de Milo.
The famous Venus de Milo.
History of the Museum
According to the Louvre’s website:
“In 1190, a rampart was built around Paris, which was Europe’s biggest city at the time. To protect the capital from Anglo-Norman threat, the king [Phillipe Auguste, 1180-1223] decided to build reinforce its defenses with a fortress, which came to be known as the Louvre.”
Not originally a palace of residence, the Louvre was a fortress, complete with a moat. In the 14th century the project to renovate the Louvre into a palace began under the reign of Charles V. The Louvre became a museum permanently during the French Revolution, when the French National Assembly decided that the palace would be the designated home of France’s artistic masterpieces.
Navigating the Museum
The Louvre offers guided tours, workshops and classes. Their “Thematic Trails” map out selected works revolving around a different period, artistic movement, or theme. If the thought of wandering aimlessly around the Louvre overwhelms you, you might want to consider a thematic trail. Some trails are available free online, and others are guided.
For the wandering type (like us) I recommend picking up a museum map at the Information desk. Maps are available in many languages; in addition to a color-coded map (by floor) there is a photo key for each section of the museum which point out some of the most significant works in each area (Mona Lisa in the Italian Paintings at the Denon Wing, Napoleon Apartments in the Decorative Arts, etc.). We numbered the exhibits on the map, in the order we wanted to see them, and then checked them off as we went along.
Outside the Louvre
It is worth spending time outside the Louvre, as some of its most famous features are on and around its exterior.
- The famous – some would argue infamous, in its stark modernism – I.M Pei Pyramid, located in the courtyard of The Louvre. This pyramid constructed of glass, steel rod and cable is also a museum entrance. Entrance lines to the Louvre can be long, and in my opinion if you have to wait in line this is where you should wait; love it or hate it, the Pei Pyramid is striking against the architecture of the main buildings and its reflecting pools provide beautiful photo opportunities.
- The exteriors of the main building are beautiful; everywhere the eye falls a new detail emerges. We particularly enjoyed photographing the sculptures of France’s most important historical figures, looking down on visitors from their perches around the building.
- The gardens of the Carrousel and Tuileries make wonderful spots to sit and reflect on your day at the Louvre, to sketch or write, or to simply take a break before diving back into the building for more. If you need to stretch your legs, take a stroll and enjoy the sculptures, trees, and flowers that populate the public space.
Tips and Suggestions
My friends who visited the Louvre before me were right – you just can’t do it all in one day. If we had an extra day or two I think we would have returned, but knowing that we had only one day our plan was to go on a day the museum would be open late (Wednesday) and take as many breaks as we felt we needed. We left the museum for lunch – a day ticket includes re-entry – and we grabbed a café au lait as needed from the museum café. (See my previous article for tips on Paris café culture.) I learned a few other things during my day at the Louvre that I hope you will find helpful.
-
A sphinx looms in the Ancient Egyptian exhibit.
Museum Passes: Paris offers a Museum Pass with 2-day, 4-day and 6-day options; prices range from €32 to €64. If you plan on visiting multiple museums this pass could save you a pretty … euro.
- Late Hours: It’s listed above, but the late hours offered by the Louvre bears repeating. Open until 10 pm on Wednesdays and Fridays, the late hours translated to smaller crowds for us after 6 pm. We ended up revisiting the Mona Lisa in the evening to get a better look.
- Photography is Allowed: We didn’t bring our camera to the Louvre but we returned to our hotel after lunching off-site to get it because photography is allowed in the Louvre. No flash, please.
- Coat Check … or not?: We were in Paris in December and naturally temperatures were chilly. We checked our coats but I found some of the exhibition halls uncomfortably cold — in all fairness, I run cold. Luckily I had a large pashmina-style scarf which came in handy. Bring a sweater, light jacket, or wrap if you run cold, too!
- Be Prepared: The Boy Scouts are really on to something — don’t go in unprepared! Peruse the Musée du Louvre‘s official website for the newest exhibits, room closures, and other unexpected changes that could throw a wrench in your plan.
Location
Paris is divided into numbered districts – or arrondissements – and the Louvre is located in Paris’s 1st district. Paris is small and quite walkable for the fit and energetic; my husband and I only used the Metro one of the five days we stayed in the city. I would recommend travelers who are staying less than a 10 or 15 minute walk from the Louvre keep the train in mind; after a full day in the museum your legs will be tired (I felt like I had run a marathon) and you may not want to walk back to your hotel or apartment.
The Metro is easy to use, with lines that are both color-coded and numbered making the maps simple to read and the stations easy to navigate. Two stops offer access to the Louvre: the Palais Royale-Musee du Louvre and the Louvre-Rivoli stations. Our first view of Paris was when we emerged from the underground Palais-Royale-Musee de Louvre station onto the street (we took a train from Amsterdam to Paris) and it took our breath away!
Tickets for the Metro can be purchased individually at each station from electronic kiosks that resemble ATM machines. You can purchase multiple tickets, or if you plan on using the Metro frequently you can purchase a weekly pass that is good for six days.
Hours
The Louvre is open every day of the week except for Tuesday, and it is closed on December 25 (Christmas), January 1 (New Year’s Day) and May 1 (Labor Day). The museum closes at 5 pm on December 24 (Christmas Eve) and December 31 (New Year’s Eve).
- Museum Hours: Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 9 am – 6 pm; Wednesday and Friday 9 am – 10 pm.
The museum has more than one entrance, and admission hours vary accordingly:
- Permanent Collection: Pyramid and Galerie du Carrousel entrances open from 9 am to 10 pm; Passage Richelieu entrance open from 9 am to 6 pm; Porte des Lions entrance open from 9 am to 5:30 pm, except Friday.
- Hall Napoléon Exhibitions: Pyramid and Galerie du Carrousel entrances open from 9 am to 10 pm, every day except Tuesday.
The museum keeps an updated Schedule of Room Closures online, so consult this list before any visit to make sure the exhibit(s) you want to see will be available.
Admission
The Louvre offers free admission to the museum on the first Sunday of every month. Admission fees for the rest of the month are as follows:
- Permanent Collection: Also valid for the Musée Eugene Delacroix, excludes temporary exhibits in the Hall Napoléon: Full day €9.5, Wednesday & Friday 6 pm – 9:45 pm €6.
- Special Exhibits in Hall Napoléon: €11; free admission on the first Sunday of the month does not include these special exhibits.
- Combined Ticket (Permanent & Hall Napoléon): €14 for access to the permanent collections and temporary exhibitions in both the Louvre and the Musée Eugène Delacroix. €11 on Wednesdays and Fridays from 6 pm to 9:45 pm for access to the permanent collections and temporary exhibitions in the Louvre.
Tickets can be purchased online, and you can shop at the Louvre gift shop online as well.
All photos from the personal collection of Christina Uticone and Joshua Payne.
2 Comments