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NOT ALL THE ART IN PARIS IS IN MUSEUMS
But most of it is at the Louvre

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. In Paris, even a delivery truck seems the perfect place to display beautiful things to look at. 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 is 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.

The Louvre must see Best of France Art and Culture tour

Entrance to the museum is through the modern underground concourse, a surprising contrast to the period architecture of the palace above, the Louvre Carrousel 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, Sculptures, Paintings, Antiquties, Objets d’Art and Louvre History. One wing of the former palace has been left as it was under the kings Louis to experience the opulent lifestyle of French royalty. 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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The Louvre

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