If you are a fanatic of art and aesthetics, you will never get tired of the Louvre Museum. The Louvre museum paintings are around 5500, and it has 35000 artworks. It also one of the most visited landmarks in Paris.
The Louvre Museum was built as a fortress in 1190 and reconstructed in the 16th century to be a royal palace. It is now the world’s largest museum. Its tremendous history is not something you want to miss out on.
It might take you 200 days if you try to admire all of them. Hence, here is a little guideline on how to make the most out of your experience.
Getting to the Louvre museum
The first thing to consider is how you are going to get to the Musee du Louvre. The good thing is that it is in a very central location, making it easily accessible.
You can take the metro to the Louvre Museum’s own station Palais-Royal–Musee du Louvre. The Palais-Royal / Musée du Louvre (lines 1 and 7) and Pyramides (line 14) can be used to get there.
Besides, you can also take Bus No. 21, 24, 27, 39, 48, 68, 69, 72, 81, 95 or a car to an underground car park at 1 Avenue du Général Lemonier. The Musee du Louvre falls on most of the tourist sightseeing routes, including the Batobus, and you can cycle there.
Opening Hours of Louvre Museum
The Louvre Museum is open six days a week and is closed on Tuesdays. The timings are 9am to 6pm; however you cannot enter the museum after 5pm, and the rooms mostly start closing at 5:30pm.
Moreover, if you are visiting the museum on holiday, make sure you do not visit on 1 January, 1 May, and 25 December as the museum is closed. You can still visit during all other public holidays unless they are on a Tuesday.
Louvre Museum Entrances 50
There are four entrances to the museum
- M. Pei Pyramid
- Carrousel du Louvre,
- Passage Richelieu, and
- Porte des Lions.
It is completely up to you to choose whichever entrance you like, preferably pick that entrance which comes in your route.
Louvre Museum at night
If you want to have a dreamy night, then visiting this museum at night is not a bad option. Louvre at night is exceptionally pretty because of the decreased traffic, and due to the darkness, the museum illuminates the entire area with its lights.
Moreover, the place becomes peaceful because it is usually quiet, so you can freely stroll around and enjoy yourself without the hassle of huge crowds.
Top 10 paintings at the louvre Museum that you must see
The Raft of the Medusa
You should definitely add this to your “must-see” list at the museum; painted by Theodore Gericault, this is the most realistic painting you will find in the museum. It portrays how the survivors of the Medusa shipwreck plead for help.
The Mona Lisa
It simply would be a disappointment if you visited the louvre museum and did not look at the infamous painting of “Mona Lisa.” This painting is a portrait of the wife of Francesco del Giocondo and is known to be the most famous painting in the world.
The Wedding at Cana
This painting portrays a story from the old testament of the Bible. The painting is widely popular because of the way it shows Venetian society through a bible story. So if you are a fanatic of old history, this painting is the one for you.
Le Tricheur à l’As de Carreau
Ever wondered what a 300-year-old painting looks like? This painting is one of the oldest paintings in the world. The artist Georges de La Tou painted it in a way that depicts the pure and authentic emotions of people when they are playing a real card game.
Portrait of the Artist Holding a Thistle
We highly recommend not missing out on this painting. The portrait is one of the first stand-alone self-portraits in European painting. This painting is a metaphorical representation of fidelity by the artist towards his fiancée.
The Coronation of Napoleon
Next, we have the famous “The Coronation of Napoleon” painted by Jacques-Louis David. If you love French history and want to see a visual representation of how kings portrayed their power, then this painting is the one for you. The painting portrays the spectacular coronation ceremony of Napoleon.
Liberty Leading the People
People who adore contemporary paintings must come to see the “Liberty Leading People.” Painted by Eugene Delacroix, this magnificent painting portrays how the symbol of liberty in the form of a woman. You can find the detailed painting
Portrait of a woman
Another famous painting that you will come across at the louvre will be the “L’Européenne.” You will absolutely love this painting as it is a portrait of a young woman based in Egyptian times. The painting is popular for the glorified face of the woman and her gold-leaf collar.
The Cheat with the Ace of Diamonds
Let’s not forget this magnificent piece of art known as “The Cheat with the Ace of Diamonds.” Painted by Georges de la Tour, this painting is popular for the stares and glances that are exchanged by the characters. Many people all around the world come to see this masterpiece, so do not forget to come across it.
The Lace Maker
Last but not the least is the “The Lace Maker,” by its name we are sure you must have an idea of what this painting would be about. Painted by Johannes Vermeer, the painting features a girl who is a consumer of her work.
Top 5 sculptures at the Louvre Museum that you should not miss
The Louvre museum is known for the amazing sculptures it has; mentioned below are some sculptures that you would not want to miss out on.
- The Winged Victory of Samothrace
This sculpture is so captivating that if you look at it, you might actually think that you are daydreaming. It is present at the top Grand Daru staircase. Known for its beauty, many people from all around the world crave to have a glimpse of this captivating sculpture.
- The Venus de Milo
This statue is also known as “Aphrodite” and symbolizes the Greek totem of beauty.
- The Horse Tamers
Let’s not forget about the “The Horse Tamers” this outstanding sculpture can be found at the Louvre museum. The unique shape of the statue makes it so captivating to look at.
- The Winged Bulls
This 13 feet tall sculpture never fails to impress the visitors at the Louvre Museum; you cannot simply miss out on this sculpture. This statue shows how the human head winged bulls were used as protection in the old times.
- Chevaux de Marly
Created in the 17th century, this magnificent sculpture is a larger-than-life image of two horses restrained by grooms. It is one of the most popular sculptures present at the museum.
Restaurants and Cafes in Louvre Palace
- Café Des Marronniers
If you are looking for a place to relax and enjoy after your long day at the museum you can visit the famous “Café Des Marronniers.” The cafe is located in a garden space, so you can enjoy nature and have a relaxing day. The café offers a wide range of items, so feel free to eat anything you like.
- Terrasse De Pomone
Another café which we highly recommend is “Terrasse De Pomone”, this beautiful café opens at 10 am and closes at 5 pm. This café is located nearby the green sanctuary in the middle of Paris, you can enjoy a delectable supper.
- Bistrot Benoit
Looking for a place to eat delicious French cuisine? Then you must visit this spectacular restaurant located beneath the famed I M Pei glass pyramid. This restaurant has world-class wines, so we highly recommend you to visit this restaurant.
- Goguette
This iconic restaurant is located in the center of the Musée du Louvre; many tourists from the U.S.A and all around the world come to visit this beautiful restraint. It offers a comfortable environment and offers delicious dishes ranging which are suitable for people of all dietary preferences.
Best Louvre Museum guided tours
Louvre Museum offers three different free guided tours in English.
- The Welcome Tour
- First Louvre Tour
- The Louvre Tour
The first of the three tours provides a summary of the entire museum and starts every day from 11 am. The “First Louvre Tour” is available on the weekends only for mainly families, this tour starts at sharp 11 am as well.
The last guided tour is available on Fridays at 8:00 Pm, and it showcases the museum’s treasures to the visitors.
Tips for touring the Louvre Museum
Do not worry about waiting hours in line; if you have opted for a guided tour, then that means you get a free pass from waiting in long lines. The tour guides at the louvre have private tickets, which means you can skip the line easily and enjoy the tour.
The tickets for the tour are easily available on the museum’s website and are not that expensive; the tickets range from €0–17; however, if you want to visit the museum for free, then we have a surprise for you. The entrance is free for everyone under 26 years old on Friday evenings, so pack your bags and get ready.
Make sure that before visiting, you are not carrying a large bag because due to security issues, the museum does not allow visitors with suitcases or with large bags.
That’s all you need to know about the beautiful louvre museum, therefore, think no further and get ready to visit this spectacular pyramid.
