Top Tips for Visiting the Louvre

The Louvre is an art lover’s dream. I had been twice before but I decided to go back again during my last trip to Paris because my boyfriend, Russell, had never been and my appreciation for art has really increased since I have been living in NYC.  Also, you can never really say you’ve completely explored the Louvre, there is always more to see, and I don’t think you can say you have been to Paris if you have not visited the Louvre.  No Paris Bucket List would be complete without it!

Not only does the Louvre have an amazing collection of artwork, the building itself is one of the most impressive I have ever been inside.  I wanted to share some background information and my tips for visiting the Louvre so that you can make the most of your time seeing one of the most impressive art collections in the world.

The building that houses the Louvre Museum was originally built as a defensive fortress in the late 12th to 13th century under Philip II. You can see remnants of the fortress in the basement of the museum. As Paris grew, the fortress lost its defensive function and, in 1546,  and Francis I converted it into the main residence of the French kings. The building was extended many times to form the present Louvre Palace.

In 1682, Louis XIV moved his household to the Palace of Versailles and the Louvre became just a place to display the royal art collection.  In 1692, the building was occupied by the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres and the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture. The Académie remained at the Louvre Palace for 100 years.  During the French Revolution, the National Assembly decided the Louvre would become a museum to display the nation’s masterpieces.

The museum opened in 1793 with only 537 paintings, most of which were royal or confiscated church property. From 1796 to 1801, the museum had to close due to structural issues with the building. Under Napoleon, the museum was renamed Musée Napoléon and the collection grew.  Then, after Napoleon’s abdication, many works had to be returned to their original owners. The collection grew during the reigns of Louis XVIII and Charles X, and then during the Second French Empire the museum gained 20,000 pieces.

Fast forward to 1983, French President François Mitterrand proposed renovating the building. Architect I. M. Pei was awarded the project and designed a glass pyramid to stand over a new entrance in the main court, the Cour Napoléon. The Louvre Pyramid was completed in 1989 and La Pyramide Inversée (The Inverted Pyramid) was completed in 1993. The museum became even more popular with the new additions.  In 2012, a satellite Louvre location was opened in Lens, France and in 2017, another location was opened in Abu Dhabi.

Interesting Facts About the Louvre

In addition to learning about the history, you might be interested in these trivia facts about the Louvre museum:

• The Louvre is the world’s largest art museum with 782,910 square feet of space filled with nearly 38,000 pieces of art from prehistory to the 21st century.  It is significantly larger than the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.
• There are several hundred thousand pieces that are part of the Louvre collection but not on display.
• It is also the world’s most visited museum, receiving more than 8.1 million visitors in 2017.
• The collection is divided into eight departments: Egyptian Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculpture; Decorative Arts; Paintings; and Prints and Drawings.
• The building has also been used as a prison and as an office for the finance ministry. During World War II, the Nazis used the museum to store stolen art.
• For those Da Vinci Code fans, there are three Arago medallions (markers on the old Paris Meridian Line) around the Louvre.  We found one in the passageway from the Louvre to the courtyard and two in the courtyard.  You should look for the Madonna of the Rocks painting in the main gallery.

Tips for Visiting the Louvre

I thought it might be helpful to share a few Louvre tips and tricks that I have learned from my visits.

Don’t Waste Time Getting Into the Museum

The Louvre is a popular museum so there can be lines to get in.  We arrived a little before the museum opened and there was already a short line.  Once they opened, the line moved quickly and we were inside the Louvre in no time. If you are tight on time too, you might want to buy the timed tickets online in advance (see FAQ section below), the Paris Pass, or consider other options to pay extra to skip the line at the Louvre.

Be prepared for the security checks at the Louvre entrances.  If you can avoid it don’t bring any large bags.  Anything over 21.5 x 13.5 x 7.5 inches needs to be put in a locker after it is examined.

I should also mention there are three entrances to the Louvre.  Most people use the entrance through the pyramid in the courtyard.  You should only use this entrance if you have purchased advance tickets (including the Paris Pass).  Otherwise, to save time, use the Porte des Lions entrance located on the wing closest to the Seine.  It is the closest entrance to Mona Lisa’s location in the Louvre.  We used the entrance to the Louvre through the shopping center (Carrousel du Louvre) by the pyramid inversee and the Apple Store.  The line there was not too bad.  Once you are inside, go straight to the Mona Lisa, you may be able to beat the crowd.

Know What You Want to See

We had a lot planned for our Paris trip so we only allocated three hours for the Louvre.   I knew spending only three hours at such a huge museum would be challenging, so we made a list beforehand of the key pieces of art we wanted to make sure that we saw.  This is critical! Even if you have more time, I think you really should make a list of the pieces you must see, otherwise, with the size of the museum, you will miss them.  Once you see the artwork on your list, then you can roam freely.  Keep reading to find out my thoughts on the five best things to see in the Louvre.

Consider a Louvre Guided Tour

If you are not sure what you want to see or you want to learn more about the artwork in the Louvre, you can purchase a guided tour.  Many of the Louvre guided tours also allow you to skip the line.  Additionally, since the guide knows the way around the museum, you will see more artwork in less time than you would on your own.  Be sure to book your guided tour of the Louvre in advance, as they are popular.  If you would like to splurge, you can even do a Louvre private tour.

Don’t Spend Extra Money on the Audio Guide

I mentioned the museum is huge, let me also say it is very confusing and difficult to navigate. First of all, everything is in French, even the Mona Lisa is referred to as La Joconde. The map isn’t very detailed either. There are so many pieces of art in the Louvre and it’s just not feasible to list them all on the map.

I did spend an extra few euros for an audio guide, but this really was a waste of money. It was larger than any other audio guide I have used and it was supposed to use GPS to help direct you around the museum. Well the GPS was always behind where we were, we ended up relying on the map instead. I hope they will make some improvements to the audio guide, as it has the potential to be a helpful guide to the Louvre.

In the meantime, they have recently created a new app “My Visit to the Louvre” that you can use to create your very own personalized tour. The app also has a map of the Louvre and you can use it to buy advance tickets. 

Beware of Pickpockets

Similar to other touristy spots, pickpockets may be in the museum.  They operate in crowded areas when you are looking at the art.  Stay alert, especially when taking selfies or pictures of the artwork.  Make sure your bags are zipped all the way closed and don’t put your wallet in your back pocket.  Also, be sceptical of any instructions that you get from strangers at the ticket machines.  If you are targeted, contact a security officer.

Wear Comfortable Shoes

As I mentioned the Louvre is huge and you will be walking a lot, so it makes sense to wear comfortable shoes.  You will be on your feet for the majority of your visit.

Check Out the Courtyard Too

My final Louvre Museum tip, it to make sure you also spend some time outside the museum in the courtyard.  I really like the pyramids.  Although the pyramids are modern, I think they really compliment the architecture of the Louvre. If you are wanting a fun picture, you can stand on one of the blocks and make it look like your finger is on top of the pyramid.

The Five Best Things to See in the Louvre

We saw a lot of artwork in the three hours we spent at the Louvre, but there were definitely five pieces that were my favorite.

Mona Lisa by Leonardo de Vinci

These days no visit to the Louvre is complete without taking a selfie with the Mona Lisa.  Just remember that selfie sticks are not allowed!  You will see signs guiding you to La Joconde, which is the French name of the painting, in room 6.  Everyone always says that the painting is smaller than expected, so try to manage your expectations.  Also, look at the painting from different parts of the room and notice how her eyes follow you. That’s the Mona Lisa optical illusion.  Be sure to check out some of the other Italian paintings in the Louvre too.

Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss by Antonio Canova

I love the story behind this sculpture.  Psyche gave into to her curiosity but Cupid’s love is able to revive her.  The artist does an amazing job of capturing the emotion and passion of the story.  (You can read more about the Cupid and Psyche story here).  If you walk to the back side of the sculpture, you will see the flask that Psyche couldn’t help but open.

Winged Victory by Pythokritos of Lind   

This sculpture of the Greek goddess, Nike of Samothrace, who is the goddess of Victory, was estimated to have been made around 200 BC.  The statue was renovated in 2013 when some gaps in the marble were repaired.  Additionally, the marble was cleaned and restored to its original color.  Let me just say this statue is absolutely stunning, especially after the restoration.  It doesn’t matter that pieces have broken off and have never been found.  I will also say that the museum does a great job showcasing the piece in the marble Daru stairway.

Marly Horses by Guillaume Coustou the Elder

I think the museum really did a great job showcasing the four impressive horse sculptures in the Marly courtyard.  The white room with the natural lighting is stunning.  The artist really brought life to the sculptures and captured the moment.  Wherever you stand in the room, the movement, strength, and violent struggle are evident, thanks to the details in the artwork.

Have you been to the Louvre? I would love to hear about your favorite Louvre art pieces.

-Anisa

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