The world's largest and most-visited museum, from the Mona Lisa to the Venus de Milo. Everything you need before you go — ticket options, the quietest entrances, and how to skip a queue that can swallow an afternoon.
The Louvre began as a medieval fortress in the 12th century — you can still walk its excavated foundations in the basement. It became a royal residence, and in 1793, during the Revolution, opened as a public museum with just over 500 paintings. Today it holds around 35,000 works on display and welcomes more visitors than any museum on earth. I. M. Pei's glass pyramid, controversial when it opened in 1989, is now as iconic as the collection itself.
The big three — the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace — are all in the Denon wing, which is also the most crowded. The Mona Lisa sits behind glass in a room of its own; expect a scrum at midday. Beyond them, the Egyptian antiquities, the Napoleon III apartments and the French paintings reward anyone who wanders past the headline pieces.
Entry is by timed slot. The main pyramid entrance is the busiest — the Carrousel du Louvre underground entrance and the Porte des Lions are usually quicker. The museum is closed on Tuesdays. Late-night openings (Wednesday and Friday until around 9:45pm) are the calmest time to see the Mona Lisa. Allow at least three hours, and far more if you want to go deep.
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