Where the
centuries
come to life.
From a 12th-century fortress on the Seine to the world’s most visited museum — step inside eight centuries of history and stand before civilisation’s most celebrated masterpieces.
Eight centuries on the
banks of the Seine
No museum on earth has lived as many lives as the Louvre. Fortress, palace, revolutionary symbol, imperial trophy chest, modern icon — each layer is still legible in its stones.
The story of the Louvre begins not as a palace of art, but as a bastion of war. Around 1190, on the eve of his departure for the Third Crusade, King Philip II Augustus ordered the construction of a fortress to defend the western flank of medieval Paris.
Charles V turned the fortress into a fashionable residence; Francis I rebuilt it as a Renaissance palace; Louis XIV abandoned it for Versailles. In 1793, the Revolution did the unthinkable — it threw open the royal doors and made the collection the property of the nation.
Napoleon turned it into the most ambitious museum on earth. I.M. Pei’s controversial glass pyramid, unveiled in 1989, became its emblem in just a few years. Today, more than nine million people pass through it each year — a quiet, ongoing conversation between past and present.
The Medieval Fortress
King Philip II Augustus orders the construction of a fortress on the right bank of the Seine to defend Paris from invasion. Its massive central keep — the Grosse Tour — stands 30 metres tall, ringed by ten defensive towers and a moat fed by the river.
A Royal Residence
Charles V transforms the grim fortress into a fashionable royal home, adding upper floors, ornate windows and grand spiral staircases. Two centuries later, Francis I demolishes the medieval keep and rebuilds the palace in the Renaissance style.
The Sun King Departs
Louis XIV moves his court permanently to Versailles. Largely emptied of royalty, the Louvre is given over to artists, academies and the growing royal art collection — quietly preparing the ground for its future as a museum.
A Museum for the Nation
During the French Revolution, the Musée Central des Arts de la République opens its doors. The royal collection — plus property seized from the church and exiled aristocrats — is presented to the public for the first time, free of charge.
The Napoleonic Empire
Napoleon renames the institution the Musée Napoléon and floods it with masterpieces seized during his European campaigns. Many works are repatriated after his fall, but the encyclopedic ambition that still defines the Louvre is set forever.
The Glass Pyramid
After fierce controversy, I.M. Pei’s glass-and-steel pyramid is inaugurated as the new central entrance. Today the Pyramid is as iconic as the Mona Lisa — a luminous symbol of the Louvre’s ongoing dialogue between past and future.
Faces that defined the
history of art
A handful of works the entire world travels to see — from Leonardo’s most famous smile to a wingless goddess poised on the prow of a ship.
Step inside the
palace of art
Practical information for your visit — hours, location, and how to make the most of an unforgettable day among masterpieces.
Opening Hours
Open 9:00 – 18:00 daily, except Tuesdays. Late opening until 21:45 on Fridays.
Where to Find Us
Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris. The Pyramid is the main entrance, with the Métro at Palais‑Royal–Musée du Louvre.
Tickets & Access
Adult admission is €22. Free for visitors under 18 and EU residents under 26. Booking ahead is essential.