Originally built as a royal palace but now serving as one of the world's most famous museums, the Louvre is a place which will delight people who love arts and culture. It houses some of the most famous works of art in the world such as the Venus of Milo and the Mona Lisa.
"Keep good company - that is, go to the Louvre" Paul Cezanne
"I remember being a student, and I would go every Friday to the Louvre and stay for ages, just walking around." Jemima West
"You do not want to pitch a tent and live inside the Louvre. You want to check it out, appreciate it, and move somewhere else." John Oates
There are several tours visitors who intend to visit the most famous museum in the world can choose from. However, the massive amount of Louvre Museum tickets offers and tour options are available in the market is enough to leave a person confused many times over, but one thing remains true, it is necessary to plan your visit to the Louvre to make the most of your time, as well as to get the most bang for your buck.
The below table includes a brief description of various handpicked Louvre Museum tickets & skip the line guided tours of the Louvre Museum. They're based on users reviews, cost, customer experience as well as all the best ways to see the famous Louvre Museum sight. We've compared prices from a variety of skip the line Louvre Museum guided tours & tickets, websites and have handpicked the most affordable Louvre Museum combination tickets, but utterly enjoyable Louvre Museum tours & tickets below:
Duration:
3 hours
Duration:
120 to 540
Duration:
Flexible,
Duration:
2 hours
Duration:
7 to 8 hou
Duration:
2 hours
Duration:
3 hours
Duration:
2 hours
Situated in Paris and just along the River Seine, it presents visitors with an impressive collection of works of art from all over the world. One of the largest and most important museums in the world, the collection of the Louvre Museum was first established in the sixteenth century as a private collection of King Francis I. the collection grew steadily thanks to the donations and various purchases made by royals.
In 1793, the Louvre became a national art museum and the once private royal collection opened to the public. Some of the most renowned works of art in the museum are Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, Venus de Milo by Alexandros of Antioch, Winged Victory of Samothrace, and The Raft of the Medusa.
A visit to the Louvre means having your eyes opened to arts but it also means having to stand in line for hours just to get in and get a glimpse of all the amazing creations inside. The Louvre is one of the most popular and most visited museums in the world, so it is not unusual to see a huge crowd wanting to get in and discover its treasures. That is why it is important to plan your visit and do research in advance. Aside from the Louvre, there are also other free things to do in Paris which you can also enjoy.
The most extensive art collections is in the Louvre in Paris. Many people dream of stepping foot in the museum and seeing all the wonderful painting and art pieces. Although all pieces of art are valuable, there are some that draw more attention and recognition than others that they are pretty much considered institutions on their own. Here are some of the most famous artworks and exhibits in the Louvre.
Mona Lisa or La Joconde is the most famous artwork in the Louvre. People spend hours lining up just to get a glimpse of it. its popularity is due in large part to the controversy that went on in 1911 when it was stolen. It went missing for two years and some of the people suspected of committing the crime were Picasso and the French poet Apollinaire. Peruggia, the former guard at the Louvre was finally caught with the painting.
The Winged Goddess of Nike is one of the top three pieces of art in the Louvre. You can see the wind blowing the sculpture's thin clothing material and feel the power of her forward motion and sure-footedness. During the Second World War, the Winged Victory was evacuated with other pieces of art, including the Mona Lisa, to Chateau de Valencay.
One of the greatest classical romantic stories is that of Cupid and Psyche. The statue made by Antonio Canova captures the most poignant moment between the lovers. The sculpture was made from cold marble and it pulses with intense eroticism and romance. It is also an excellent demonstration of how to kiss someone you love.
If you do not know the story behind this painting, then let us tell you. Due to poor navigation, this French frigate was wrecked off the coast of Mauritius and about a third of the sailors ended up adrift on an improvised raft with excessive amounts of alcohol but not water or food. Mutiny, heavy drinking and murder happened and when help finally reached them, only 15 of the sailors were left. The Raft of the Medusa is often viewed as a harrowing piece of art that depicted that macabre.
The Lamassu are protective spirits guarding entrances in ancient Assyria as far back as 3000 B.C. The age and the craftsmanship of these sculptures will truly amaze you. These colossal winged bulls with heads of men are otherworldly and people often end up staring at them for minutes on end. Carved from huge blocks of solid stone, they straddle the line between artifact and art.
Most museums have quite a number of paintings of naked women as it is one of the favorite subjects of artists, but one of the most popular paintings in the world of a naked woman is the Grand Odalisque. This romantic ideal of Eastern sexuality is that of a nude lady looking suggestively back over her perfect shoulders while holding a fancy feather fan. It is a striking study of female beauty.
There is a very big chance that most people have seen this painting before as it has become the unofficial painting of France. It features a bare-breasted female personification of Liberty as she leads fighters on the 1830 revolution. The female character has been named "Marianne" and the bodies beneath her are a representation of the lives lost during 40 years of civil war. It measures 8 by 10 feet and is one of the bigger paintings in the museum.
Although not technically located inside the museum, the glass pyramid designed by I.M. Pei draws just as much attention and admiration as the works of art inside. When it was originally commissioned in 1984, a lot of people raised their eyebrows and unequivocally let their disappointment and disgust known. The controversy has quieted down through the years and the glass pyramid has become a familiar sight in the skyline of Paris.
The most famous museum in the world, the Louvre, is filled with unique pieces of art. However, its massive size and the sheer number of works of art there easily gets people lost. You can spend days and weeks in the Louvre and still not see every single piece of art there. Knowing that most people do not have days or weeks to spend exploring the Louvre, it is of utmost importance to plan your visit and make the most of your time. Here are some tips.
The Louvre welcomes an average of more than 8 million tourists every year so it is necessary to avoid peak hours so you can explore the collections in more than a superficial way. Avoid weekdays and the first Sunday of the month because that is when admission is free for all visitors. Free admission sounds very tempting and can help you save money but keep in mind that you won't see anything but shoulders, elbows, and heads.
What more can be said about purchasing instant entry tickets and special tours? It is beneficial to purchase skip-the-line tickets so you can avoid waiting in line and get right inside the museum.
A lot of people spend time researching or reading up on the attractions they want to visit, but this is essential when going to the Louvre. Know when are the opening and closing times and when it is very busy. It also pays to read about the history of the works of art housed in the Louvre and where they are located in the museum.
It goes without saying that the best thing to do when visiting the Louvre is to buy your tickets in advance. By doing this, you won't have to wait at the entrance where the line is super long all the time. While you"�re at it, check Paris attraction tickets so you can also skip the line when visiting other attractions.
The Louvre Museum is easily accessible.
Take the metro to get there by using line 1 or 7 and getting off at the stop Palais Royal/Musee du Louvre. This station allows you to get directly under the glass pyramid by going through the underground shopping centre of the Carrousel du Louvre.
The museum is closed every Tuesday and open on the following days:
Admission is free on the first Saturday of each month, but the museum is only open from 6 pm to 9:45 pm. Rooms begin closing at 5:30 pm and 9:30 pm on night openings. The museum is closed on the 1st of January, 1st of May, and the 25th of December.
Admission tickets are available both online and offline.
The Louvre is one of the most famous structures and museum in the world, so it is a given to expect a lot of people and crowds jostling for space when going there. It is important to be prepared for the eventualities when going there. Even if you are not a lover of the arts, the Louvre can take a substantial chunk of your day so plan at least half a day for it, especially if you did not purchase skip-the-line tickets.
Although you won't be trekking through the Andes, it is still wise to pack accordingly when visiting the museum because it can be physically taxing. Remember to bring a small snack and a bottle of water. Remember to take a map when you plan your visit. The Louvre's gargantuan size can leave you confused and being confused means wasting a lot of time and that is something you do not want to do.
So much art and history spread over countless palatial rooms of the Louvre. It is incredibly huge that you won't be able to see everything even if you stay there for a full week. In this list, you will see five incredible rooms inside the palace.
Level 0 - Denon Wing. Escalier Daru.
One of the most famous rooms in the entire museum, the only work of art in this expansive space is the Winged Victory, sometimes called Nike of Samothrace. It sits on top of a magnificent marble staircase and it can easily be seen from a distance in the adjoining room. You might have seen countless pictures of this sculpture, but no picture can do it justice. You have to see it up-close. Be sure to read the plaque nearby which tells how the sculpture was found.
Level 1 - Richelieu Wing. Room 87.
Stepping into the Grand Salon of Napoleon III is like stepping into a world of luxury and extravagance. It's a stark contrast to the white walls with paintings of all the other rooms. The room is dripping in gold and covered in rich crimson upholstery. A lot of people even say that it is more opulent than Versailles, which says a lot about it. The painting of Napoleon III's wife, Eugenie, on the wall is impressive and the adjacent dining room also does not disappoint.
Level 1 - Richelieu Wing. CourMarly and Cour Puget.
Covered entirely by expansive glass ceilings, these two courtyards have tons of natural light. Each courtyard has a few trees which make them look more like a garden instead of a museum. The white marble sculptures look their absolute best under the natural light and provide visitors with a sweet spot where they can take a rest after exploring the many works of art in the building.
Level 1 - Richelieu Wing. Lefuel Staircase.
This staircase reminds visitors of a surreal M.C. Escher print, popular for his intersecting staircases which somehow seamlessly blends into yet another staircase, that you won't be able to figure out where one starts and the other ends. The staircase has multiple columns, arches, and levels in a sublime assemblage of marble.
Level 1 - Denon Wing. Rooms 75-77.
Many of the works in this impressive gallery are those that people have seen somewhere in books, pictures and videos. Some of the canvasses are massive, measuring up to 20 feet tall and 32 feet wide, such as The Coronation of Napoleon, Oath of the Horatii, and Liberty Leading the People. Located in the adjacent room is the Mona Lisa or La Jaconde, considered by many to be very underwhelming due to its small size.
Located in the heart of Paris, the area where the Louvre Museum is located is one of the oldest in the city and is bordered by the River Seine. It is a particularly nice place to visit when the weather is nice. Although the Louvre Museum is the highlight, there are plenty of other things to do in the vicinity.
The Tuileries Garden stretches over 25 hectares and is listed as a UNESCO global heritage site. There are several benches and chairs made available for visitors to sit on and admire the beauty of this French garden. Visitors can also rent a sailboat and sail along the little waves of the garden's pond. From the garden, you can exit to many museums that border the Tuileries such as the Musee de la Mode et du Textile and the Musee de l"�Orangerie.
From the Tuileries Garden, you can stumble upon Place de la Concorde. Built by Gabriel, Louis XIII's architect, it is considered as the most monumental urban planning project as well as a good representation of the Age of Enlightenment.
Moliere is the most famous French playwright and he is honored at 40 Rue Richelieu. This large bronze statue depicting Moliere deep in thought was commissioned by Joseph Regnier, secretary of the Comedie-Francaise during the end of the 29th century.
Built in the 17th century, the ComedieFrancaise is a real cultural institution and is owned by the French government. It is made up of a troop of permanent comedians called "Troupe des Comediens-Francais". Restored in 2013, the main performance hall is only open to the public one Sunday every quarter.
People from all over the world travel to Paris to see its many attractions, one of the most famous is the Louvre Museum. Day in and day out, people flock to the museum and spend their time waiting in line and discovering the many works of art in its hallowed halls. Aside from the Louvre, there are other Paris walking tours which you can indulge in. Paris at night is also splendid so do research things to do in Paris at night.
If you have time to spare to travel to nearby attractions in Paris, you should take a look at Palace of Versailles tours and tickets, as well as Palace of Versailles facts. Versailles is a wonder to behold and is one of the many affordable Paris day trips.
