Louvre facts for kids

This page is about the museum. For the building, see Louvre Palace. For other uses, see Louvre (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids
Musée du Louvre
The Louvre Pyramid on the Cour Napoléon with the Sully Pavilion and Denon Wing of the museum in the background
Established	10 August 1793; 232 years ago (1793-08-10)
Location	Musée du Louvre, 75001, Paris, France
Type	Art museum and historic site
Collection size	615,797 in 2019 (35,000 on display)
Visitors	8.7 million (2024) Ranked 1st nationally Ranked 1st globally
Public transit access	Palais Royal–Musée du Louvre Louvre–Rivoli

The Louvre (pronounced LOOV-ruh) or the Louvre Museum is a famous art museum in Paris, France. It's one of the most well-known museums in the world. You can find it on the Right Bank of the Seine River in the city's 1st district.

This amazing museum is home to some of the most famous artworks in Western art. These include the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory. The museum building itself, called the Louvre Palace, started as a fortress way back in the late 12th century. You can still see parts of the old fortress in the museum's basement!

Over time, the fortress changed. It lost its defensive purpose and became a royal home for French kings in 1546. The building was redesigned and expanded many times. In 1682, King Louis XIV moved his home to the Palace of Versailles. This left the Louvre mainly as a place to show off the royal art collection.

During the French Revolution, leaders decided the Louvre should be a public museum. It would display the nation's art treasures for everyone to see. The museum officially opened on August 10, 1793. It showed 537 paintings, mostly from royal and church collections.

The museum's collection grew a lot under Napoleon. Many artworks were brought from other parts of Europe, Egypt, and Syria. The museum was even called Musée Napoléon for a while. After Napoleon, some of these artworks were returned to their original owners.

Today, the Louvre has about 500,000 objects. Around 35,000 artworks are on display in eight different departments. These departments include Egyptian Antiquities, Near Eastern Antiquities, Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities, Islamic Art, Sculpture, Decorative Arts, Paintings, and Prints and Drawings. It's the largest museum in the world by display area. In 2024, it welcomed 8.7 million visitors, making it one of the most visited museums globally.

Visiting the Louvre Museum

Aerial view of the Louvre Palace and Tuileries Park

The Louvre Museum is right in the heart of Paris. It's next to the beautiful Tuileries Gardens. You can easily get there by Métro using the Louvre-Rivoli or Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre stations. The Palais Royal station even has an underground path to the museum's shopping area.

The main entrance to the museum is through the famous Louvre Pyramid. This glass pyramid leads you to an underground lobby called the Hall Napoléon. You can also enter through the underground Carrousel du Louvre shopping center.

The museum has been open to the public for a long time. In the early 1800s, people could visit for a few hours on Saturdays and Sundays. By 1855, it was open almost every day except Mondays. Today, the Louvre is usually closed on Tuesdays and some holidays.

You can take pictures and videos inside the museum. Just remember that flash photography is not allowed.

Since 2012, Nintendo 3DS systems have been used as official audio guides. These guides offer hours of audio and thousands of photos of the art. They even help you navigate the museum using special GPS. Virtual tours of the rooms and galleries are also available online.

History of the Louvre

From Fortress to Royal Palace

Below-ground portions of the medieval Louvre are still visible.

The Louvre Palace started as a fortress built by King Philip II in the late 12th century. It was meant to protect Paris from attacks from the west. You can still see parts of this medieval fortress in the museum's basement.

The name "Louvre" might come from an old word for a wolf hunting den. Over the centuries, the palace was changed many times. In the 14th century, Charles V turned it into a royal home. Then, in 1546, Francis I began rebuilding it in a grand Renaissance style.

When King Louis XIV moved to Versailles in 1682, the Louvre became a place for artists to live and work. It also housed the royal art collection. Francis I had already started this collection, including famous works like Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. By the mid-1700s, people started suggesting that the royal collection should be shown to the public.

The Louvre Becomes a Public Museum

The Louvre finally became a public museum during the French Revolution. In 1791, leaders declared it a place for all arts and sciences. After King Louis XVI was imprisoned, the royal art became national property.

The museum opened on August 10, 1793, as the Muséum central des Arts de la République. People could visit for free three days a week. This was a big deal at the time. The collection grew with art from royal families and churches.

In 1794, French armies began bringing artworks from other countries. This helped make the Louvre a major museum. The early days were a bit chaotic, with paintings hung everywhere. The building even closed for a few years due to structural problems. It reopened in 1801 with new lighting and a better layout.

Napoleon's Influence and Beyond

In 1802, Napoleon appointed Vivant Denon as the museum's first director. The museum was renamed Musée Napoléon in 1803. Its collection grew hugely through Napoleon's military campaigns. Artworks from Spain, Austria, the Netherlands, and Italy were added. For example, the Horses of Saint Mark from Venice were brought to Paris.

After Napoleon's defeat, many of the seized artworks were returned to their original owners. However, the Louvre's collection continued to grow through new purchases and donations.

Throughout the 19th century, the Louvre expanded its collections. New sections were created, like the Egyptian Museum in 1826. This department, with its many artifacts, became the basis for today's Department of Egyptian Antiquities of the Louvre. The famous Venus de Milo was also added during this time.

Rooms of the Musée Charles X
First room
Room 27
Room 29
Salle des Colonnes
Room 35
Room 36
Room 38

Modern Changes and the Grand Louvre Project

The Louvre's monumental Escalier Daru, topped by the Winged Victory of Samothrace, took its current appearance in the early 1930s.

The Louvre faced challenges, including a fire during the Paris Commune in 1871. Luckily, firemen and museum staff saved most of the building. Over the years, the museum continued to acquire important works, like the Winged Victory of Samothrace in 1883.

During World War II, the Louvre carefully moved its most important artworks to safety. The Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo were hidden away in castles. After the war, the art returned, and the museum continued to modernize.

A huge project called the "Grand Louvre" began in 1981. French President François Mitterrand wanted to make almost the entire Louvre building into museum space. Architect I. M. Pei designed the famous Louvre Pyramid as a new main entrance. This underground entrance opened in 1989.

The Grand Louvre project greatly expanded the museum. New galleries for French paintings and other collections opened. The North (Richelieu) Wing, once home to the Finance Ministry, became a massive new exhibition space in 1993. By 2002, the Louvre's visitor numbers had doubled.

The Louvre in the 21st Century

The Napoleon Courtyard and Ieoh Ming Pei's pyramid in its center, at dusk.

In the 21st century, the Louvre continued to evolve. A new department for Islamic Art opened in 2012, displaying beautiful objects from across centuries and continents. Contemporary artists have also been invited to create works for the museum, adding modern touches to the historic building.

The museum launched a digital platform during the COVID-19 pandemic. This platform allows people to see most of its artworks online, even those not on display. It includes over 482,000 illustrated records.

In 2023, the Louvre increased ticket prices for the first time since 2017. This was part of a plan to manage crowds and support free entry during the 2024 Paris Olympics. The museum now limits daily visitors to 30,000 to ensure a better experience.

In 2021, Laurence des Cars became the first woman director of the Louvre. She continues to lead the museum into the future.

Amazing Collections

The Louvre Museum has an incredible collection of over 615,000 objects. About 35,000 of these artworks are on display. You can explore art from many different cultures and time periods.

Ancient Egypt

This department has more than 50,000 pieces from ancient Nile civilizations. These artifacts date from 4,000 BC to 400 AD. You can see objects from Ancient Egypt, the Middle Kingdom, and the New Kingdom.

The collection started with royal items and grew with Napoleon's expeditions. After the Rosetta Stone was translated, an Egyptian Antiquities department was officially created. Important finds like The Seated Scribe were added.

In over 20 rooms, you'll find art, papyrus scrolls, mummies, tools, and jewelry. Look for the impressive Great Sphinx of Tanis guarding the entrance. Other highlights include the Gebel el-Arak Knife from 3400 BC and the Head of King Djedefre.

The Gebel el-Arak Knife; 3300–3200 BC; handle: elephant ivory, blade: flint; length: 25.8 cm
The Great Sphinx of Tanis; circa 2600 BC; rose granite; height: 183 cm, width: 154 cm, thickness: 480 cm
Akhenaten and Nefertiti; 1345 BC; painted limestone; height: 22.2 cm, width: 12.3 cm, thickness: 9.8 cm

Ancient Near East

This department, created in 1881, shows early civilizations from the Near East before Islam. It's divided into three areas: the Levant, Mesopotamia (Iraq), and Persia (Iran). The collection grew from archaeological digs, like the discovery of Sargon II's palace.

You can see items from Sumer and Akkad, like the Stele of the Vultures from 2450 BC. The famous Code of Hammurabi, discovered in 1901, is also here. This 2.25-meter-tall stone pillar displays ancient Babylonian Laws.

The Persian section has works from early periods, such as the Archers of Darius I from the Palace of Darius at Susa.

The Statue of Ebih-Il; circa 2400 BC; gypsum, schist, shells and lapis lazuli; height: 52.5 cm
The Code of Hammurabi; 1755–1750 BC; basalt; height: 225 cm, width: 79 cm, thickness: 47 cm
Assyrian lamassu (Human-headed winged bull); circa 713–716 BC; 4.2 x 4.4 x 1 m
Frieze of archers, from the Palace of Darius at Susa; circa 510 BC; bricks

Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Art

Greek antiquities in Room 11

This department features art from the Mediterranean region, from the Neolithic period to the 6th century. It includes pieces from Ancient Greece, the Etruscans, and Ancient Rome. This is one of the museum's oldest collections.

You'll find famous marble sculptures like the Venus de Milo. Other masterpieces include the Winged Victory of Samothrace (190 BC), a symbol of classical art. The long Galerie Campana displays a huge collection of Greek vases.

The galleries along the Seine River showcase many Roman sculptures. You can see Roman portraits and Greek bronzes like the Apollo of Piombino.

The Winged Victory of Samothrace; 200–190 BC; Parian marble; 244 cm

Islamic Art

The Islamic art collection is the museum's newest. It covers "thirteen centuries and three continents." These exhibits include ceramics, glass, metalware, and textiles. There are over 5,000 works and 1,000 fragments.

This collection became a separate department in 2003. Highlights include the Pyxide d'al-Mughira, a 10th-century ivory box from Spain. Also, see the Baptistery of Saint-Louis, a brass basin from the 13th or 14th century. In 2019, a new and improved Islamic art department opened, displaying 3,000 pieces from the 7th to the 19th centuries.

The Pyxis of al-Mughira; 10th century (maybe 968); ivory; 15 x 8 cm
The Baptistère de Saint Louis; by Muhammad ibn al-Zayn; 1320–1340; hammering, engraving, inlay in brass, gold, and silver; 50.2 x 22.2 cm
Door; 15th-16th century; sculpted, painted and gilded walnut wood

Sculptures

The Cour Marly of the Louvre, where many French sculptures are exhibited

The sculpture department features works created before 1850. It doesn't include pieces from the Etruscan, Greek, and Roman department. The Louvre has always had sculptures, but only ancient ones were shown until 1824.

The collection grew to include medieval works like the 11th-century Daniel in the Lions' Den. In 1986, all post-1850 sculptures moved to the new Musée d'Orsay. Today, French sculptures are in the Richelieu Wing, and foreign works are in the Denon Wing.

You can see Neoclassical works like Antonio Canova's Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss (1787).

The Tomb of Philippe Pot; 1477 and 1483; limestone, paint, gold and lead; height: 181 cm, width: 260 cm, depth: 167 cm
The King's Fame Riding Pegasus; by Antoine Coysevox; 1701–1702; Carrara marble; height: 3.15 m, width: 2.91 m, depth: 1.28 m

Decorative Arts

Some of the Second Empire style rooms of the apartments of Napoleon III

This collection includes beautiful objects from the Middle Ages to the mid-19th century. It started with royal items and pieces from the Basilique Saint-Denis. The collection grew with donations of ceramics, enamels, and stained glass.

The works are displayed on the first floor of the Richelieu Wing and in the Apollo Gallery. The medieval collection has the coronation crown of Louis XV and Charles V's sceptre. From later periods, you can see Madame de Pompadour's Sèvres vase collection and Napoleon III's apartments.

Louis XIV style cabinet on stand; by André Charles Boulle; c. 1690–1710; oak frame, resinous wood and walnut, ebony veneer, tortoiseshell, brass and pewter marquetry, and ormolu

Paintings

Mona Lisa; by Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1503–1506, perhaps continuing until c. 1517; oil on poplar panel; 77 cm × 53 cm

The painting collection has over 7,500 works from the 13th century to 1848. About two-thirds are by French artists. The Italian paintings come from the collections of Francis I and Louis XIV, plus some from the Napoleon era.

The collection began with Francis I, who bought works from Italian masters like Raphael and Michelangelo. He even brought Leonardo da Vinci to his court. After the French Revolution, the royal collection became the core of the Louvre.

Famous French paintings include The Coronation of Napoleon by Jacques-Louis David and Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix. From Northern Europe, you can see Johannes Vermeer's The Lacemaker.

The Italian collection is especially strong in the Renaissance. It features Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, Virgin and Child with St. Anne, and St. John the Baptist.

The Money Changer and His Wife; by Quentin Massys; 1514; oil on panel; 70.5 × 67 cm
Spring; by Giuseppe Arcimboldo; 1573; oil on canvas; 76 × 64 cm
Oath of the Horatii; by Jacques-Louis David; 1784; oil on canvas; height: 330 cm, width: 425 cm
The Coronation of Napoleon by Jacques-Louis David

Paintings by Leonardo da Vinci purchased by François I
Virgin of the Rocks
The Virgin and Child with Saint Anne (Leonardo)

Prints and Drawings

This department holds works on paper. It started with 8,600 works from the Royal Collection. The collection grew through purchases and donations, including 40,000 prints and 3,000 drawings from Edmond de Rothschild.

Because paper is fragile, only a small part of the collection is displayed at a time.

Three lion-like heads; by Charles Le Brun; c. 1671; black chalk, pen and ink, brush and gray wash, white gouache on paper; 21.7 × 32.7 cm

How the Louvre is Managed

Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa is the Louvre's most popular attraction.

The French government owns the Louvre. However, the museum has become more independent in how it's managed. Since 2003, it has had to raise money for its projects. The government covers operating costs like salaries and maintenance. The museum itself funds new wings, renovations, and art purchases.

The Louvre also earns money by organizing exhibitions for other museums. It even earned money from filming for the movie based on The Da Vinci Code.

The museum has a staff of 2,000 people. The current director is Laurence des Cars, who started in April 2021. She is the first woman to hold this important position.

In 2013, plans were announced to move over 250,000 artworks from a basement storage area to a new facility in Liévin. This new building, designed by a British firm, opened in 2019. It provides light-filled workspaces under a large green roof.

Louvre Around the World

The Louvre has partnerships and related museums in other places.

Louvre-Lens

The Napoleon Courtyard and Ieoh Ming Pei's pyramid in its center, at dusk.

The Louvre-Lens is a satellite museum in the town of Lens, France. It opened in 2012. This museum displays about 200 artworks from the main Louvre collection. These pieces are shown in a unique "gallery of time" that presents art chronologically. It's been very popular, attracting around 500,000 visitors each year.

Louvre Abu Dhabi

The Louvre Abu Dhabi, designed by Jean Nouvel, opened in 2017.

The Louvre Abu Dhabi is a separate museum in the United Arab Emirates. It opened in 2017. This museum has a special agreement with the Louvre in Paris. It can use the Louvre name until 2037 and display artworks from the Louvre until 2027.

The museum was designed by French architect Jean Nouvel. It has an iconic metallic dome that creates beautiful light patterns, like sunlight through palm fronds.

Images for kids

The Venus de Milo was added to the Louvre's collection during the reign of Louis XVIII.
Ceiling decorations designed by Félix Duban in the Salon Carré (left)
Ceiling decorations designed by Félix Duban in the Salle des Sept-Cheminées (right), late 1840s
The display in the Salon Carré, painted by Giuseppe Castiglione in 1861 following its repurposing of the late 1840s
Entrance to a section of the Musée Napoléon III from the salle des séances, then a double-height space
Galerie Daru, part of the New Louvre building program under Napoleon III
Salle Daru above the galerie Daru, also created under Napoleon III
Escalier Mollien in the New Louvre
Salle des Empereurs
Memorial plaques honoring the Louvre's defenders in May 1871
Seating designed by Pierre Paulin in the late 1960s, Grande Galerie
Marc Saltet [fr]'s 1972 museography for the Salon Carré, with "dos-à-dos" seat designed in 1967 by Pierre Paulin
Generalfeldmarschall Gerd von Rundstedt is seen with a plaster model of the Venus de Milo, while visiting the Louvre with the curator Alfred Merlin on 7 October 1940.
The Louvre Palace and the pyramid (by day)
Ceiling by Cy Twombly installed in 2010 in the Salle des Bronzes, before the room's redesign in 2021
The Pavillon des Sessions's display of non-Western art from the Musée du Quai Branly, opened in 2000
The Cour Visconti's ground floor covered to host the new Islamic Art Department in 2012
Islamic art display in the covered Cour Visconti, 2012
Underground display of the Islamic Art Department, 2012
Restoration workshops in the Louvre
List of excavations that benefited the Louvre (Rotonde d'Apollon)
Phoenician metal bowls from Cyprus
Statues from the Sidon Mithraeum
The Continence of Scipio; by Giambattista Pittoni; 1733; oil on panel; 96 × 56 cm
Studies of Women's Heads and a Man's Head; by Antoine Watteau; first half of the 18th century; sanguine, black chalk and white chalk on gray paper; 28 × 38.1 cm
Danseuse sur la scène; by Edgar Degas; pastel; 58 × 42 cm
Portrait of elderly woman, by Matthias Grünewald
Portrait of a young woman, by Hans Holbein
Head of a man, by Andrea del Sarto
Cycladic head of a woman; 27th century BC; marble; height: 27 cm