Located in the heart of Paris, the Louvre Museum is housed in the historic Louvre Palace, which began as a medieval fortress built in the 12th century by Philip Augustus, later becoming a royal residence during the Renaissance, and opening to the public in 1793. Its striking architecture is capped by Ieoh Ming Pei’s iconic glass Pyramid, unveiled in 1989, symbolizing the fusion of tradition and modernity.

Spanning nearly 9,000 m² of galleries, the museum houses over 35,000 works across nine departments: Near Eastern Antiquities, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Islamic Art, Paintings, Sculptures, Decorative Arts, and Graphic Arts. Highlights include the Mona Lisa, Winged Victory of Samothrace, Venus de Milo, and Napoleon III’s Apartments.

Entrance is via the Pyramid, with direct access from the Palais‑Royal Musée du Louvre metro station or the Carrousel du Louvre shopping mall underground. Main entrance offers three queues: pre-booked tickets, Paris Museum Pass, and priority access. Secondary entrances (Carrousel, Richelieu, Porte des Lions) are used as needed.

Open every day except Tuesday, from 9 am to 6 pm, with extended evening hours until 9 pm on Wednesdays and Fridays . Advance online reservation is mandatory – including for free admission – and last entry is one hour before closing, with galleries cleared 30 minutes in advance.

Visitor services include free Wifi (one‑hour renewable), restrooms with changing tables, a baby area, wheelchairs and folding stools available on request, and an underground parking facility open from 7 am to 11 pm, with reduced rates for disabled visitors. Audio guides are offered in nine languages, and guided tours are priced around €5–12.

Atmosphere shifts from the energetic Napoléon Courtyard, buzzing with tourists photographing the Pyramid, to the hushed reverence of the galleries housing historic masterpieces. Visitors range from global travelers, families, students, and art enthusiasts. Temporary exhibitions such as “LOUVRE COUTURE” (until 24 August 2025) attract curious and diverse audiences.

Notable anecdotes include the conversion from fortress to cultural heart, the controversial Pyramid project in the 1980s, and the AGLAE laboratory beneath the Carrousel Garden, uniquely using ion beams to authenticate artworks since 1987.

Pro tips: visit early or during evening openings to avoid crowds, follow curated thematic trails, download the museum map or take a virtual tour via the official website.