The Louvre Museum: journey through the centuries and continents

Former palace of the kings of France, the Louvre tells eight centuries of history through its majestic walls. Conceived in 1793 as a universal museum, it houses some of the most beautiful and vast collections in the world, covering millennia and territories stretching from America to the borders of Asia.

Birth and evolution of a royal palace

The Louvre was founded in 1190 during the reign of Philippe Auguste, initially erected as a fortified castle. In 1364, it began its transformation into a royal residence. Over the centuries, kings and their tastes modified the palace, expanding it, building it, then rebuilding it. Between 1595 and 1610, under Henri IV, the Grande Galerie was built, adding a new dimension to this historic monument.

From royal palace to universal museum

In 1791, a decree from the National Assembly transformed the Louvre into a sanctuary dedicated to the arts. Two years later, the Central Museum of Arts opened its doors. Since then, the museum has continued to expand and modernize. The work on the pyramid between 1981 and 1989 marked a new era, placing emphasis on welcoming the public. In 2012, the new rooms of the department of Islamic Arts were inaugurated, followed in 2022 by the creation of the department of Byzantine Arts and Christianities in the Orient.

A universal museum with eclectic collections

The Louvre, a universal museum, houses nine departments. Egyptian, Oriental, Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities sit alongside more modern collections, such as the departments of Paintings and Sculptures, Objects of Art, Graphic Arts, as well as the Arts of Islam and the Arts of Byzantium and Christendoms in the East. A total of 33,000 works are exhibited there, including world-renowned masterpieces: the Victory of Samothrace, the Crouching Scribe, the Winged Bulls of Khorsabad, the Mona Lisa, Michelangelo's Slaves and the Apartments Napoleon III.

Beyond the walls of the Louvre

The Tuileries garden, created during the Renaissance by Catherine de Medici, extends in front of the palace, offering a haven of peace in the heart of Paris. A few kilometers away, in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés, is the Eugène-Delacroix museum. Installed in the painter's last apartment, this museum is also managed by the Louvre, adding an additional dimension to its rich heritage.

The Louvre is not just a museum, it is a true invitation to travel through ages and cultures, a place where history and art meet to offer visitors an unforgettable experience.

Drawing :

Image by Manolo Franco from Pixabay