Louvre Museum Tickets & Tours

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.

1. The most famous painting in the Louvre is the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. People spend hours queueing just to see it.
2. The Louvre consists of three separate wings that span four floors.
3. Napoleon once renamed the Louvre to Musee Napoleon and expanded its collection to 5,000 pieces. However, the pieces were returned to their original owners after the military leader was defeated.
4. The Louvre was once used as a store room for the Nazi's art loot during World War II.
5. The museum is thought to be haunted by a mummy called Belphegor. The nearby gardens, Tulleries, is also said to be haunted by a man dressed in red.
6. The Louvre's glass pyramid was built in 1989. It is 21 meters high and is solely made of glass and metal. It was designed by I.M. Pei, the first non-French architect to work on the Louvre.
7. The museum has a collection of over a million works of art.
8. Under Napoleon's rule, he took the Mona Lisa from the museum and hung it in his bedroom.
9. One of the other famous paintings in the Louvre is the Liberty Leading the People by Eugene Delacroix. It celebrates the 1830 Revolution.
10. People originally rejected the Glass Pyramid but now it's a fixed attraction on the Parisian landscape.
11. There is an Arc de Triomphe just beside the Louvre. However, the interior of this smaller version of the Arc is not open to the public.
12. It is impossible to see every item in the Louvre within a span of a lifetime. There are just too many interesting and historical pieces.
13. The Mona Lisa isn't as big as everyone thinks. It is just a little more than the size of an A2 paper sheet.
14. 66% of the paintings in the Louvre are made by French artists.
15. The museum welcomed 9.3 million visitors in 2014, the most people it has ever welcomed ever since it opened its doors.

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

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.

Winged Victory of Samothrace

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.

Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss

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.

The Raft of the Medusa

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

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.

Grande Odalisque by Ingres

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.

Liberty Leading the People

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.

I.M. Pei's Pyramid

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.

Avoid the crowds by choosing non-peak hours

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.

Skip-the-line tickets and guided tours

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.

Read up before visiting

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.

Buy your tickets in advance

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.

• Take line 14 of the metro and getting off at the stop Pyramides.
• Take the bus to get to the museum, you can pick any from lines 21, 24, 27, 39, 48, 67, 68, 69, 72, 81, 85 and 95.

The museum is closed every Tuesday and open on the following days:

• Saturday to Monday from 9 am to 6 pm
• Wednesday from 9 am to 9:45 pm
• Thursday from 9 am to 6 pm
• Friday from 9 am to 9:45 pm.

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.

• £17 which also gives quick entry to the museum in less than 30 minutes.
• Tickets are also available at the museum for £15.

Please keep in mind that tickets are only valid for the chosen service, time and date. Once visitors leave the museum either through the Portes des Lions or the Pyramid, they will not be able to re-enter.

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.

Louvre Rooms

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.

Victory of Samothrace Staircase

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.

Napoleon III Apartments - Grand Salon

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.

Glass-Covered Sculpture Courtyards

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.

The Optical Illusion Staircase

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.

Large Format 19th Century French Paintings Gallery

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.

Tuileries Garden

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.

Place de la Concorde

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.

Statue of Moliere

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.

Comedie-Francaise

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.