Louvre Museum

tips you can trust

 

Why the
Louvre Museum
is special

---

Paris's Louvre vies with New York's Metropolitan Museum as the world's greatest all-around art museum.

---

Louvre Museum

tips & insights

---

Mona Lisa

France's esteemed art house has the distinction of having the world's most famous painting: Mona Lisa by the Italian Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci. Mona Lisa's subtle, enigmatic smile and stare (see photo) have intrigued billions.

---

Famous statues

The celebrated Hellenistic marble statues Venus de Milo and Winged Victory of Samothrace are also in the Louvre Museum.

---

Other tour de forces

There are tens of thousands of other masterpieces from around the globe.

---

Time span

The art treasures of the Louvre Museum cover 5,000 years and are displayed in over 10 kilometers (6 miles) of galleries.

---

History

The building complex metamorphosed and expanded over eight centuries. It began as a medieval fortress (12th century) that was transformed into a royal palace (16th) and then a public museum (18th).

---

Renovation

In recent decades, the Louvre Museum undertook a major renovation project. The most striking addition was architect I.M. Pei's 1989 modern glass pyramid (most people like it but some despise it).

---

Wonders of France - Home page

France wonder map

French cuisine

World's Top 100 Wonders

World's Top 1000 Wonders

---

---

French Tourist Office

---

Explore my
candid country, region
and other travel guides
Click links for tips & insights

©2012 HQP - Hillman Quality Publications / hillmanwonders.com