No trip to Paris would be complete without a trip to the Louvre, one of the city’s most famous landmarks and the world’s most-visited museum. In 2019, the museum drew almost 10 million visitors. Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Louvre still has attracted several millions of visitors each year.
Perhaps, you’re planning your visit to Paris and curious about what the Louvre has to offer. The museum, with its magnificent size and extensive collection of artworks, can be quite overwhelming for anyone, especially for a first-time visitor.
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of reasons you should visit the Louvre. Not only will it get you excited about your trip to the museum, but it will also give you a good idea of what you can expect when visiting this renowned historic landmark.
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1. Its iconic entrance
Even if you’ve never heard of the Louvre, chances are you’re familiar with the appearance of its iconic entrance.
The entrance consists of a pyramid made completely out of glass and metal, which was completed in 1989 by the Chinese-American architect I.M. Pei . Although it’s a lot younger than the Louvre’s buildings, most of which were constructed in the 17th and 19th centuries, the Pyramid has turned into the Louvre’s most recognizable feature.
2. Its sheer size
The Louvre collection is vast, including 450,000 artifacts and 35,000 artworks in 8 curatorial departments. The 652,000 square feet (60,600 sq m) that are dedicated to the Louvre collection are one reason you should set aside at least one day for the museum. A few short hours simply isn’t enough time to see everything.
In fact, according to Condé Nast Traveler, if you took 30 seconds to see each and every work of art on display, it would take you about 200 days to see each of the Louvre’s 35,000 artworks. That’s almost the number of working days in a year!
3. Its history
Sure, you can learn a great deal about world and French history through the museum’s art and artifact collections, but those aren’t the only sources of information. The Louvre Palace itself, which houses these collections, is a piece of history itself.
Originally built by Phillip II (12c.) to serve as a fortress, the Louvre was later used to display the royal collection. And, during the French Revolution, the National Assembly decided to turn the Louvre into an official museum.
Little did they know at the time that the Louvre Museum would become one of Paris’ most famous attractions, as well as the world’s most beloved museum.
4. World-famous paintings and sculptures
The Louvre is home to thousands of paintings and sculptures that are celebrated around the world. Perhaps the most famous of all is Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa.
It’s largely due to the painter's attention to subtle detail and the subject’s mysterious facial expression that this work of art has influenced an endless number of painters over time, ranging from da Vinci’s contemporaries to modern artists of today.
The painting has been described as “priceless,” but many estimate that its value is more than $700 million. No wonder this highly coveted work of art has been subjected to extensive security measures and guarded by a team of security members.
5. Located in Paris
Located along the Seine River in the heart of Paris, the Louvre is an absolute must-see for every visitor in the city. In fact, you should dedicate at least one day of your trip in Paris to checking out the Louvre’s massive collection of artworks and artifacts, which is seemingly endless.
If you want to stay longer, you can enjoy the Louvre’s many restaurants, cafes, and counters, most of which serve authentic French cuisine.
Whether you check out the Louvre at the beginning or at the end of your Paris trip, you should make sure you prioritize the museum in your trip itinerary.
Conclusion
Also, you might want to take advantage of luggage storage at the Louvre. Thanks to Vertoe, you can bring all your travel essentials without worrying about where to put them.
Vertoe, the world’s leading short-term storage provider, will safely store all your belongings and ensure you make the most of your time in Paris and at the Louvre.
