Louvre (Paris) – detailed information about the museum with photos. Opening hours of the Louvre, plans (schemes) and collections of the museum, where to buy tickets, official website.

Louvre Museum in Paris

The Louvre (French: Musée du Louvre) is an art museum in Paris, one of the most famous and largest museums in the world, attracting around 10 million visitors annually.

Originally, the Louvre Palace was a defensive fortress along the Seine, which later transformed into one of the main royal residences.

The Louvre was established in 1793. The museum spans 73,000 square meters of art from the Middle Ages to the mid-19th century, as well as ancient times. It houses around 35,000 exhibits, some of which are 7,000 years old.

The Louvre building consists of 4 parts, referred to as “wings.”

Near the Louvre is the Tuileries Garden, one of the largest and oldest parks in central Paris. A fine example of landscape art and an open-air sculpture museum, it is also a great place to relax in the heart of the city.

Departments of the Louvre

The Louvre is divided into 8 departments:

• Department of Egyptian Antiquities
• Department of Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities
• Department of Near Eastern Antiquities
• Department of Islamic Art
• Department of Paintings
• Department of Sculptures
• Department of Graphic Arts
• Department of Decorative Arts

Collections

• Art of the Ancient Near East (7500 BC – 500 AD) – Artifacts from archaeological excavations, organized geographically (modern-day Iran, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, etc.). The collection includes palace and temple decorations, statues, inscribed tablets, and luxury items, showcasing one of the earliest cradles of civilization. Level 0 – Richelieu and Sully Wings.
• Art of Ancient Egypt (4000-30 BC) – Sculptures, paintings, temple and tomb fragments, ritual and utilitarian items from the Nile Valley, from Egypt to Sudan. Exhibited thematically (Level 0) and chronologically (Level 1). Levels 0 and 1 – Sully Wing.
• Art of Ancient Greece (6500-30 BC) – Exhibits on Levels -1 and 0, arranged chronologically, reflecting the development of Greek art from prehistoric times to Roman rule. Level 1 features material culture of Ancient Greece and Rome (bronze, gold, silver, ceramics, glass). Levels -1, 0, and 1 – Denon and Sully Wings.
• Art of Ancient Rome (100 BC–500 AD) – Level 0, around the courtyard of Queen Anne of Austria (1615-1643), arranged chronologically from the late Roman Republic to the fall of the Roman Empire. Level 1 features material culture of Ancient Greece and Rome. Levels 0 and 1 – Denon and Sully Wings.
• Art of Ancient Italy and Etruria (900 – 200 BC) – Sculptures, vases, sarcophagi, weapons, jewelry, and household items, often found in tombs, provide insight into pre-Roman civilizations in modern-day Italy. Level 0 – Denon Wing.
• Art of the Near East and Egypt (30 BC–1800 AD) – Mosaics, reconstructed church interiors, painted portraits, pottery, and luxury items showcase Eastern Mediterranean art from the Roman Empire to the Muslim conquests. Levels -2 and -1 – Denon Wing.
• Art of the Islamic World (700-1800 AD) – Ceramics, glass, woodwork, miniatures, carpets, and ceremonial weapons, arranged chronologically from the rise of Islam to the 18th century, reflecting the splendor of a civilization spanning from Spain to India. Levels -2 and -1 – Denon Wing.
• Sculpture / France (500-1850 AD) – Located around the Marly and Puget courtyards, featuring garden sculptures from the 17th-19th centuries. The chronological exhibition covers the Middle Ages to the Romantic era, showcasing works by French sculptors like Goujon, Coysevox, Pigalle, Houdon, and Barye. Levels -1 and 0 – Richelieu Wing.

• Sculpture / Europe (500-1850 AD) – European sculpture is presented geographically, with chronological exhibitions dedicated to Italy and Northern Europe on two levels, featuring works by Donatello, Michelangelo, Canova, and others. Levels -1 and 0 – Denon Wing.
• Paintings / France (1350-1850 AD) – The world’s most comprehensive collection of French paintings, arranged chronologically, includes works by Poussin, Georges de La Tour, Watteau, Fragonard, Ingres, Corot, and others. Monumental 19th-century canvases (David, Delacroix) are displayed on Level 1 in the Denon Wing. Level 2 – Richelieu and Sully Wings / Level 1 – Denon Wing.
• Paintings / Northern Europe (1350-1850 AD) – Northern European paintings are arranged chronologically and by cultural centers: Flanders, Germany, Netherlands, etc. Visitors can see masterpieces by Van Eyck, Bruegel, Rubens, Van Dyck, Rembrandt, and Vermeer. Level 2 – Richelieu Wing.
• Paintings / Italy (1250-1800 AD) – One of the world’s richest collections of Italian paintings is displayed in the Square Room, the Grand Gallery, and adjacent halls. Works are arranged chronologically and by cultural centers, featuring masterpieces by Fra Angelico, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Titian, and Caravaggio. Level 1 – Denon Wing.
• Paintings / Spain (1400-1850 AD) – The exhibition is located in small rooms around the central hall with monumental canvases. The collection is arranged chronologically from the 15th to the 19th century, including works by El Greco, Zurbarán, Ribera, Murillo, and Goya. Level 1 – Denon Wing.
• Paintings / Great Britain / United States (1550-1850 AD) – The Louvre’s collection of British and American paintings consists mainly of portraits and landscapes, featuring artists like Gainsborough, West, Raeburn, Lawrence, Turner, and Constable. Level 1 – Denon Wing.
• Decorative Arts / Europe (500-1850 AD) – Chronologically arranged from the Middle Ages to the mid-19th century, the collection includes luxury items (jewelry, weapons, tapestries, glassware, ceramics, enamel, gold, silver, bronze, precious stones, and French crown treasures), as well as reconstructed interiors, reflecting the high level of applied arts, particularly through royal commissions. Level 1 – Richelieu, Sully, and Denon Wings.
• Drawings, Prints, and Engravings / Europe (1350-1850 AD) – The world’s richest collection is displayed in parts due to the sensitivity of the exhibits to light. Temporary exhibitions feature drawings, prints, engravings, pastels, watercolors, and manuscripts by major European artists. Level -1 – Sully Wing (Sully Rotunda).
• Art of Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas (700 BC – 1900 AD) – The collection, featuring around 100 masterpieces from the Musée du Quai Branly, is organized geographically. This department showcases outstanding works from pre-Columbian America, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Oceania. Level 0 – Denon Wing.

Pavilion of the Clock: An introduction to the Louvre precedes the exploration of the collections and provides insight into the history of the palace and the museum. Around the ruins of the medieval castle, the process of transforming the palace into a museum is displayed. On Level 1, selected works highlight the diversity of the collections. Level 2 is dedicated to the modern life of the museum. This introductory route is named after His Royal Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of the United Arab Emirates, in gratitude for the invaluable support provided by the UAE to the museum.

The Small Gallery offers an opportunity to better understand artworks and gain knowledge in art history and various artistic techniques. A new theme is offered annually, serving as a starting point for exploring the museum’s collection.

Visitor Rules

• Maintain silence.
• Eating and drinking alcohol are prohibited.
• Flash photography is prohibited. Some exhibits cannot be photographed at all.

Official Website

Official website of the Louvre – http://www.louvre.fr/

Louvre Opening Hours

The Louvre Museum is open daily except Tuesday, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The halls close at 5:30 PM. Note: The museum is closed on May 1st and December 25th.

On Wednesdays and Fridays, the museum is open until 9:45 PM.

Ticket Prices and Where to Buy Them

The ticket price for the Louvre is €15. On Wednesdays and Fridays after 6:00 PM, young people (under 26) can enter the museum for free with valid ID.

Where to buy tickets online – https://www.ticketlouvre.fr