Explore the Louvre as a fortress transformed into a royal palace and public museum. Medieval remains, the Grande Galerie, and I. M. Pei’s pyramid reveal how each era reshaped this Paris landmark.
Quick facts
Philippe Auguste began building the Louvre fortress in 1190; excavated medieval moat and enclosure remains survive beneath the museum.
The Grande Galerie was built under Henri IV to link the Louvre with the Tuileries Palace; the 460-metre riverside gallery later became an early public museum space.
The Muséum central des arts opened to the public on 10 August 1793, and I. M. Pei’s pyramid was inaugurated in 1989.
Planning your visit
The Louvre's entrance is part of its story. I. M. Pei's Pyramid was designed to bring visitors into a central underground lobby serving three wings. From Cour Napoléon, notice how its transparent glass lets the palace façades remain visible: the modern structure reorganised movement through a much older building.
Inside, choose a few destinations before setting off. One revealing stop is the Daru staircase, where the Winged Victory of Samothrace stands on a ship-shaped base. The sculpture represents the goddess Nike arriving on a ship; its elevated display helps you read that movement rather than treating it only as a famous silhouette.
The Pyramid is the main entrance, and the museum recommends reserving a time slot. Other entrances have their own eligibility and opening conditions. Download the museum map and check the list of available galleries before a visit built around a particular artwork: room closures can change the route, and the palace contains far more than one visit can comfortably cover.
Sources and verification
- Louvre: Cour Napoléon and Pyramid
- Louvre: the Daru staircase
- Louvre: visiting information
- Louvre: map, entrances and directions
Sources checked by Finding Locations using AI-assisted research. This is a source check, not a field inspection. Check the official venue information before visiting.
Get directions to Louvre Museum. Confirm the visitor entrance and current access with the venue before travelling.
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Guide
The Louvre is easiest to understand as a building that kept changing its job. Its oldest story survives below the grand façades and around the Cour Carrée: in 1190, King Philippe Auguste began a fortified castle at the western edge of Paris. It guarded a city exposed to threats from the west and the Seine. The original structure was a compact quadrangle with a moat and a central keep, the Grosse Tour.
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