The Louvre~The Jewel in the Crown of Paris~Where Treasures Await to Be Seen
Written: Jun 29 '08 (Updated Jun 29 '08)
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Pros: It's hard to write about all there is to see in this most incredible museum
Cons: I'm not there now...
Can be crowded during peak times and dates
The Bottom Line: Don't try to see everything in just one day. Pick out your points of interest and concentrate on those sights. Best bet is to have a Paris Museum pass.
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| ifif1938's Full Review: Musée du Louvre |
What can be said about The Louvre that hasn't been said before? That's the question I've pondered while thinking of writing this review and one of the reasons I've waited this long to attempt it.
I've been fortunate to have had the pleasure and excitement of visiting the Louvre about a half dozen times during the years when I went to Paris almost on a yearly basis. Back then it wasn't as expensive to travel overseas during the fall and spring months, (shoulder season), it was sometimes cheaper to go to Paris then it was to visit other U.S cities. Also it wasn't as much as a hassle as it is today. So hubby and I took advantage of the cheap fares offered, sometimes using our miles to upgrade to business class, on the direct flight #62, from Miami to Paris. It took about 7-8 hours and I would be the happiest person you could imagine as my feet hit Parisian soil…even if it just the ground at the airport.
I've always been an art lover, for as long as I can remember so it was a no brainer that I would want to see the Louvre. Hubby always enjoyed it to though might not have been as enthusiastic as I was. One year we took our daughters on a whirlwind trip to Europe, while in Paris I convinced them that they would enjoy the Louvre. Well, I was half right, they had a kick out of seeing the most famous painting, Mona Lisa and the statue of Venus, the Winged Victory and the Egyptian displays, but they sort of raced through the rest. Michelangelo's unfinished statues also caught their eye and were a pleasant surprise, one of my all-time favorite sights.
But on subsequent visits to Paris I wanted to see more and more.
The Louvre is a huge place and the one thing I always knew was that it was nearly impossible to see everything in one day. There are over 35,000 works of art and hundreds of thousands of pieces of antiquities… Think about that. It's amazing. Considered one of the finest museums in the world, they have nearly every style and period of artwork from the classics to the most unusual. Big or tiny, it's all there in the Louvre. Well, except for the Impressionists, they can be found across the River Seine at the Musee de Orsay.
A Bit of History
When the Louvre opened its doors to the populace 1793, after the revolution, those in attendance couldn't believe their eyes. The museum had been a fortress since the 12th century, later a home to all the kings who followed until Versailles was built by King Louie who wanted to live in the countryside. Until then each king expanded, remodeled and rebuilt the halls and wings making them bigger and better to be able to add to the vast collections of art and antiquities they gathered from all corners of the globe. Eventually, in 1882, what had been the palace to the kings and the seat of power for centuries became primarily this massive museum.
A walk through the Louvre is like stepping back in time to view the history of France and the world. There are seven departments in three wings, the Denon, Sully and Richelieu,
which present history through the art of the Western world from the middle ages through the 19th century as well as the ancient civilizations which came before; Egyptian, Oriental, Islamic, Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities are displayed in sculptures, paintings and decorative pieces.
Side note; On one a visit to Paris, when I met an old high school buddy of mine, she was fascinated by Etruscan history and spent hours sitting near the glass displays looking at each little piece, she is fluent in French and could read the little placards written in that language and seemed to read every word…I must say I got a bit crazy and left her there to go and see some of the other displays.
I don't want this review to be a history lesson or a step by step approach to seeing everything there is to see, just to write about my experiences and what I've enjoyed viewing during the time I spent wandering though the vast displays and exhibits and to also share a few tidbits of info I learned while there. You do not need my input about what to see or not see beyond the three legends, the Lady with the famous smile, the Headless one with wings and the Beauty without her arms. The world's greatest treasures and discoveries are all within these vast walls waiting to be discovered by all who enter.
But first, you do have to get in. Of course we all know about the breathtaking and modernistic glass Pyramid which is the main entrance into the Louvre. Built by I.M Pei, many Parisians hated it at first, saying that it didn't fit into the ambiance of the Museum itself but these glass and steel structures have come to be known as pieces of art themselves and made even more famous by the book and movie, the Da Vinci Code. At night, when viewed all lit up, the sight is astounding.
There are in fact 4 pyramids, three smaller ones surround the main pyramid and were built to provide more light for the interiors….The pyramid was built to ease up the long lines for those waiting to get into the Louvre before it's inception. (Actually, on our first visit back in the late 70's the pyramid entrance hadn't been built yet so we did endure that line which wrapped around the building)…Now, entering through this a dramatic portal to the main galleries of the Louvre is quite a trip itself as you descend beneath the Pyramid into the interior underground complex where you will find the reception/information area and the famous bookstore…(Don't forget to look up and out of the glass as you go down and keep your camera handy)…from this point you then continue on your Louvre adventure in every direction. Though you can still expect to wait in line for tickets on very busy days during peak tourist season especially on Monday when the Musee de Orsay is closed.
Hint Number one; Having a Paris Museum Pass allows you faster entrance, no waiting in line for tickets and it costs less then regular admission… you can return to each museum as many times as you like for the length of your pass
Hint Number two; If you do not have a Pass, you do not have to wait in line nearly as long if you enter through the Palais Royal entrance or just off the Rue De Rivoli which is opposite the Tuileries Gardens or downstairs at the Carrousel where the shopping center is. There are other entrances too, on all three sides of the museum and one where the Batobus drops you off
If you are just not in the mood to go inside the building you can experience some of the Louvre in another way by visiting the Jardins du Carrousel and Jardins des Tuileries where you will find incredible sculptures in those beautiful gardens from the 17th century until the present. We did that one year and what a delightful walk that was in this very special and unique open air museum. But watch out for the pigeons, they seem to delight in sitting on the heads of the sculptures.
I really don’t want to presume to tell you what to do or see, everyone's interests are different and most people just can't do this museum in one day. The best thing is to prepare yourself and know in advance, at least in part, what you just have to see and don't forget to pick up a free color coded map. If you just want to wing it, then do so, I'm sure you will find quite a few sights that will impress you.
Like I mentioned above, the big three are usually important; Mona Lisa, in the Italian gallery in the Denon Wing where you will also see paintings by Raphael, Botticelli, Donatello and many other renaissance artists. There can be big crowds in front of the smiling one, who is protected by glass, but you might get lucky as I did once and had nobody in front of me as I studied this famous face. But by far, my favorite sight is in the Michelangelo Gallery, where the unfinished statues called the Slaves appear to be trying to free themselves out of the stone itself.
Also in this wing is the everlasting beauty, Venus de Milo and the famed Winged Victory of Samothrace, standing there on the Grand staircase, she is really quite a sight…at times this area can be quite crowded but wait your turn to get that perfect picture. It's truly worth it.
I love the Denon Gallery, the paintings just thrust themselves at you with every movement of your eyes. Huge and so impressive it's hard to even concentrate on just one but framed by the natural light on the massive walls they are a sight to behold. Actually stunning paintings are displayed from one wing to another, from the French masters Fragonard to Jacque-Louie David to the Italians. It almost seems endless.
Factoid...The Grand Gallery that runs between the wings is said to be the length of 3 football fields.
On the ground floor of the Richelieu wing you can see my daughter's favorite area, the Egyptians. Famed Egyptian Pharaohs are here to be viewed in marble and stone as well as mummies, caskets and artifacts galore from that long ago time just waiting for your visit. This is one of the finest collections in the world. I do highly recommend seeing these exhibits, it's like a trip back in time.
I could go on and on, but if I tried to write about all there is to see in this magnificent Museum that would take a complete book. The French, Dutch and Italian Masters, the Sculptures, all the paintings that have inspired would be artists for centuries are within these many splendid walls. In my humble opinion there is no where else to see what's waiting to be seen in the Louvre but my best advice to really enjoy the experience, don't try to see it all in one day, if you only have a short time in Paris and one visit to the Louvre pick out your favorite interests in art, concentrate on them instead of running around like crazy trying to see everything and you will walk away from The Louvre a happier person, even if your feet and legs may be tired. Hey, this will give you a reason to go back to Paris and the museum.
Hint Number three: A good time to go, when there are fewer crowds, would be on Wednesday and Friday afternoons or evenings when the museum stays open untill 10 p.m.
When you get hungry or thirsty, it might be time to have a drink or a snack at the Café Marly in the Richelieu wing. You can't beat the sight from the windows of the Pyramid if you are willing to pay the price. There are other Cafés on the premises, but I haven't experienced them myself. And for a quick bite, a bit less costly, the Carrousel Shopping Center has a food court and from there you can see the inverted Pyramid…you know, the one made famous in the Movie!.
The museum is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Tuesday and the following holidays: January 1st, May 1st, November 11 and December 25, 2008. The permanent collection and temporary exhibitions close at 5 p.m. on December 24 and 31, 2008.
In celebration of my 700th review I wanted to write about my favorite subject, Paris, and then I thought, the Louvre, how appropriate, the Louvre became public property after the French Revolution was over, the grounds and buildings were taken over by the peasants who lived there, even hung their laundry from the windows. Yup, it was a grand old time at the Louvre until Napoleon took it over…here's to Bastille Day when life changed forever for the King and Queen!
Another little factoid, Marie Antoinette was beheaded just a stones through away at the Place de Concorde, where the statue called Brest,(named after a town in Brittany), is standing now...a month later, the palace was taken over by the revolutionaries.
Admission prices from the website:
Tickets for the Permanent Collections;
9 Euros
This ticket provides full-day access to the Louvre, except for temporary exhibitions in the Hall Napoléon. It is also valid for the Musée Eugène Delacroix.
Six Euros...(from 6 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.)
This ticket provides access to the Louvre, except for temporary exhibitions in the Hall Napoléon, on Wednesday and Friday evenings.
Tickets for Exhibitions in the Hall Napoléon
9.50 Euros
This ticket is valid for temporary exhibitions in the Hall Napoléon.
Free admission to the museum on the first Sunday of every month does not include the exhibitions in the Hall Napoléon.
Combined Ticket
13 Euros
The combined ticket provides access to the permanent collections, as well as all temporary exhibitions in both the Louvre and the Musée Eugène Delacroix.
11 Euros...(from 6 p.m. to 9:45 p.m.)
The evening combined ticket provides access to the permanent collections, as well as all temporary exhibitions
For information about the Paris Museum Pass:
http://www.parismuseumpass.com/en/home.php
Recommended:
Yes
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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