Louvre museum in Paris

The Louvre palace in Paris dates back to 1190. It hosts the Louvre museum since the 1789 French revolution.
During eight centuries, it has been continuously enlarged and embellished by French kings and emperors alike.
President François Mitterrand added the final touch to it with his Grand Louvre project.

This 1981/1997 project included an extension and the complete restructuring of the museum. The famous Pei glass pyramids mark the new entrance to the Louvre museum.
The Louvre is at the same time a splendid and huge royal palace along the Seine river and one of the best arts museums in the world.
It displays the famous Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci and many other first class paintings from across Europe and centuries (above the barque of Dante and Virgile by Frenchman Eugène Delacroix - 1830).

It also displays a superb collection of Egyptian pieces of arts (right a funeral coffer).
From the pyramid entrance, you can also access one of the best and largest shopping centers in Paris, a really nice underground shopping experience.
The relaxing Tuileries garden near by the Louvre museum is one of the most beautiful parks in Paris (below, the Arc du Carrousel in the Tuileries garden). Altogether a first class combination well worth a full day of your time.

Musée du Louvre75058 Paris Cedex 01Louvre museum web site
Open 9am to 6pm (9.45 pm on Mondays and Wenesdays) all days except Tuesdays.Full-day Louvre museum entrance fee: €9 Louvre museum entrance fee from 6pm to 9.45pm, on Wednesdays and Fridays: €6