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The Musée du Louvre is unquestionably one of the finest museums in the world. Home to thousands of classic and modern masterpieces, the Louvre Museum is the jewel in the crown of French culture, a towering testament to European civilisation and history.

The approach to the Musée du Louvre alone is breathtaking. Stroll through the splendour of the surrounding architecture until, unexpectedly, you sight the magnificent modernist glass pyramid and descend into the vast, labyrinthine space of the gallery. The works of art and antiquity housed in the Louvre Museum are unrivalled and overwhelming but just as extraordinary is the building itself.

Officially opened to all in 1793, the Musée du Louvre began life as a fortress in the 12th century. Over the years successive French royalty has expanded, embellished and rebuilt the space. King after king has added to the great collection housed inside; buying, stealing, swapping, and hoarding those works they saw fit to show the world.

To walk through the Louvre Museum is to walk through the history of France and into the minds of kings and revolutionaries. The reigns of Louis XIII and Louis XIV saw major expansion and a linking of the palaces and halls, which make up the museum today . In 1882 the Louvre complex largely ceased to serve as a seat of political power and the museum began to take over the whole, enormous site.

Major departments at the Musée du Louvre include: Near Eastern Antiquities, Egyptian Antiquities, Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities, Islamic Art, Sculptures, Decorative Arts, Paintings, Prints and Drawings.

These permanent displays at the Louvre Museum are supplemented by ever changing temporary exhibitions. Some six million visitors pass through the Musée du Louvre every year to see over 35,000 works of art including paintings by Da Vinci, Rembrandt, Vermeer and Cezanne, to name but a fraction.

Surrounding the the Musée du Louvre are the Carrousel gardens. These beautiful formal gardens are among the finest in the world and the perfect setting to discuss and reflect on the wonders of the Louvre Museum itself. Come experience the Louvre Museum with the Paris Pass sightseeing card!