The Louvre Museum is not just the world's largest art museum; it's a historic monument with a past as rich and layered as the masterpieces it contains. Originally built as a fortress in the late 12th century, its collection is so vast that it would take you over 100 days to see every piece of art on display if you spent just 30 seconds on each one. Its journey from a defensive stronghold to the most-visited museum on Earth is filled with remarkable stories.
From Fortress to Palace to Museum
Long before it housed priceless art, the Louvre was a key part of Paris's defences. The original structure was a fortress built by King Philip II around 1190 to protect the city from Viking raids and English attacks. You can still see the excavated medieval foundations of this fortress in the museum's basement today, a direct link to its 800-year-old past. It wasn't until the 16th century that King Francis I demolished the old keep and began transforming it into a grand Renaissance-style royal palace. The royal court officially moved to Versailles in 1682, and the Louvre eventually opened to the public as a museum on 10 August 1793, during the French Revolution, with an initial collection of 537 paintings.
Mind-Boggling Numbers and Scale
The sheer scale of the Louvre is difficult to comprehend. It is officially the largest art museum in the world, with a total area of 360,000 square metres (3,875,000 sq ft). The exhibition space open to the public covers 72,735 square metres (782,910 sq ft). This vast space is needed to house its enormous collection.
How many artworks are in the Louvre?
The Louvre's total collection contains over 615,000 objects, though most are held in storage. Approximately 35,000 works of art are on public display at any given time, organised into eight curatorial departments ranging from Egyptian Antiquities to Islamic Art and Paintings. To see every single displayed piece for just 30 seconds each would take around 100-200 days.
Surprising Facts About the Louvre
Beyond its size and history, the Louvre is full of intriguing details and hidden stories. From a famous theft that skyrocketed a painting's fame to a wartime evacuation, these facts reveal a different side of the iconic institution.
- The Mona Lisa was stolen in 1911: Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece wasn't globally famous until it was stolen by a museum employee, Vincenzo Peruggia, on 21 August 1911. He simply hid in a closet overnight, took the painting off the wall, and walked out with it under his coat. The painting was missing for two years before being recovered, and the worldwide media attention made it the most famous artwork on the planet.
- The art was evacuated during WWII: In August 1939, just before the outbreak of the Second World War, museum director Jacques Jaujard organised a secret evacuation of nearly 4,000 of the Louvre's most valuable works. Masterpieces, including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, were hidden in châteaux across the French countryside to protect them from Nazi looting.
- The Pyramid was highly controversial: The iconic glass pyramid, designed by architect I. M. Pei and completed in 1989, was initially met with fierce criticism. Many Parisians felt its modern design was a sacrilege against the historic palace. Today, it's a beloved landmark and the museum's main entrance.
- It's the world's most-visited museum: The Louvre consistently holds the title of the most-visited museum globally. In a typical year, it welcomes nearly 9 million visitors. Before the pandemic, it set a record with 10.2 million visitors in 2018.
- Napoleon once renamed it after himself: During his reign, Napoleon Bonaparte greatly expanded the museum's collection with spoils of war from his campaigns across Europe. For a time, the museum was renamed the Musée Napoléon in his honour.
Frequently asked questions
What was the Louvre originally?
The Louvre was originally a fortress built around 1190 by King Philip II to defend Paris from attacks along the Seine river. Remnants of the medieval moat and walls can still be seen in the museum's basement.
How many paintings are in the Louvre?
The Louvre's collection includes roughly 7,500 paintings, with about two-thirds of them created by French artists. The painting department is just one of eight curatorial departments in the museum.
Is the Louvre haunted?
Legends claim the Louvre is haunted by a few spirits. The most famous is a mummy named Belphegor, said to roam the Egyptian antiquities department. Another story tells of a ghost known as the "Red Man," who is said to haunt the adjacent Tuileries Garden.
Ready to discover these fascinating stories for yourself? The best way to experience the Louvre's immense collection is with pre-booked access. You can book tickets online to secure your entry time and avoid the longest queues.