Explore more of Paris / 01
The Louvre: Art, Power and Hidden Histories
The Louvre is more than a collection of masterpieces. Once a royal fortress and palace, it tells the story of a city continually reinventing itself. Explore the relationships between art, power, architecture and the streets surrounding the museum.
From fortress to museum
Trace the Louvre's transformation from medieval stronghold to royal residence and public museum, and consider what its changing spaces reveal about Paris. Look at the proportions of the Cour Carrée and the palace façades. If an interior visit is agreed, the medieval moat helps explain the first fortress.
Looking beyond the icons
Familiar masterpieces open onto broader questions of mythology, representation, collecting and cultural exchange. We build a route around your interests rather than a compulsory checklist. Compare a sculpted gesture, a painted portrait and the setting of a gallery. These details reveal how patrons, artists and collectors shaped each work.
Beyond the palace
Connect the Louvre to the Seine, historic streets and nearby neighborhoods for a fuller portrait of the capital. Walk towards the Tuileries and the Seine, noticing the palace gates, the riverside perspectives and the different uses of these monumental public spaces.
Plan your visit
Museum admission, opening times and access rules are managed by the Louvre. Any museum component must be confirmed separately. Before the visit, agree on an outdoor walk or a museum itinerary, the meeting point and the pace. Admission and available galleries are checked separately.
Official visitor information