A Day at the World Famous Louvre Museum

A Photo Diary From the Most Beautiful Museum in Paris

No trip to Paris would be complete without a visit to its largest museum, home to some of the most famous works of art and antiquities. Located in a former palace, the Louvre is an astonishing 652,000 square feet and is home to over 500,000 objects. With such an immense amount of ground to cover, don’t be surprised if you can’t see everything in one day.

Planning ahead will ensure you will see the works of art that are most interesting to you. Most of the wings we wanted to focus on were the Denon and Sully Wings on the first and second floors. A map of the Louvre can be found on the museum’s official website.

On this trip to Paris we decided to focus on the European Art Wing. We also wanted to see the apartments of Napoleon III, something we had yet to see on our previous visits. Here are some of the highlights from our day exploring Musee du Louvre!

Some of the my favorite sculptures in the Louvre museum.

Sculptures and Paintings

The Louvre is home to many impressive marble statues, but the most famous you will see are the Venus de Milo and Psyche Revived By Cupid’s Kiss. You will be amazed how the artists were able to express emotion from something as cold and inanimate as stone.

Most of our day was spent exploring the European Art wings. Here you can admire amazing works of art from Da Vinci, Eugène Delacroix, Caravaggio and Vermeer.

Many of the pieces are larger than life, such as the impressive painting “The Coronation of Napoleon” by Jacques-Louis David. At 6m x 10m, this painting is a must see if you are visiting the museum. The detail you are able to appreciate in person makes this one of my personal favorite works in the Louvre.

Must See Areas in the Louvre Museum

In addition to the beautiful pieces housed in the Louvre, the museum itself is a work of art, and is especially interesting for architecture lovers. Once an elaborate palace, the interior of the Louvre has been carefully restored. The rooms feature intricate designed painted ceilings and historic interiors that represent the many styles that were popular in French history.

One of my favourite rooms is the Galerie d’Apollon – home to the amazing French Crown Jewels since 1887. If the architectural details seem familiar to you, the Galerie d’Apollon was the model for the equally impressive Hall of Mirrors in Versailles.

Another interesting exhibit is the historic Napoleon III apartments. Here you can experience the splendor of 19th century France, with impeccably decorated rooms that would have hosted French high society and showcased the interior design styles popular at the time. This is a must see, and after 3 visits to the Louvre, we finally were able to visit this amazing exhibit.

How Much Does the Louvre Cost?

General Admission to the Louvre costs €22.00. However there are discounts for youth and group tours. The Museum also offers free admission on the first Friday of the month after 6 pm. This is not valid during the busiest tourist months of July and August.

When is the Best Time to Visit the Louvre?

The Louvre is perhaps one of Paris’ most popular attractions, so no matter when you decide to go be prepared for large crowds. You can avoid peak crowds by going during the weekdays and off season in the late fall, early spring and winter months. We have had good success arriving 30 minutes before the museum opens as the ticket line is not too long. Grab a pastry at nearby BO&MIE to enjoy while you wait!

How Much Time do I Need to See the Louvre?

Ideally, the Louvre takes the whole day to appreciate its beauty and magnificence. However, if you are pressed for time you can see parts of the museum in 3-4 hours, if you plan ahead. Don’t expect to see everything in one visit. Look up where the main pieces you want to see are located on the official website. Bring comfortable shoes, you will be covering a lot of ground as you explore the museum.

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