Louvre Museum
Louvre Museum “A 21st-century museum rooted in 200 years of innovation.”
Address: Musee de Louvre 75058 Paris Cedex 01, 1st Arrondissement
Hours: 9am – 6pm every day except Tues; open until 10pm Wed/Fr evenings
Tickets: Full day pass excluding Napoleon Hall – 9EUR
Napoleon Hall – 9.50EUR
Wednesday and Friday evenings – 11EUR and 6EUR for Napoleon Hall
Combination for Louvre Museum and Eugene Delacroix Museum – 13EUR
WWW: Louvre Museum
Phone: American Friends of the Louvre 1 (212) 367-2646
The “Castle of the Louvre” was built in 1190AD and housed many of Paris’ noble kings for centuries before it became the museum it is today. The museum opened in 1793 and houses over 35,000 works of art in 8 distinct departments – Near Eastern antiquities, Islamic art, paintings, Egyptian antiquities, sculptures, prints and drawings, Greek/Etruscan/Roman antiquities and decorative arts. On average, some 8 million visitors pass through the Louvre each year to browse many priceless works of art from world renowned artists like da Vinci, Watteau, Rubens, Rembrandt, Titian and Van Dyck among others. Paintings aren’t all that the museum’s walls embrace. There are also wonderful archeological collections, sculpture and a vast amount of more art work than the eye can behold in one day. The museum also has separate rooms where it restores art work from around the world and makes strives to conserve as much art as it can. It is often said that it takes at least 3 days to get a full tour of the giant Louvre and its creations. It is a wise idea to check the web site and look ahead at what you want to see if you are only going for the day although it is highly recommended to try to see it all. Many exhibits that are infamous, like the Mona Lisa, often have lines and long waits so try to get their early to see these first – before the crowds hit.
Getting to the Louvre Museum
Hop on Metro Lines 1 or 7 and get off at Palais Royal Musee du Louvre Station.
Here is a short guide to hotels near the Louvre Museum, Paris.
The quaint 2 star Hotel Flor Rivoli starts at a low 70EUR per night. It is located beside the Louvre and is walking distance to Saint Chapelle, Notre Dame and the bustling Marais district. Although there is no restaurant, a continental breakfast is available in the morning. The location is so close to many fine eateries so that this is not a problem. You will simply fall in love with the adorable Flor Rivoli. With its cozy atmosphere, you’ll feel right at home for the length of your stay.
The friendly Hotel Louvre Saint-Romain is located a stones throw from the Louvre as well as the Rue de Rivoli, Paris Opera and vast Tuileries gardens. Breakfast buffet is offered each morning under the stone arches of the cellar. Rooms are quiet and offer concierge as well as tea and coffee any time of day or night. You can get all of this 3 star service for 151EUR per night.
The phenomenal 4 star Hotel Regina faces the Louvre and Tuileries gardens head on. Its exquisite interior is done in a combination of Louis XVI and Directoire styles but filled with many modern amenities. Parisian toiles and murals adorn the walls of the large, open rooms which also contain cozy nooks and crannies to curl up in after a long day in the city. Regina offers a breakfast buffet, hotel restaurant and bar filled with grand woodwork. For 274EUR a night, you might not want to leave your stunning room.
Photo courtesy of Simona Dumitru.
