| The Louvre is one of the largest palaces in the | | | | art museums in the world. It hosts the Mona Lisa |
| world and, as a former residence of the kings of | | | | by Leonardo da Vinci one of the most famous |
| France, also being one of the most illustrious one | | | | paintings in the world. From the pyramid entrance, |
| in Paris. It epitomizes traditional French | | | | one can also have the way in to one of the best |
| architecture since the Renaissance, and it houses | | | | and largest shopping centers in Paris, a really nice |
| a magnificent collection of ancient and Western | | | | underground shopping experience. The relaxing |
| art. | | | | Tuileries garden near by the Louvre museum is |
| The vast Palais Le Louvre was constructed | | | | one of the most beautiful parks in Paris. |
| around 1200 as a fortress and rebuilt in the mid | | | | In the late 1980s the Louvre embarked upon an |
| 16th century for use as a royal palace. It became | | | | insistent program of renovation and development. |
| a public in 1793. The museum presents the main | | | | When the first plans by the Chinese-American |
| part of its treasures to visitors, in the new | | | | architect I.M. Pei were disclosed in 1984, they |
| Richelieu wing, Islamic art collections, oriental | | | | incorporated a glass pyramid in the central |
| antiques, French sculptures, objects d'art, French | | | | courtyard that would serve as the museum's |
| paintings & paintings from the Northern school | | | | main entrance. Despite having protests before its |
| including Rubens. | | | | construction, since its opening in 1989 the pyramid |
| The Louvre palace in Paris dates back to 1190 | | | | has proven remarkably effective in |
| and houses the Louvre museum. Its name has | | | | accommodating the large numbers of visitors. It |
| been taken from the Latin word Lupara (kennels). | | | | has even become a relatively beloved landmark |
| During eight centuries, it has been constantly | | | | of the city. To mark its 200th anniversary, in |
| enlarged and blown up by French kings and | | | | November 1993, the museum unveiled the |
| emperors alike. President François Mitterrand | | | | Richelieu wing in the quarters that had been |
| added the final touch to it with his "Le Grand | | | | vacated by the Ministry of Finance in 1989. This |
| Louvre" project. The project from1981 to 1997 | | | | expansion, which completed the museums |
| includes an extension and the complete | | | | occupancy of the palace complex, added 230,000 |
| reformation of the museum. The famous Pei | | | | square feet (21,390 sq meters) to the existing |
| glass pyramid marks the new entrance to the | | | | 325,000 square feet (30,225 sq meters) of |
| museum. | | | | exhibition space, and allowed it to put an additional |
| The Louvre is both a splendid and huge royal | | | | 12,000 works of art on display in 165 new rooms. |
| palace along the Seine River and one of the best | | | | |