Louvre Palace

About this place

The Louvre began around 1190 as a fortress defending the western edge of Paris, long before it became a famous museum. Successive rulers transformed it into a royal palace, with major Renaissance rebuilding under Francis I and further additions in later centuries. The museum opened in 1793 during the French Revolution. Study the changing façades and courtyards as well as the artworks: the building itself tells a story about monarchy, government and public culture. Its scale reflects centuries of expansion rather than the vision of a single architect.