Palais du Louvre

In the 12th century, the Louvre was built under Philip-August as a fortified stronghold to protect the right bank of the Seine. In the 14th century, Charles V had the castle converted into a habitable residence. Under Francis I, in the 16th century, the transformation into a representative royal palace in the Italian Renaissance style began, with the demolition of the keep. From Henry II onwards, it served as the main residence of the French kings and was continuously expanded. When Louis XIV moved to Versailles in 1682, the Louvre fell into disrepair. Only the French Revolution gave it a new purpose: on August 10, 1793, France's first public museum opened here. Napoleon III largely completed the building in its current form. In the 20th century, François Mitterrand initiated the “Grand-Louvre” project, which made the entire complex usable for museum purposes and, among other things, created the iconic glass pyramid.

The Palais du Louvre is located in Paris, in the Paris department, in the Île-de-France region, France. It stands at an elevation of approx. 47 m above sea level.

Today, the Louvre primarily houses the Musée du Louvre, one of the largest and most visited museums in the world. The north wing also accommodates the institution Les Arts Décoratifs with its museums and library. The famous glass pyramid serves as the main entrance. The Carrousel Du Louvre, an underground shopping arcade, is directly connected.

• Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral (sacred building), approx. 1.2 km away
• Palais du Luxembourg (residence), approx. 1.4 km away
• Élysée Palace (residence), approx. 1.9 km away
• Hôtel de Sully (residence), approx. 2.0 km away