I decided during this limited period to rev up my blog a bit. One major monument building that I am Friends of the Museum is the Louvre in Paris. I have written a more historical post on it but feel not do a good job. Indeed, the Louvre merits more time and posts. Oh well my creativity definitively do not belong in the Louvre lol! I like to give you a fresh new update now. As well as photos not published before…and another one of the pyramid !
Do you know the pyramide du Louvre done by the Architect IM Pei in 1988 has 21,65 meters high (71.4 ft) , with a base of 34,50 meters of side (113.9 ft) assembling 673 glass tiles and triangles of glass of 2,1 cm thick( 5.3 inches) that needed two years of study by Saint Gobain (glass maker)?
One of the greatest and by many THE greatest museum in the world, including me!. Its a huge fortress that grew up from about 1190 by king Philippe Auguste occupying the south west side of the current Cour Carré. The treasures of France were kept here since 1317 put together from the wealth of the orders of temples and hospitals by king Charles V. The museum was given idea on about 1793 under the French revolutionary government under the name of Museum Centrale des Arts de la Republique. it was later change to Museum Napoleon under the Empire before coming back to its current name. The idea was to centralised all the works in one national museum.
It has about 160 000 square meters of space of which only about 60 000 are use for works open to the public. The idea has long been to expand the space and provide easier and more numerous access to the public. The annex of Lens, Pas de Calais dept 62 of the Hauts de France region , webpage in English here: Louvre museum at Lens
And the newest opened in Abu Dhabi UAE as here: Louvre at Abu Dhabi
The idea of all these annexes are to done a window of opportunity not only for more revenue but also to display more works of arts instead of piling them in the basement and other depositories I know such as the basement of the Chartres Cathedral. The Louvre is to the world !!!
One must know the museum is closed on Tuesdays, open every other day. Open from 9h to 18h and on Wednesdays and Fridays open to 21h45 . Open until 21h45 the first Saturday of each month, the wing or aile Richelieu with prior reservation only .Admission is free on the first Sunday of the month and on National Day July 14. The best entrances are on the quai François Mitterrand, passage Richelieu, 99 Rue de Rivoli, and the Porte des Lions at the end of Pavillon Flore next to the Seine river to avoid as much as possible the crowds. The best days to visit are Mondays and Thursdays are these are full days of work in France. Weekends everybody is here, plus Wednesdays afternoons and Fridays are rest period for many workers in France. Be early on opening time for any day or late nights opening days. The metro line 1 and 7 Palais Royale/Musée du Louvre , Tuileries, close by is Pyramides on line 14, and all these bus lines get you here : 21, 24, 27, 39, 48, 68, 69, 72, 81, and 95. Also, on a quaint stop do come by Batobus stop Louvre at quai François-Mitterrand. Plan ,plan ahead, read ,read ahead, its a huge place, on average visit the museum claims it to be 3h15 but most visitor do not appreciate what is there; it really needs three days to see all well. Or as I did , plan your itineraries and come back a second or third or…time. First timers for each new area better get an audioguide, and get a map of the place (as below) , buy your ticket ahead of time, and settled on the areas you want to see first, narrow it down if your time is limited. The Sphinx, Mona Lisa (joconde), Napoleon III apartments, Venus, some of these need to be seen on your first trip. One of every two visitors are first timers. You can advance purchase tickets at many stores in Paris before arriving at the museum such as FNAC, Galeries Lafayette, Au Printemps,BHV, Carrefour, Auchan , andLeclerc supermarkets. As well as the official Louvre Museum ticketing : Ticketing in advance for the Louvre Museum
This is a very good pdf file on a map of the Louvre Museum, you are better to print it at home before coming for the visit; it can done in several languages I have it in English: PDF map of the Louvre museum
You have sections such as my favorite Egyptian antiquities, then Etruscan/Roman antiquities, Greek antiquities, Oriental antiquities, Oriental relating to the art of Islam, interior and exterior architectures marvels (especially the apartments to Napoleon III), Graphic Arts, First arts from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and the Americas, Object d’Arts from all over the world, Paintings of the masters as English, Spanish, Flemish, French, Italians, other Europeans, European sculptures, French sculptures, and Italian sculptures. All marvels too many to mention here.
You have guided tours as well as workshops to participate on, the official site will tell you. A wonderful auditorium for concerts, expositions, exhibits, and movies showcasing the arts in all its form as well as temporary exhibits covering many subjects.
Next door you have the wonderful Jardin des Tuileries my lunch hangout for many years. The Musée des arts décoratifs on the pavillon Marsans facing rue de Rivoli will keep you here for weeks ! An splendid boutique store for your shopping even online where you can find luggage bags and coats valet service at underneath the Pyramide (Hall Napoleon) and the porte des Lions from 9h to 18h45 and to 21h45 on late night openings.
You have several choices for snacking and eating ,drinking inside the complex such as Goguette, Starbucks, Café Diane, Café Mollien, Comptoir du Louvre, Paul, Denon and Richelieu counters, Terrase de Pomone, and Amorino ice cream, all detail in English here : Official Louvre museum cafes and restaurants
An splendid boutique store for your shopping even online where you can find many nice souvenirs and support for the museum with your purchases. For your shopping even online here : Boutique des Musées on the Louvre
And this is the official site of the Louvre museum in English: Musée du Louvre
As well as the city of Paris tourist office on the Louvre museum: Paris tourist office on the Louvre museum
Just my touch, the webpage of the Friends of the Louvre museum; many benefits you too can help out: Amis du Louvre
Again, one post,2 3 4 will not do justice to this marvel of our world, I did my small part in sharing it with my readers, firends and family. Hope you enjoy the Louvre museum or Musée du Louvre as we do. Always looking forward to be back!
And remember, happy travels, good health,and many cheers to all!!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 
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