If you’re visiting Paris, I’m sure you’re planning a trip to the Musée du Louvre. In my opinion, spend at least one day here. If you’re really on a tight schedule, give it 3-4 hours.
The busiest days to visit are during tourist season (June-September), the quieter times are December & January. Visiting after 3pm is will give you a shorter line any time of year.
There is free admission on the first Sunday of each month from October to March!
As one of the world’s largest museums, there are 35,000 pieces of art spread over 650,000 square feet. 403 rooms and 9 miles of corridors. Explore the floorplan here …
If this feels overwhelming, don’t worry. The collections are divided into eight departments (each has its own color.) Egyptian Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Islamic Art; Paintings; Sculptures; Decorative Arts; and Prints and Drawings.
I recommend drawing up a plan in advance, so you make it to everything you want to see.
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Like the 10 million visitors a year, I assume you want to see the Mona Lisa (La Joconde) and the Venus de Milo. My experience with the art was interrupted by the CROWD of other onlookers. So many elbows & jostling! And the bullet-proof glass that her tiny frame is permanently encased in.
If you want a more fulfilling experience, I would recommend exploring the other departments, the quality of the overall collection at the Louvre is without rival. You may miss some masters but gain some serendipity.
If the crowds are starting to feel overwhelming, head to the upper floors (French and northern-European paintings on the top floors of Richelieu and Sully)- most people never make it up there.
Here are two equally feminist iconic pieces to see that won’t get you jostled around…
La Liberté guidant le peuple – Liberty Leading the People
This grand-scale painting by Eugène Delacroix commemorates the July Revolution of 1830. A woman, Marianne, personifying both the concept and the goddess of Liberty leads the people forward, holding the tricolour flag of the French Revolution.
La Victoire de Samothrace – Winged Victory of Samothrace
This marble Hellenistic sculpture of Nike (the Greek goddess of victory), was created in about 2nd century BC. Since 1884, it has been prominently displayed at the Louvre and is one of the most celebrated sculptures in the world. It is one of a small number of surviving original major Hellenistic statues, rather than the Roman copies.
I encourage you to wander the museum and follow what catches your eye.
There is no waste of time, no wrong way of doing something in such an astounding institution.
Just grab a map & start exploring
Bisous babes ! — Annie
