The Louvre is the world’s most visited museum, welcoming around 9 million visitors each year, and the largest of its kind with 73,000 square metres of exhibition space and 35,000 works displayed from a collection of 480,000. Located in the heart of Paris, for those asking where is Paris in Europe, it sits along the Seine in northern France. The complex began as a fortress in 1190, became a royal palace between the 16th and 18th centuries, and opened as a public museum in 1793 after the French Revolution. The 1989 glass pyramid designed by I. M. Pei serves as its iconic entrance. The collection is organised into eight departments, though many visitors come specifically for three masterpieces: the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and the Winged Victory of Samothrace, making it one of the essential things to do in Paris alongside seeing the Paris tower. Allow at least half a day, while serious art lovers may need two or three visits. Paris people often return multiple times to explore it fully.

What makes this place special

Leonardo’s 1503 portrait hangs behind bulletproof glass in the Salle des États. Small at 77 by 53 cm and constantly surrounded by crowds, it is best seen at opening time or during the final hour.

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The 2nd century BCE Hellenistic statue crowns the Daru Staircase, dramatically lit and widely considered the museum’s most striking display.