Ranking at the top of museums worldwide, the Louvre is impressive, even before you get inside. A royal palace to a global icon, it’s impressive from the get-go. The Parisian architecture that borders the notable glass pyramid in the plaza. It is immediately recognisable as a gateway to priceless works of art. Housed in a former royal palace, it offers visitors a journey through centuries of culture, making it a timeless symbol of global heritage.
More art than you can shake a stick at
The sheer scale of the Louvre’s collection is staggering. With over 35,000 works on display, spanning from ancient civilisations to the 19th century, it’s impossible to see everything in one visit. From the enigmatic smile of the Mona Lisa to the commanding presence of the Winged Victory of Samothrace, every corridor leads to another masterpiece.
So impressive is the collection inside the Louvre, you sometimes lose sight of the architectural masterpiece that it all resides in. The Louvre Palace, built from the late 12th century, still retains some of its medieval fortress. Much of this can still be seen in parts of the museum. Looking out of the Louvre in Paris, often shrouded in long flowing curtains, you can find a vantage point not frequently seen.
Palace to Global Icon
In this most recent trip to Paris in December 2024, the temperature hovered just above freezing. Hearing a roar of noise from outside, I opened the drapes to see a hailstorm blanketing the plaza below in white. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the most captivating views aren’t hanging on the walls—they’re framed by the windows. Looking out of the Louvre in Paris offers a perspective that many miss. It’s a marriage of old and new, of classical stone facades standing watch over I. M. Pei’s modern glass pyramid. It is, quite figuratively, a Palace to Global Icon.
Leave a Reply