The most famous art gallery in the world

It attracts millions of tourists every year, boasts a long and turbulent history, houses masterpieces by the greatest artists, and is located in the historic heart of the French capital. By now, everyone probably knows which gallery we’re talking about. Of course, it’s the Louvre. The art within this museum transcends borders, traditions, and cultures. It is admired regardless of origin, skin color, religion, or personal values. The Louvre’s masterpieces include works by artists such as Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci. Here, you’ll also encounter incredible works from before our era by unknown artists. The most famous art gallery in the world attracted nearly 8 million visitors in 2022. Compared to 2021, that’s an increase of 120%.

Today, the Louvre is no longer just the former palace of French monarchs, but also boasts an unprecedented ‘branch’ in the United Arab Emirates. What secrets does the Louvre hold?

The world’s most famous art gallery – the beginning

The Louvre Gallery spans eight centuries —its long history began with Philip II Augustus. At the end of the 12th century, a fortress was erected, distinguished by its exceptionally thick defensive walls. The era of wars and constant conflict necessitated the construction of such buildings. In the second half of the 14th century, the Louvre became the palace of the French monarchs. Over the following decades, it changed rulers, each adapting it to prevailing fashions and evolving circumstances.

The gallery was established at the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, during the reign of Henry IV. At the end of the 17th century, the Louvre ceased to be a royal residence and became a museum. Versailles became the seat of the monarchs—in it, a luxury hotel was recently opened.

The Muséum Central des Arts was established in the Louvre. Over the decades, the Louvre expanded, continually enlarging its art collection.

The world’s most famous art gallery underwent a major renovation at the end of the last century, and all its buildings are now used for exhibitions. Previously, the Richelieu wing belonged to the French Ministry of Finance.

Currently the museum’s collection includes over 33,000 works, employs nearly 2,300 staff members, lends more than 3,000 works of art to other institutions each year, and organizes around 10 temporary exhibitions annually.

The Louvre in numbers

It’s not just the number of visitors to the Louvre that impresses, but also the sheer size of the museum itself. The palace houses 403 rooms, and together with its corridors, it stretches over 14.5 kilometers. While communism was collapsing in Poland, the Louvre was undergoing another expansion, during which the pyramid—hailed as a modern masterpiece of the 20th century—was built. It stands over 21 meters tall and weighs around 180 tons. This dome is the heart of the Louvre, serving as the central point from which visitors can access the various wings of the palace.

A little over a decade ago, in 2012, the Department of Islamic Art was opened at the Louvre, followed by the Department of Byzantine and Eastern Christian Art in 2022. In addition, the Louvre museum has expanded its activities to other regions of France and the world. Currently, it manages the Louvre-Lens museum, located in northern France (in Lens). The works exhibited there belong to the Louvre. This is the institution to which the Louvre lends the largest number of artworks among all its partners. Since its opening, it has been the second most popular museum in France outside of Paris.

The world’s most famous art gallery also manages the Musée National Eugène-Delacroix, which was established in the artist’s former apartment. In 2017, following an agreement between France and the United Arab Emirates, another ‘Louvre’ was opened in Abu Dhabi. It features a modern structure set on water, on an artificial island. Here, visitors can admire works on loan from the Louvre and other French museums.

Universal Art Gallery

The Louvre impresses in many ways, including the richness of its collections and its possession of some of the most valuable works of art. Among its treasures are Leonardo da Vinci’s famous Mona Lisa, Italian frescoes by Sandro Botticelli, the Venus de Milo (whose authorship remains uncertain), and Michelangelo’s Rebellious Slave.

The Louvre’s collections go beyond a single culture, nationality, or religion. That’s why the world’s most famous art gallery is also considered one of the most universal. The Louvre’s collections are divided into departments:

• ancient Egyptian art,
• Middle Eastern art,
• ancient Greek, Roman, and Etruscan art,
• Islamic art,
• sculptures,
• painting,
• artistic craftsmanship,
• drawing and graphics.

At the Louvre, you’ll encounter the ancient world, medieval painting, the Renaissance, Baroque, Romanticism, and contemporary art. This gallery houses the greatest and most valuable masterpieces, including the oldest ones. Fragments of the Temple of Zeus from the 4th century BC, a figurine from Mycenae dating back to the 8th century BC, a bust of Emperor Octavian Augustus from the 1st century AD. And among the works of painters, you’ll find paintings by artists such as Rembrandt, Titian, Raphael, and El Greco.

There are also a few Polish touches at the Louvre—after all, we have great artists too. Among them is a sculpture by Maria Leszczyńska, and in 2019, an exhibition of works by Polish painters from the 19th century was held in Lens.

Fun facts about the world’s most famous art gallery

Is the Louvre haunted? Some say yes, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for more than just the art. Legend has it that the ghost of a butcher named Jack Skinner resides here—he was supposedly wronged by the royal family. The mummy of Belphegor is said to wander the corridors, while an unnamed woman dressed in red strolls through the gardens. Of course, the ghosts are friendly toward visitors.

Napoleon and Changes at the Louvre

During Napoleon’s reign, the museum quickly filled with spoils from around the world—paintings, figures, sculptures—but after the emperor’s fall, several thousand works were returned to their owners. Napoleon also changed the museum’s name, replacing the Louvre with his own.

Mona Lisa out of reach

The Mona Lisa is under special supervision. It has been barricaded to prevent visitors from getting too close. Additionally, it is displayed behind glass. Interestingly, it’s not as large as many people expect, which often surprises some visitors.

The true treasures of the Louvre

At the Louvre, you’ll ‘come face to face with a mummy’ as you follow in the footsteps of the ancient Egyptians. You’ll also discover what kings dined and drank from, thanks to the royal tableware collection. See for yourself how monarchs lived and what surrounded them. The splendor of the chambers and their opulence are truly impressive, complemented by paintings and bas-reliefs. Currently, Napoleon’s chambers are unfortunately closed to visitors until May 2024. After that, it’s well worth taking a tour to travel back in time, if only for a moment.

How long does a visit to the Louvre take?

Statistically, the Louvre is visited by 15,000 people a day and it never feels crowded. Tickets are available online. On your first visit, there’s no way to see everything. In fact, even a month isn’t enough—according to calculations, if you spend 30 seconds on each artwork, you’d need 100 days without sleep or breaks for food.

The most famous art gallery in the world is also the largest and the most visited. When planning a trip to the Louvre, it’s worth mapping out your route through the palace—without a plan, your visit may turn chaotic and you might miss the most important masterpieces.