Louvre
Musée du Louvre · Paris, France
A medieval palace turned into the world's largest temple of art, where 'the Mona Lisa's smile' awaits you
Antes de ir · Know before you go
- Don't touch the works or lean on display cases
- don't hog the best spot in the 'Mona Lisa' room for long
- don't eat or drink inside.
Stories & people
Historias y personajes
Historia
From fortress to the Republic's museum
The Louvre began as a fortress built by Philip II at the end of the 12th century to defend against attacks from the west — Normandy was then still in English hands — and its remains are still beneath the museum. As the city grew the fortress lost its defensive role, and in 1546 Francis I turned it into the king's main residence. During the Revolution, the museum opened on 10 August 1793, the first anniversary of the fall of the monarchy, with an initial display of 537 paintings, mostly from the royal collection and confiscated church property. In 1989 the new entrance hall beneath I. M. Pei's glass pyramid opened.
Fuente: Wikipedia: Louvre
Historia
1911: the Mona Lisa is stolen
In 1911 the 'Mona Lisa' was not yet especially famous among the general public. On 21 August it disappeared from the Louvre; the real thief was Vincenzo Peruggia, an Italian Louvre employee who had helped make the painting's glass case and believed it should return to Italy. He hid it in his lodgings for two years and was arrested when he tried to sell it to the director of the Uffizi in Florence. News of the theft and recovery spread around the world, greatly increasing the painting's fame.
Fuente: Wikipedia: Mona Lisa
Culture
Cultura y costumbres
Contexto cultural
Originally a 12th-century fortress of Philip II, later a French royal palace, it became a museum after the Revolution in 1793. I. M. Pei's glass pyramid pierces the classical palace walls and, after years of controversy, has become a new classic. Its 35,000 works on display span ancient Egypt to the 19th century, and the three wings — Denon, Sully and Richelieu — are a maze: half a day lets you only skim, and a full day gives you just a glimpse.
Costumbres locales
- Visits must be booked online in a time slot
- no flash or selfie sticks inside, and loud talk will be discouraged
- the French are strong on queuing — never cut in.
Religión y creencias
- The collection holds a great deal of Christian art (such as 'The Wedding Feast at Cana'), rooted in France's Catholic tradition
- keep a respectful demeanour in galleries of religious subjects and don't touch the works.
Etiquette
Normas y tabúes
Normas que se aplican aquí
France: carry your ID
- Carry your passport or official photo ID
- Leaving all your documents at the hotel
You must show ID on the spot when police ask, or at a police station within 4 hours.
Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: France travel advice
France: face coverings are banned in public places
- Showing your face in public places
- Covering your face in streets, shops and other public places
It is illegal, with a fine of up to €150; the law also applies to tourists.
Verificado el 19 oct 2026Fuente: GOV.UK: France travel advice
No lo haga DON'T
- Don't touch the works or lean on display cases
- don't hog the best spot in the 'Mona Lisa' room for long
- don't eat or drink inside.
Lo que aprecian los locales DO
Parisians favour 'prepared visits' — doing your homework, heading straight for the galleries you want and renting an audio guide to look deeply, rather than just ticking off the 'Mona Lisa'.
Plan your visit
Información práctica
| Mejor época | Best on weekday mornings as soon as it opens, or on the Wednesday and Friday late openings (fewer people, lovely light) |
|---|
Consejos de viaje
Best on weekday mornings as soon as it opens, or on the Wednesday and Friday late openings (fewer people, lovely light). From 14 January 2026 the Louvre introduced a 'two-tier' price: EUR 32 for adults from outside the European Economic Area (previously EUR 22), an increase of about 45% — be sure to book a timed ticket on the official website in advance, as on-site queues often exceed 2 hours.
Eat nearby
Qué comer cerca
Imprescindible
- Croissants / baguette sandwiches
- Croque monsieur (toasted ham-and-cheese sandwich)
- Onion soup
Croissants / baguette sandwiches, croque monsieur (toasted ham-and-cheese sandwich), onion soup, duck confit, lemon tart
| Dónde comer | Cafés inside the Louvre, restaurants around the Palais Royal, the food street of Rue Montorgueil (around the old snail restaurant L'Escargot Montorgueil) |
|---|---|
| Normas en la mesa | No eating or drinking in the galleries; in restaurants, say 'bonjour' before sitting down |
| Precio orientativo por persona | EUR 25–45 ≈ CNY 208–374 |
| Consejos | Queues for food inside the museum are long, so eat in the small streets of the Right Bank after your visit; restaurants are relatively empty on Tuesdays, when the museum is closed. |
Los precios son orientativos a octubre de 2026, no presupuestos exactos; en zonas con tipos de cambio muy variables solo se da un intervalo aproximado en yuanes.
Philip Mallis · CC BY 2.0
Photos
Fotos
Benh LIEU SONG · CC BY-SA 3.0
Benh LIEU SONG · CC BY-SA 4.0
Benh LIEU SONG · CC BY 2.5
Fuentes y notas de verificación
https://www.163.com/dy/article/KJAKP6BJ05346RC6.html
Louvre official website: opening hours and prices
Xinhua report of 2026-01-15 https://www.163.com/dy/article/KJAKP6BJ05346RC6.html
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