~We're Going to the Louvre~ Part I

I think it's time for a visit to the Louvre. (We didn't go until right before we left.)

But before we go inside, you must see the exterior.

The Louvre, as you can see from this plan takes up 3 city blocks and is made up of several buildings; begun in 1190 as fortress by Phillipe Auguste and completed by Napoleon III seven centuries later. Every king or queen added to the Louvre; the palace was used as a fortress, a residence and now a museum.  Today it is horseshoe-shaped with the western end open to the Tuileries gardens; the Tuileries Palace built by Catherine de Medici was burned down during the Paris Commune of 1871.

It is impossible to see the entire museum in a day or even a week for that matter; so the "plan of attack"is; do your homework, decide what you want to see and pick a wing (blue, purple, red or orange on the map).

ENTRANCES

There are 3 entrances to the Louvre.  This is the Richelieu Passage entrance.

(I think the most striking one.)

Further down is the Rue de Rivoli entrance...there are 4 archways, 2 for the pedestrians

and the center 2 for the traffic.

A street runs right through the Louvre at the Rue du Rivoli entrance....the buses (especially the tour buses) go very carefully!  This street crosses Place du Carrousel and separates the Louvre from the Tuileries gardens.

Continuing through the Rue du Rivoli entrance....

Now you are in the inner courtyard.  The architecture is awesome.  I'm especially attracted to patterns and texture.

This is the once controversial glass pyramid (designed by I.M.Pei) in the center of the courtyard.  It is also the main entrance into the museum now (security has been tightened considerably).  It leads to the underground Cours Napoleon where the main reception area, ticket windows, information, restaurants and shops are located.  The Cours Napoleon can also be reached by the Palais Royal metro stop.

Statue of Louis XIV

The contrast of old and new.

This is a beautiful building~every part is different..the detail unbelievable.

This wing was added by Napoleon III.

Detail on the ironwork railing.

Another view of the Richelieu wing that was added by Napoleon III.

Napoleon put his mark ( "N" ) on everything.

The opposite side of the museum~the Denon wing.

This sculpture ("Nuit") is almost hidden in this shaded area near the Porte des Lions, the third entrance.

The Porte des Lions entrance is on the Seine side of the museum.

 Passage of the Porte des Lions, opening up to the Quai des Tuileries.

Doorway is in the Passage between the courtyard and Quai des Tuileries along the Seine.

The "N" on the vaulted ceiling of the passage at the Porte des Lions entrance.

This is the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, inspired by a Roman triumphal arch, located on the Place du Carrousel.  It was built from 1806-09.  The bas-relief sculptures commemorate the Napoleonic victories of 1805.

From under the arch, there is a wonderful view of " grand alignment" which runs from the Louvre, throught the Tuileries to the Place de la Concorde, up the Champs Elysees and the Arc du Triomphe and ending at La Defense.

View from the Place du Carrousel.

Now that we've seen some of the exterior, let's go inside.

  Today we are concentrating on the Richelieu Wing.