Paris Promenades 4

No visit to Paris can be satisfactory without making at least one visit to the Louvre.   The Louvre, originally a palace, is one of the central landmarks in Paris, one of the largest museums in the world, and arguably the most visited museum in the world.  So, yes, it is indeed worth a visit.  One is an absolute minimum.  Son B and the Double Cs didn't miss a visit.  I hope that the visit whetted their appetites for more.

The original palace began as an 11th century fortress.  It was built on and extended in several phases to form the present building.  French kings used it as their official palace until the 17th century.  Then King Louis XIV built a new palace in the village of Versailles outside Paris and moved his entire household and the court to le Palais de Versailles.  After the court moved to Versailles, the Louvre was used principally to house the royal art collections.  During the French Revolution, the government decreed the Louvre to be a museum for the public.  The museum first opened in 1793, with an art collection primarily comprised of works confiscated from royal and church collections.   Napoléon Bonaparte increased the Louvre's collection extensively with paintings, ornaments and sculptures seized during his army conquests, although several of those works were returned to their original owners after Napoleon's defeat at the Battle of Waterloo.  The collection continued to increase significantly during the 19th century as later authorities added to it.  The Louvre currently houses some 35,000 pieces of art drawn from eight departments, with over 60,000 square meters of exhibition space dedicated to the permanent collections.  The collections include Near Eastern Antiquities, Egyptian Antiquities, Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities, Islamic Art, Sculptures, Decorative Arts, Paintings, and Prints and Drawings.   This scale model can give one an idea of the immensity of the building and its grounds.

Not all of the art associated with the Louvre is found inside the museum.  For example, the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, which stands outside, was built to commemorate Napoleon's military successes.  It stands near the site where the former Palais des Tuileries, which formed the western wall of the Louvre, used to stand.  The Tuileries palace was destroyed during the 19th century.  After a decision not to rebuild the palace, the area was left open to become an open park.  Here, the Double Cs pose in front of the Arc du Carrousel.

Another more controversial recent structure is the large glass and metal pyramid, surrounded by three smaller pyramids, designed by the Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei, and erected in 1989.   The large pyramid serves as the principal entrance for the Louvre. 

And no, the Double Cs were not actually standing in the fountain.  Being soggy would not have helped them make the acquaintance of some of the Louvre's most famous women, such as the Venus de Milo,

and the Mona Lisa. 

Before seeing it, many do not realize how small this wonderful painting actually is.  For protection, it is kept behind glass.

The paintings are popular with many.  So during hot and crowded times,

it's a good idea to seek out places where one has a little space, such as here among the Egyptian Antiquities.

Another area that may be less-frequented, but still fascinating, is the Decorative Arts collection, where the Double Cs leave a reflection that will remain with the millions of others this mirror has seen through the centuries.

Visiting museums, especially one like the Louvre, and sightseeing can get to be pretty heavy.  So, it's always a good idea to take an occasional lighthearted shopping break.

Prince C ultimately did not purchase the beret.  But he still had a good time trying it on!