Sights
Sights
The Louvre
Arguably the world’s most famous art museum, the Louvre was originally a fortress, built in 1190 for King Philippe Auguste. Renaissance kings converted the fortress into a palace. 17th-century kings expanded the palace; their architects gave the Louvre the shape and appearance we know today. As early as 1699, artists held exhibitions in the Louvre. After the French Revolution, the Louvre was converted to an art museum, opening its doors in 1793. I.M. Pei’s glass pyramid opened in 1989. The Louvre contains many priceless works, including the Mona Lisa, the Winged Victory of Samothrace and the Venus de Milo.