Le Musee du Louvre

Le Musee du Louvre

This is the Le Musee du Louvre; which is one of the largest palaces in the world, as it was home to former kings of France. However, the establishment is also a national art museum in France. It is famous for its collection of ancient and western art, housing royal paintings and sculptures. The museum was originally used as a fortress during the middle ages, until it was reconstructed to serve as a palace for kings in the 16th century. It wasn't until 1793, when the Louvre became an art museum after King Louis XIV moved the residence to Versailles. In front of the museum, is the Louvre Pyramid, which serves as the main entrance to the establishment. It was completed in 1989 and designed by I.M. Pei, with a height of 22 meters (72 ft) and a base of 35 meters (116 ft). The museum houses over 70,000 pieces of art and includes collections such as Egyptian antiques and Greek sculptures. 

Unusual Facts:

1. One of the most famous works in the museum is the Mona Lisa, which was painted by Leonardo da Vinci. 
   
   2. It takes 2,000 employees to keep the museum in order. 
   3.  The Louvre was a symbol of wealth and power during the French monarchy.