Louvre, where does one start?
 

We are going to Paris next week and plan on visiting the Louvre. Does anyone have any suggestions as to where to start and what is the most interesting sections. It's obviously too big to cover it all, but would like to have a rough plan on interesting and neat things to see. Our two teenagers would also be tagging along.

We used this technique, since we also had a teenager with us:

We purchased a multi-day museum admission card and then visited the Louvre for several short periods. That way, we saw a good amount of the Louvre, but not all at once. Our son was not bored (and neither were we) and nobody "overdosed" on museum visiting.

jbeez, you are the only judge of what's most interesting to you, i.e. ancient sculpture, Italian painting, medieval miniatures, the Napoleon III apartments, etc. To help decide, take a look at the virtual tour available at the museum's website:

http://www.louvre.fr/louvrea.htm

It's easy to become overwhelmed by the Louvre and thus fail to enjoy your visit. I suggest you plan ahead of time what you'd like to see and how to get from place to place, using the online resources, or the map you can pick up at the information desk ahead of time. Remember that some wings or galleries are sometimes closed unexpectedly and have some back-up choices.

Recognize that you'll never manage to see it all and don't get discouraged. Unless you've got more stamina than I, limit your visit to 2 hours or less and go back again if you haven't had enough.

I don't know how enthusiastic your teens are about museums, but I suggest you put them in charge of deciding something each of them would like to see and figuring out how to find it.

Have a great time!

You might consider going first to one of the evening hours--on Wednesday, for instance, the Louvre is open until 9:45. When we went it wasn't as crowded, and it was easier to navigate to big items. This was the winter, though, and I'm not sure if it's more packed in the summer. For the teenagers you might start with the Egyptian section.

If you haven't already, do read "The DaVinci Code" -- you'll almost certainly be taken in by it, and you wil have 2 or 3 places already that you will absolutely want to see first (2 Pyramids, plus a few other places). That will be a good start.

(Really!!)

Forget The DaVinci Code, IMO--much of the information in it on the Louvre is inaccurate (and on Paris as well).

Where to start? At the information desk, staffed by bilingual people who can answer your questions. Get the English version of the mini-guide to the Louvre, which lays out the most-visited pieces of art and tells you how to get there.

For us the most interesting part of the Louvre is the magnificent Egyptian collection. Going there in the evening, when few tourists are about and the light is just a bit dim, is an unforgettable experience.

A good thing to do in advance is to peruse the Eyewitness Guide to Paris's pages on the Louvre, or those in the Michelin Green Guide to Paris. Nothing beats a good guide book, given the Louvre's vastness, and preparing a list in advance will make your time there much more interesting--and fun.

We bought a museum guide book that highlighted various pieces with explanations on each. I think is was about 5 euros or so. Our focus was on Italian Renaissance and Ancient Greece. Having an 11 and 13 year old, we decided to make a game of finding each piece in those categories that were in the guide. Prizes were awarded for the first to find the piece. When we got to the highlighted work, we read the description aloud. We spent about 2 1/2 hours in the Louvre and the kids loved it. For us the guide book was the way to go.

I wholeheartedly second two of the suggestions already made:

1. Make up your mind ahead of time -- based on a good guide book and before you even get to the Louvre -- about which sections you want to see (and then follow the Louvre map or mini-guide to get to them).

2. Break up your visit, if necessary, so that you don't spend more than 2 or 2 1/2 hours in the museum at a time.

Hi jb,

If you start with Winged Victory, go to the Venus de Milo and then the Mona Lisa, you ought to be able to do the Louvre in about 15 min. :)

I was overwhelmed by the Louvre and didn't do a good job in my visit there, although I loved the Musee d'Orsay.

After my poor performance at the Louvre, I followed Rick Steves' Mona Winks for my visit at the Uffizi in Florence and found it really increased my enjoyment and education.

Here's a nice 3-hour tour that we followed once we got into the Louvre and got our bearings. It worked for us and it gives you a good flavor. From there, you can wonder, depending upon how much time you have.

http://www.gettingaway.com/directory...ris/louvre.htm ((b))

There used to be an (english) Museum Highlights Tour given at 11, 2 and 3:45 every day and cost 3 euro. They are 1-1/2 hrs for the "Decouverte" tour (discovery) of major pieces. You can wait at the group welcome desk (Hall Napoleon under the pyramid) or buy tickets at that desk ahead of time (I think it says up to 14 days ahead) at the "accueil des groups" desk from 9am-4:30pm on Tu, F, Sat and from 9am-7pm on M and W. **Please check ahead of time regarding times and cost as this is from my paris file and may not be current**

Taking a tour such as this would allow you to see the more important works (or ones that maybe you are familiar with) without h\getting hopelessly disoriented or glazed over!

Check out the museum's website: http://www.louvre.fr/louvrea.htm

Here's yet another vote for checking out www.louvre.fr. You will also find here the museum's latest policy on what sections are open what days of the week (when I was there, I wanted to see a Vermeer, and forgot that that section was closed on Saturdays.)

Try to confine yourself to either the 'Denon' wing or the 'Richelieu' wing but not both - otherwise your tour will involve too much walking (ask me how I know.)

Rick Steves' Paris also has a Louvre tour that can be covered in about 3 hours, including a coffee at the museum cafe. This tour is DIY and covers a sampling of ancient Greek, Renaissance, and large scale French (e.g., Delacroix/' Liberty Leading the People) which most teenagers should find varied enough to keep them interested.

I agree that spending no more than three hours at a stretch is a very good way to visit the Louvre. We usually take breaks about every hour and a half--just go to the café or cafeteria so you can sit down, relax for a bit, and then regroup before setting off again.

Keep in mind that not all the rooms are open all day every day (that's where the web site comes in very handy) because of staffing shortages. Some are closed for only part of a day; so you can plan your visit around what's open that you particularly want to see.

Since you'll be in Paris in August when it's apt to be hot, you will find that the Richlieu Wing is the only part of the Louvre with good a/c and is to be cherished for that reason. There you can find the Napoléon III rooms in all their red and gold splendor.

Thanks for all the useful info. I think a multi day museum pass is a must, then we can visit as often as we like and for as long as we like. I downloaded that 3 hr tour and will probably do a guided tour in English as well.
Do they do passes that are more than 5 days? I read somewhere that the 5 day ones were 54 euros - is that about right?

http://www.ratp.fr/ParisVisite/fr/ac...etmonument.htm

This shows you the options (5 days is the max). Someone else can confirm at what age a pass is needed for minors, otherwise they get in free, I understand.

Buy the passes at any major metro ticket window, or any museum on the list.

The link I gave you in this note has a map with the museum locations on it - just above the map is a blue link to pull up the list of museums ("Musées et monuments accessibles avec la carte").

I have used the Rick Steves book while walking through the Louvre. It took you through the most important paintings and statues in the museum. Do not miss Napoleon's apartments. It is wonderful to see.

You won't need a pass longer than five days. Three should do it. The Louvre and Orsay are the busiest and priciest. The rest you can do on your own at modest admission prices. Few (one possible exception is Rodin where it's sometimes a bit crowded) will have significant lines.

My recommendation for the Louvre would be to start at the Denon wing entrance. The Mona Lisa is just up the stairs and down a few doorways. If you go there first, you'll miss the crowds that started elsewhere.

Then, leave by the same entrance and cross the courtyard to the Richelieu.

Just to mention that several sections are closed on certain days. For instance the abovementionned Napoleon III apartments. So, if you're interested in something specific, you should make sure it won't be closed on the day you intend to visit the Louvre.

i believe that the age is less than 18 for free entry for kids.

My wife and I spent two weeks in Paris and used two five-day passes, each. Check what museums you will want to see, as not all are included on the passes, and plan to visit those on the pass during the term of your pass, and those not on the pass on other days.

Unless you hit an abnormal day, there will be lines outside many of the museums, and with the pass you can just bypass those lines; that's a big time saver.

The Louvre is huge, and you may not be interested in seeing all of it, so visit the web site and pick out your must-see galleries and the routes to them. I would insert a plug here for two statues by Michelangelo which don't seem to be mentioned often, but which are wonderful.

Going early in the morning and heading right for the Mona Lisa is often recommended, as it draws huge crowds, to the point where it is hard to see.

Try to break up you visit, perhaps with lunch in the cafe. We found it much easier to get around on our third visit than our first, not that we had become experts, but we at least knew which direction was up.

Most importantly, when you have identified the galleries you really want to see, stop at the desk on your initial visit and ask when those galleries will be closed. They apparently have not enough staff, and close some galleries rather than leaving them unguarded, and their schedule seems to change frequently, so you need absolutely current information. You can also buy passes there.

If you do get the pass, or even if you don't, look into visiting the Orsay; many people find it more accessible than the Louvre, and the impressionistic art there is overwhelming in its excellence. They also have some restaurants and cafes to break up your visit.

Jbeez,

I'll be visiting Paris next week with my two twentysomething children. Let us hope the weather cooperates.

This forum is a tremendous resource of information. Thanks to the all posters.

underhill, Boston has a wonderful Egyption collection.

I found the Musee d'Orsay very pleasant to visit and to navigate and I enjoy Impressionistic art.

I like the Louvre also, but it was much more crowded (on a Friday afternoon) than the Musee d'Orsay (on a Wednesday afternoon). At the Louvre, it was fun to actually see the Mona Lisa surrounded by dozens of people taking flash pictures (why is that allowed) and to unexpectedly see Whistler's Mother. I saw numerous other paintings too of course, but given the heat and crowds I didn't feel I could properly appreciate them.

At some point I would like to see the Louvre properly. I think this will mean at least a two-week stay, a hotel or apartment very near the Louvre so I can easily visit every day for a few hours, and a non-summer visiting time.

Cigale,

We've actually seen the fine Egyptian collection at the Bostom Museum--thrice, in fact--along with the wonderful Japanese wood-block prints.

And the Egyptian collections at the British Museum and the Ashmolean at Oxford. And the Rosacrucian Egyptian Museum in San Jose, CA. Can you tell I nearly became an archaeologist and still devour books on ancient Egypt?

Next on the list is the collection in the Berlin museum (the one with the bust of Nerertiti) and of course the Metropolitan Museum in New York. One of these days....

We made multiple visits over a week's visit to Paris and I agree it's a good way to avoid Louvre overload.

One day we "stumbled" into the Marly courtyard, French sculpture-17th & 18th centuries. The enormous horse scupltures are magnificent, not to mention the hall with its huge skylight.
Not often mentioned, but I think it's well worth a visit.

One thing I took to the Louvre that I found amazing was a pair of binoculars. They made a big difference at the more popular attractions. I must have studied Mona Lisa from the back of room away from the "pushers" for 30 minutes. Alot of stares but it truly was a "close up" like no other. The Monets, Van Goghs, stautues, huge paintings, wow! (no, I have not read The Davinci Code)

Like JeanneB, we stumbled upon the Marley horses. It is unfortunate that most visitors only have time or inclination for the "must sees" and miss the surprises that come from just wandering in such a treasure trove.

Why the guards at the Louvre allow flash photography when those at the Orsay do not remains a mystery.

This is from the Louvre website.

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Title V / Taking of photographs, copies and surveys

Article 25
During public opening hours in the rooms of permanent exhibitions, you may photograph or shoot displays for private use.

Concerning temporary exhibitions, taking of photograph are prohibited, unless you hear to the contrary, mentioned at the entrance of the rooms.


Article 26
The use of flash-lights is not recommended. The use of lamps or any kind of lightning is forbidden.
The use of the cameras is forbidden in the room of the Monna Lisa and the Vénus de Milo.

------------------------------

I would presume the guards are just overwhelmed in attempting to enforce the regulations.

Hi,
I'm trying to find an article/pull out from a travel mag (National Geographic Traveler? Conde Nast Traveler?)that had a quick visit guide along with a map...I'll keep looking, but this may stir a memory of someone here...it looked like a good plan

Michel, Conde Nast Traveler had such a pullout section a number of years ago. Is that what you're looking for? I think it was something like "60 minutes in the Louvre".