Louvre Museum

The museum officially opened on August 10, 1793, the first anniversary of the monarchy's demise, with an exhibition of 537 paintings, the majority of which were royal and confiscated church property. Prior to its public opening, the site served as a royal residence until Louis XIV moved the court to Versailles in 1682. In May 1791, the National Assembly decreed that the Louvre should be a public museum for the display of masterpieces. The museum faced structural issues leading to a closure from 1796 to 1801. Under Napoleon, the collection expanded significantly through military campaigns, and the institution was renamed the Musée Napoléon before reverting to the Louvre after his defeat.

The Louvre Palace began as a medieval fortress in the 12th century and was extensively redesigned and extended over centuries to form the present complex. In the 1980s and 1990s, the 'Grand Louvre' project, designed by architect I.M. Pei, transformed the site by moving administrative functions and creating a new underground lobby. This project included the inauguration of the iconic glass pyramid entrance in 1989 and the renovation of the North (Richelieu) Wing in 1993. The building narrowly escaped serious damage during the suppression of the Paris Commune in 1871. The architectural history reflects a transition from a defensive fortress to a Renaissance palace and finally to a modern museum complex.