Interesting Facts about Louvre Pyramid
1. The Louvre Pyramid is one of the most visited attractions in Paris with 9.3 millions of visitors every year. Here are some interesting facts about the majestic place that houses more than 35,000 priceless antiques and masterpieces.
2. Louvre is the biggest museum in the world that offers the most extensive art galleries for its range of subjects from 6th century BC to the 19th century, a huge span of time. It is impossible to watch every collection of the museum at one or two visits. The museum houses 3,80,000 pieces in total, though not all of them are open for public viewing.
3. Louvre was not built to house a museum originally. It was a fortress in 1190. Then it turned into a royal palace in the 16th century. In 1793 the French monarchy shifted to the Palace of Versailles and from then onwards it was opened as a museum with just 537 paintings.
4. Napoleon Bonaparte once renamed the museum to Musee Napoleon and extended its collection by 5000 pieces.
5. Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa is undoubtedly the most popular painting here that tourists from all over the world view round the year.
6. The Louvre’s galleries are spread over 652300 square feet and contain Egyptian antiques, near Eastern antiques, Greek and Roman antiques, sculptures, Islamic arts, paintings, drawings, decorative arts and prints among other such stuff.
Places to Eat near Louvre Pyramid
1. Cafétéria de la pyramide: Located at 2 Place du Carrousel in Paris, this is a great place to douse your hunger flames while visiting the Louvre Museum that offers limited its useful food options including wraps, sandwiches, salads, pizzas, quiche, ice cream, hot chocolate, lime soda among other such quick grab things.
A meal for two may cost you 30 euros here. The cafeteria is warm with good service staff.
2. Le Bistrot Benoît: If you want to enjoy the traditional French dishes then this is the place to be, which is located in the Louvre Museum basement. The zinc, wood trim, brass and red velvet decor is very elegant here.
All traditional French dishes with their contemporary twists are served here by great staff. The drink options are plenty and carefully selected. A meal for two would cost you around 100 to 120 euros here.
3. Brasserie du Louvre: Bocuse: Located on 1 Place du Palais Royal, this restaurant is an ideal place for a family lunch for the food is excellent here, serving time is prompt and it is right in the adjacent locality of Louvre. Given the prime location and cosy ambience, meals here are reasonably priced.
You must try the signature dishes here that include warm sausages with pistachios in a Brioche casing, pan-fried Lyonnaise style calf’s liver, salmon steak and some rich flavourful sorbets. A meal for two would cost you around 100 to 120 euros.
4. Restaurant Le Grand Louvre: This restaurant is located on 99 Rue de Rivoli. Very neat and elegant with its decor, this place offers nice starters like soup du jour, curry de choux fleur aux arômes d’amande, in the main course palatable plat de jour and ravioles de royan will make you realise how an authentic French dish tastes like.
Some smooth and irresistible desserts like panna cotta du moment, gateau au chocolat are available here at reasonable rates. A meal for a couple will cost around 70 euros.
Places to Stay near Louvre Pyramid
1. Hôtel Bel Ami: This hotel is located in the heart of Saint-German-des-Pres, just 10 minutes walk from the Louvre. Big clean rooms with private washroom, cosy beds, wifi, mini bar, TV, complimentary breakfast, fitness centre and sauna this is the place is ideal for both couples and big families’ stay in Paris.
It has earned great reviews from travellers around the world.
2. Grand Hôtel du Palais Royal: Built in an 18th century building the Grand Hotel is located at 4 Rue de Valois and 200 metres from the Louvre Museum. This place with its designer rooms, en suite facilities, rooms with balconies, great mini bars, TV, free wifi, American-style buffet breakfast and elegant decor reflect sheer class and elegance.
A great stay option for honeymooners, the Grand Hotel is perfectly connected with Metro, RER and airport lines.
3. Le Roch Hotel & Spa: Situated just 500 metres from Tuileries Garden at 28 rue Saint Roch, this place features an indoor swimming pool, a spa centre, a sun terrace and a great bar. All rooms here have coffee machines, mini bar, TV with satellite channels among other such facilities.
Some rooms have a balcony with a great view of the city. The hotel is located right in the middle of shopping centres, tourist spots, restaurants and pubs.
4. Nolinski Paris: Located at 16 Avenue de l’Opera, this five –star hotel is ideal for those who look for luxurious stay. It features a spa, pool, sauna, hammam and amazing massage rooms. The rooms are well-lit and spacious with huge wardrobe and storage options.
Bathrobes and slippers are offered to all occupants for their comfort. Some rooms have exotic balconies giving you the perfect picture of the heart of Paris city.
Tips you should know before visiting Louvre
If you are visiting the Louvre for the first time, here are a few tips that you must follow so that you come out of the museum smiling just like its most popular resident.
1. Go at night: It remains open till 9.45 pm. The evening hours start at 6 pm. So you have over three hours to visit as much as you want when the general crowd and school groups are fewer.
2.Pack sufficient: Visiting Louvre will take at least four hours’ time. So pack little snacks, water etc. The inside might feel warm, so keep a bag to take off your jacket etc.
3. Make a plan: Louvre is huge. So get a map and decide how and what you want to cover. Then proceed accordingly, otherwise it wouldn’t be enjoyable or informative.
4. Cover the big three first: Mona Lisa, Winged Victory and Venus de Milo should be covered first when you have energy, especially if you are travelling with children.
5. Try a different entrance: Most people enter the museum through the glass pyramid entrance which mostly remains crowded. The best entrance is the Carrousel du Louvre when the crowd is very thin with no queue.
6. Consider audio guide: None of the labelling or signs at the museum is in English, but French. So if your French is not very good, opt for the audio guide to make your visit worthwhile.
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