Before you look at the canvas, take a moment to look at the stones. The Louvre began in the 1190s as a military fortress designed to protect Paris from English invaders. You can still walk through the original dry moat and see the base of the medieval keep during a tour of the Louvre Museum Paris.
The structure evolved over eight centuries as every French monarch added a wing or a staircase to leave his mark. The Sun King built the opulent Apollo Gallery to show off his power, and it served as the direct inspiration for the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.
Revolutionaries eventually turned the palace into a museum in 1793 because they wanted art to belong to the people. Understanding this architectural evolution gives essential context to the collection inside. Paris Louvre tours are really a journey through the history of France, allowing you to walk through the ages before you even reach the paintings.
