Louvre Museum

Why the Louvre Museum is special
Paris's Louvre vies with New York's Metropolitan Museum as the world's greatest all-around art museum.

Louvre Museum tips and insights
Mona Lisa
France's esteemed art house has the distinction of having the world's most famous painting: Mona Lisa by the Italian Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci. Mona Lisa's subtle, enigmatic smile and stare (see photo) have intrigued billions.

Famous statues
The celebrated Hellenistic marble statues Venus de Milo and Winged Victory of Samothrace are also in the Louvre Museum.

More tour de forces
There are tens of thousands of other masterpieces from around the globe.

World's most popular museum
The Louvre attracts about 10 million visitors per year. Runners-up are the Metropolitan Museum in New York (about 6 million) and the British Museum in London (slightly less).

Time span
The art treasures of the Louvre Museum cover 5,000 years and are displayed in over 10 kilometers (6 miles) of galleries.

History
The building complex metamorphosed and expanded over eight centuries. It began as a medieval fortress (12th century) that was transformed into a royal palace (16th) and then a public museum (18th).

Renovation
In recent decades, the Louvre Museum undertook a major renovation project. The most striking addition was architect I.M. Pei's 1989 modern glass pyramid (most people like it but some despise it).

Location in France