The Louvre Paris France

Visiting the Louvre Paris France is an unforgettable portion of a French vacation. As the second-largest collection of art in the world, the Louvre sees more than 8.5 million visitors each year. The museum was built as a palace for French kings in the 12th-century and first opened to the public in August 1783, with 537 paintings. During Napoleon I’s reign, many pieces of Dutch, Spanish and Austrian works were added to the collection. Another 135 pieces were added during the reign of Louis XVIII and Charles X. Napoleon Bonaparte added another 20,000 pieces to the collection from the 1850s to 1870s. During World War II, museum curators feared Nazi pillaging, so almost every piece of art was moved from location Paris to the French countryside to hide with manors and caretakers until the war was over. The Louvre Paris France district is a colossal collection of enormous fortress-like buildings. In addition to the palace of the French kings, La Place de la Concorde (Concorde Square) was the former site of the infamous guillotine and many beheadings during the French Revolution. Today, there are no killing machines, but rather, an Obelisk given to France by Egypt from the ruins of Ramses II’s temple. Between the Louvre and Concorde Square is the Jardin des Tuileries (the Tuileries Garden), which is an incredible Italian style garden with fountains, caves, greenhouses and sculptures. Below the garden is Le Musee de L’Orangerie, with Renoirs, Monets, Picassos and Cézannes. Also nearby, visitors can find the Vendome Square, which is the epicenter of fine jewelry on location Paris. Shoppers can also peruse Rivoli Street, the Faubord Saint Honoré Street and haute couture houses in Victories Square. Le Palais Royal (the Royal Palace) is a wonderful piece of architecture surrounded by gardens, columns and arcades. The financial sector is also located in this area of France, with La Bourse du Commerce (the Commodity Exchange) located here. The L’englise Saint Roch Church houses a number of Jesuit art pieces, as well as the bodies of Corneille and Diderot. Naturally, many tourists would like to stay in the Louvre Paris France district, given its close proximity to a number of excellent attractions. The closest hotel is the simple, two-star Timhotel Le Louvre Paris hotel, which is just 253 meters from this amazing museum. The rooms are plain, but you’ll have access to free wi-fi in your room and cable TV. Prices start at $133/night. The Normandy Hotel is also right on the corner of the Louvre Museum. This three-star building looks rather impressive from the street and offers an equally classy, elegant interior. Starting at $185/night, this is one of the nicer three-star hotels in Paris. Located right next door is the four-star Hotel du Louvre Paris, which looks more like a palace than a hotel. Starting at $277/night, guests will enjoy marble baths, jacuzzi spas, plush bedding, a fitness center and nothing but top-notch amenities. For the richest travelers, the Renaissance Paris Vendome ($411+/night) and Park Hyatt Paris Vendome ($750+/night) feature five-star accommodations in the area. While staying in Paris, many guests visit the Louvre Paris France, the Arc de Triomphe, the Notre Dame de Paris Cathedral and the Champs Elysées, the Eiffel Tower, the French Riviera and the Opera House. Even though Paris has its charm, it’s very tempting to hop aboard the rail line and travel to other nearby countries. The Eurostar line will take you to Paris Disneyland, Calais, Avignon and Lille in France, the United Kingdom (London, Ashford, Ebbsfleet) and Belgium (Brussels, with a connecting train to Antwerp, Bruges, Charleroi, Oostende, Liege, Namur and Ghent). A round-trip between Paris and London can cost just $100. There are many special deals and discounts on London bus tours and other sightseeing activities too! Travelers can visit www.eurostar.com for more information.