25 Things To See In The Louvre

Planning to go to the Louvre and don’t know what are the most popular things to see there?

The Louvre Museum, located in the center of Paris along the River, is a popular attraction for many visitors to France. It is considered one of the best museums, not only in France, but also around the world.

There are simply not enough hours in the day to see everything there is to see at the Louvre, what with its 403 rooms, 14.5 km of chambers and corridors, and 72.735 square meters of display spaces. And did you know that seeing every piece of art in the Louvre would take 64 days if you spent a minute on every piece? Yes, it is that big.

However, if you are short on time, you can narrow your search to the displays you wish to visit or the types of art in which you are most interested. There really is no “wrong” way to see the Louvre.

One can explore the museum on foot by wandering between the three Louvre wings. Or by returning to the great hall and beginning your journey in a new Louvre wing (or the restaurants).

The Louvre Museum ticket is non-refundable and cannot be used again once it has been used to leave the museum. Hence, before visiting this vast museum, you must carefully plan your itinerary.

What, then, are the museum’s most compelling attractions? In the following guide, we will describe the most important exhibits and displays in each of the museum’s three wings.

25 Things To See In The Louvre

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Inside the Louvre

The museum’s rich collections are in the Richelieu Wing, the Denon Wing, and the Sully Wing, all connected to each other. The Museum’s largest sculptures are also displayed in the inner courtyards.

The Louvre’s priceless artworks are then organized into eight distinct curatorial divisions:

• Antiquities
• Decorative Arts
• Egyptian Antiquities
• Greek, Etruscan, and Roman
• Islamic Art, Paintings
• Near Eastern Antiquities
• Prints and Drawings
• Sculptures

Now that you know what to see inside, let’s go into the specifics. The following is a list of must-see arts in the Louvre, in each of its three wings.

DENON WING

The section of the Louvre adjacent to the Seine River is known as the Denon Wing. The Denon Wing at the Musée du Louvre was named after M. Denon (1747-1825), the museum’s first director.

The most well-known and frequently visited artworks at the Louvre are in this wing. If you are only going to visit one of the Louvre’s wings, we recommend you go to the Denon Wing.

What to see here:

1. The Mona Lisa

Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci is neither the most beautiful nor the most technically proficient painting in the Louvre.

However, more than any other work, it possesses a unique blend of technical expertise, innovative artistic techniques, celebrity artist provenance, and a fascinating backstory.

Da Vinci used a new method of painting, which he termed sfumato, to create the famous Mona Lisa. It was groundbreaking then, and he made pictures nobody else could make. The picture he painted was fantastic.

2. Liberty Guiding the People

This is one of the most interesting paintings to see in the Louvre. This masterpiece depicts a renowned nude female embodiment of Liberty and is sometimes referred to as the de facto national emblem of France.

Due to the popularity of the painting at the time of its creation, the female character, also known as Marianne, became a symbol of the French Republic and its broader hostility towards monarchy.

The mangled bodies beneath the victorious Marianne represent the forty years of civil war and political and social turmoil that had shaken the country. Its dramatic patriotism is matched by its size, 8 feet by 10 feet.

3. La Belle Ferronière

A portrait of a woman known as “La Belle Ferronnière” is commonly credited to Leonardo da Vinci. The “Portrait of an Unknown Woman” is another title for this work. “The beautiful ironmonger” is the literal translation of the French La Belle Ferronniere.

Yet, the ferronniere is the headband the woman in the artwork wears across her forehead. A ferronniere was the common name for this headband in that era.

4. The Consecration of Emperor Napoleon and the Coronation of Empress Joséphine on 2 December 1804

Jacques-Louis David, best known for his historical murals, was tasked with creating The Coronation of Napoleon.

Napoleon depicted both the consecration of Emperor Josephine and the consecration of Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte in a monumental artwork.

This artwork captures the majesty of the ceremony, during which the positions held by each participant were carefully evaluated for both artistic and political reasons.

5. The Raft of the Medusa

The Raft of the Medusa, which Theodore Géricault painted in the 19th century (1818-1819), is considered too realistic for persons with delicate sensibilities.

Thus, viewing it is not usually recommended. It shows the people who survived the shipwreck of the Medusa, as well as those who died in it.

The painting shows people shouting for help when they spot in the distance the outline of another ship that might be able to save them.

6. The Rebellious Slave and The Dying Slave

These two powerful figures show how Michelangelo combined realism and idealism so well. The fine bonds that restrict their movement and label them as “Slaves” are revealed at closer range as intricate carvings.

The slave in “The Dying Slave” appears to be asleep for what seems like an eternity, while the slave in “The Rebellious Slave” appears to be struggling to break free.

Michelangelo was commissioned to create the statues as part of a decorative project for a funeral monument for a pope.

Still, when construction on the structure was halted, the Slaves were left trapped in the marble. This “incomplete” work further makes the Slaves a must-see in the Louvre.

7. The Winged Victory of Samothrace

One of the most well-known statues in the Louvre, the Winged Victory of Samothrace, is at the top of the grand Daru staircase. She commands attention the instant she enters a room. You can’t help but pay attention to her.

The best element, though, is not only the massive size of the sculpture but the exquisite detail of the sculpting around her sea-sprayed clothing.

Also, her wings are beautiful. There is no better place to take pictures than in front of this breathtaking statue.

8. The Wedding Feast at Cana

Among the many works in the Louvre’s collection, this painting represents a scene from Christian theology.

Here, artist Paolo Veronese depicts the famous wedding at Cana, where Jesus is claimed to have turned water into wine for hundreds of guests. Taking up an entire wall and incorporating over a hundred people, this piece is monumental in scope.

The artist’s meticulousness in completing the work makes it so stunning, thus making it one of the best arts to see in the Louvre.

Pets, including sociable dogs and even a cat, can be found freely roaming the crowd in this massive painting.

9. Venus and the Three Graces Presenting Gifts to a Young Woman

Sandro Botticelli, an Italian Renaissance painter, is responsible for the fresco “Venus and the Three Graces Giving Gifts to a Young Lady” (circa 1483–1486).

This picture, along with its companion piece, “A Young Man Being Presented to the Seven Liberal Arts,” adorned the walls of Villa Lemmi, a country home not far from Florence. Uncle of Lorenzo de’ Medici and manager of the Medici Bank’s Rome office, Giovanni Tornabuoni, owned this property.

10. The Red Rooms

The largest artworks in the Louvre are in the Red Chambers, so named for their glorious crimson walls. Artists such as Jaques-Louis David, Eugène Delacroix, and Théodore Géricault, all active in France during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, have paintings on display here.

The majority of these works are classified as “historic paintings” at the Louvre.

SULLY WING

M. Sully (1559-1641), who served as King Henri IV’s Chief Minister, is honored with the naming of the Sully Wing after him. Most artifacts from Grecian, Roman and Egyptian civilizations can be found here.

Although there are no “pieces of art” on display, visitors will find that studying the history of the Louvre building itself is well worth the visit.

What to see here:

11. Medieval Louvre

In the Louvre Museum’s Coeur Carré courtyard, a “Medieval Louvre” display allows visitors to explore the remnants of the castle that stood there from 1190 AD to the early 16th century. This area is one of the best things to see in the Louvre, thanks to archaeological excavations conducted in the mid-1980s.

The excavations were part of a more extensive €7 million exhibit about the palace and its history that opened in 2016. Your ticket to the Louvre includes access to this area.

12. The Caryatids

The transformation of the Louvre from a medieval fortification into a Renaissance palace was completed during Henri II’s reign.

During this time, the architect Pierre Lescot created a magnificent ballroom in the Salle des Cariatides. The musicians’ gallery is supported by four ‘caryatids’ in the style of ancient Rome.

Using sculpted female figures in place of traditional column capitals, the architect was attempting to compare King Henri II to the Roman emperor Augustus.

13. The Sphinx

It has been said that the Great Sphinx of Tanis watches over the Louvre Museum. The Great Sphinx of Tanis is an impressive statue uncovered in 1825 at the site of the former temple of Amun. This sphinx is noteworthy because it is hard to pinpoint the exact date of its creation.

14. The Mummy

The Louvre has only this one mummy. Several mummies were uncovered. However, it was challenging to move them without damaging them.

The Ptolemaic mummy in the Louvre belonged to a man who lived during that era (305 BCE). The deceased’s body is wrapped in strips of linen, and the face is covered with a mask, as was the norm. Mummy Man also has a wide collar, an apron across his legs, and a casing over his feet.

15. The Musée Charles X

This section of the museum was officially formed as an Egyptian museum on the day it opened, which was December 15th, 1827. The museum was given its current name in honor of King Charles X, who was present at the museum’s inaugural event.

Ancient relics and antiques from Egypt’s long and illustrious past are in the museum, which sheds new light on the country’s rich heritage.

16. Sleeping Hermaphrodite

In classical mythology, a hermaphrodite is a creature that has the “bits and pieces” of both a male and female.

With this Louvre hermaphrodite, you can observe a beautiful, soft woman with almost ideal proportions if you approach from behind. Then, unexpectedly, as you get closer, you’ll notice the “surprise” parts.

17. Venus de Milo

This well-known statue has been called something of an enigma by art experts. They estimate her age at 100 BC and speculate that she was created to resemble the goddess Aphrodite, who was revered by the ancient inhabitants of the island of Melos (modern-day Milos).

While having many characteristic elements of the age, historians believe she may be a copy of an even earlier sculpture. She may have been seen with a mirror, a shield, or an apple,  according to experts.

18. The Galerie Campana

This gallery displays numerous rows of ancient Greek pottery, such as vases, plates, cups, and other tableware.

The room was appropriately named after Marquis Giampietro Campana, an avid collector of such items. He amassed what was perhaps Europe’s largest collection of its kind. The gallery also houses many private collections of Italian art.

RICHELIEU WING

The third Louvre wing is named after Cardinal Richelieu (1585-1642), who served as Chief Minister under King Louis XIII. The Richelieu Wing is likely the one that receives the fewest visitors, yet it is home to the breathtaking Napoleon Apartments, among the best things to see in the Louvre and absolutely cannot be missed.

What to see here: 

19. The Rubens:  Appartements Napoléon III

These apartments showcase what the rooms would have looked like when they were a palace, complete with artwork, sculptures, and furnishings, rather than just leaving them as a gallery.

Napoleon formerly lived in the palace, and much of the furniture is from his time there. Though it’s a bit of a trek from the main attractions in the Sully and Denon wings, it’s well worth the trip.

In addition to being excellent places to take pictures, these chambers also exude a sense of royal splendor; remember to look and not touch.

20. Code of Hammurabi

One of the first readable manuscripts ever discovered is the legal code of Ancient Babylonian King Hammurabi, which dates back to 1754 B.C.

Most of it is dull because it is a system of laws describing rules for things like business transactions, inheritance, divorces, taxes, and so on. Also, it has one of the earliest documented uses of the expression “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”

21. Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss

The mythical story of Cupid and Psyche from Ovid’s Metamorphoses inspired this sculpture.

In this tale, Cupid visits a sleeping Psyche, who has been put under a spell by ingesting a forbidden elixir. Cupid ambles up to Psyche and leans in for a kiss.

Suddenly Psyche opens her eyes and sleepily clings to Cupid. This is the touching scene that inspired this beautiful work of art. The stunning sculpture is also one of the most popular and must-see arts in the Louvre.

22. The Lacemaker

The classic painting “The Lacemaker” by Johannes Vermeer is another interesting painting in the Louvre.

This art from the 16th century served as the basis for both a bestselling novel and a critically acclaimed film starring Isabelle Huppert.

The subject of this artwork is a little girl who appears intent on her task. That is an accurate portrayal of the labor that needed to be done in addition to the distractions that was going on at the time.

23. The Galerie Médicis

The Peter Paul Rubens Gallery at the Louvre houses some of the museum’s largest decorative paintings. There are several monumental canvases here that illustrate events from Marie de Medici’s life.

After her return from exile in 1622, she commissioned these works of art. Canvases depicting the Queen’s life’s most significant moments are displayed in order.

24. The Cour Khorsabad

Pieces of an ancient city constructed in the eighth century can be found in this courtyard. Under the rule of the Assyrian Empire, the entire area was erected in fewer than ten years.

Once upon a time, King Sargon II of Sumer constructed the magnificent city of Khorsabad, near the modern-day Iraqi city of Mosul, as his capital.

The capital was unearthed in the 19th century, and its artifacts are now on display in the first-ever Assyrian museum located in the Louvre.

25. The Galerie d’Angoulême

Here you can see some of the oldest works in the Louvre collection. The five interconnected chambers, decorated in a neoclassical style, house a variety of antiquities categorized as belonging to the Near East.

Unique artifacts from ancient Iran and the Levant, including modern-day Syria, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Cyprus, are buried here.

Visitor Tips

• Avoid waiting in long lines at the museum by purchasing your Louvre tickets in advance online. Tickets that allow you to skip the entrance line are another viable choice for those who want to see the Louvre quickly.

• Create a prioritized list of the artworks you’d like to view and do your best to see them all.

• Get the app for the Louvre in Paris. This app not only provides a convenient way to find your way through the museum, but also provides detailed descriptions of each exhibit.

• There’s a lot to see in the Louvre, which means a lot of walking.  Make sure your shoes are up to the task.

• Please be on time. The museum is busiest in the afternoon, and if you wait too long to go, you can miss out on seeing some of the most visited displays.

Visitor Information

• Musée du Louvre

Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris

Official site

• The closest Metro Line is Louvre-Rivoli or Palais-Royal Musée du Louvre

• The Louvre is open from Wednesdays to Mondays from 9am to 6pm; until 10pm on Wednesdays and Fridays

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