Leave Your Paris Apartment Rental to View the Greatest Works of Art in the World
The Louvre is the largest museum in the world. It is home to some of the most well-known pieces of art in history, making it a top tourist attraction in Paris. Tourists looking for Paris addresses should make a trip to the Louvre on top of their to-do list. Sitting along the banks of the Seine River, the Louvre was initially designed as a fortress in the 11th century until it was reconstructed as a royal palace in the 16th century. Today, it is one of the largest and most popular attractions in the city. A trip to the Louvre is necessary for tourists. Tourists may afford this attraction by opting to stay in a Paris apartment rental that is cheaper than most hotels in the city.
The Louvre became an art museum only in the 17th century through the efforts of King Louis XIV. As an art museum, it exhibited royal collection and artifacts. More acquisitions came for the museum during the reign of Napoleon. In fact, during that time the museum was called Musée Napoleon. The museum returned to its original name after Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo.
The collection at the Louvre is jaw-dropping. The collection ranges from antiques from ancient Egypt to sculptures from the Greeks and Romans. There are more than 35,000 works on display in the museum. Without a doubt, the most famous work at the Louvre is the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. Considered to be the greatest painting of all time, the Mona Lisa enchants its visitors with her mysterious smile. The painting is actually small, measuring only 21 by 30 inches, and covered with a bullet-proof glass.
Other noteworthy artworks in the Louvre include the Venus de Milo, an ancient Greek statue that depicts the Greek goddess Aphrodite, and Winged Victory, an ancient sculpture of the Greek goddess Nike. Tourists will also be in awe of the Code of Hammurabi, a Babylonian law code that dates back to 2000 B.C. and the Dying Slave sculpture of Michelangelo. Other attractions in the Louvre include the Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss sculpture of Antonio Canova and the Liberty Leading the People sculpture of Eugene Delacroix that is believed to have inspired Victor Hugo to write “Les Miserables.”
Tourists in Paris should never leave the city without visiting the Louvre, which is considered to be one of the premier Paris addresses. For those who want to extend their stay in the city by cutting down on their travel costs, staying in a Paris apartment rental is a practical move. More details can be found about affordable apartment rentals at Parisaddress. Visit their website at parisaddress.com.