By JIM PURCELL
The Louvre is the largest museum in the world, which is located in Paris, France. It resides on the Right Bank of the Seine River. About 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 21st century are exhibited over an area of 782,910 square feet. And, it is the world's second-most visited museum.
The Louvre was originally built as a fortress by French King Philip II during the 12th century. In 1546, the fortress was converted into a royal palace by French King Francis I. From that time, the site served as the primary residence for French royalty. The building was added to many times during its royal tenure. However, in 1682, King Louis XIV broke from tradition and chose his Palace at Versailles for his household. After he left, Louis XIV used the palace as a place where he would keep his collection of art.
The Louvres' future mission began to take shape in 1692, when the building became occupied by the Academie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture, which held the first series of exhibits there in 1699. Finally, during the French Revolution, the Louvre was announced by the National Assembly to be used as a museum to display the nation's masterpieces.
The museum opened on August 10, 1793 with a showcase that included 537 paintings, most of which were paintings that were previously confiscated either by the former French government or the Catholic Church there.
This brings us until today, where the Louvre continues in its ages-old mission of being a hub of art and beauty, which has become known throughout the world for its remarkable collections. Truly, the Louvre is one of the great places to be seen by artists, art lovers, and for people from all nations and walks of life.
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