Page 161 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

P ARIS  159

The Glass Pyramid VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
Plans for the Practical Information
modernization and Entrance through Pyramid
expansion of the Louvre or directly from metro.
were first conceived in Tel 01 40 20 53 17.
1981. These included the W Châtelet-les-Halles.
transfer of the Ministry of h Carrousel du Louvre
Finance from the (entrance via Ave du Général
Richelieu Wing to offices Lemmonnier); Place du Louvre,
elsewhere and a new Rue St-Honoré.
main entrance. This took Open 9am–6pm Wed–Mon
the form of a metal and (to 9:45pm Wed & Fri, except
glass pyramid designed by architect I.M. Pei. Opened in 1989, the public hols). Closed Jan 1,
pyramid enables the visitor to see the surrounding buildings, May 1, Aug 15, Dec 25.
while allowing light down into the underground visitors’ & 7 partial. 8 phone
reception area. 01 40 20 59 90. ∑ louvre.fr
Transport
q Palais-Royal, Louvre Rivoli,
Musée du Louvre. @ 21, 24, 27,
39, 48, 68, 69, 72, 81, 95.
Pyramid
entrance

. Perrault’s Colonnade
The east facade, with its majestic rows
of columns, was built by Claude
Perrault, who worked on the
Louvre with Louis Le Vau in
the mid-17th century.

. Medieval Moats
The base of the twin towers
and the drawbridge support of
Philippe-Auguste’s fortress can
be seen in the excavated area.

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