Page 124 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Paris

122  P ARIS AREA B Y AREA

1 Musée du Louvre
The Musée du Louvre, containing one of the most important art
collections in the world, has a history extending back to medieval
times. First constructed as a fortress in 1190 by King Philippe-Auguste
to protect Paris against Viking raids, it lost its imposing keep in the reign
of François I, who replaced it with a Renaissance-style building.
There after, four centuries of French kings and emperors improved and
enlarged it. A glass pyramid designed by I M Pei was added to the
main courtyard in 1989. All the galleries can be reached from here.

The east façade, facing St-Germain l’Auxerrois

KEY
1 Pavillon des Session
2 The Jardin du Carrousel, now
part of the Jardin des Tuileries, was
once the grand approach to the
Tuileries Palace which was burned
down in 1871 by the Communards.
3 The Carrousel du Louvre
underground visitors’ complex
lies beneath the Arc de Triomphe
du Carrousel.
4 The inverted glass pyramid
brings light to the subterranean
complex, echoing the museum’s
main entrance in the Cour Napoléon.
5 Cour Marly is the glass-roofed
courtyard that now houses the Marly
Horses (see p125).
6 The Petite Galerie du Louvre, in
the Richelieu Wing, has educational . Arc de Triomphe
exhibitions for children. du Carrousel
7 Cour Puget This triumphal arch was built
8 Cour Khorsabad to celebrate Napoleon’s
victories in 1805.
9 Cour Carrée
0 The Louvre of Charles V
was transformed from Philippe-
Auguste’s robust old fortress into Building the Louvre Major Alterations
a royal residence by Charles V, in Reign of François I (1515–47)
about 1360. Over many centuries, the
Louvre was enlarged by a Catherine de Médici (about 1560)
q The Salle des Caryatides takes succession of French rulers,
its name from the statues of women shown below with their dates. Reign of Henri IV (1589–1610)
created by Jean Goujon in 1550 to Reign of Louis XIII (1610–43)
support the upper gallery. Reign of Louis XIV (1643–1715)
w Sully Wing Reign of Napoleon I (1804–14)
e Cour Napoléon Reign of Napoleon III (1852–70)
r Cour Visconti-Islamic Art I M Pei (1989) (architect)
t Denon Wing

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