20 Intriguing Louvre Facts: Untold stories you can't miss (2024)

Are you on the lookout for intriguing and little known Louvre facts? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Because in this article, I’ve compiled the most interesting facts about the Louvre for you.

But be aware, these Louvre Museum Facts aren’t just numbers and dates. They’re gateways into the soul of Paris’s most iconic museum. Fascinating stories that breathe life into French history, but also fun facts about the Louvre, that add to the unique character of this world-famous museum.

These 20 surprising insights offer you more than just a peek behind the Mona Lisa’s smile—they invite you into a world where every painting, sculpture, and artifact tells a story.

Salut, I am Lena – Travel Planning Expert and parisienne since 2006 🩷

The 20 Most Interesting and Unusual Louvre Facts!

The Louvre is the world’s largest museum and the most visited landmark in Paris. But did you know that the Louvre has been around for eight centuries?

Indeed, while it has been operating as a museum for about 330 years now, the Louvre’s more than 800-year history is a treasure trove of fascinating and sometimes quirky facts.

I’ll reveal the 20 most extraordinary facts on the Louvre to you right here.

Before we begin, you these articles might also be interesting reads:

• Is the Louvre Worth It? Your No-Nonsense Guide
• 22 Famous Paintings in the Louvre you can’t miss!
• 16 Art Museums in Paris you shouldn’t miss!
• 18 Free Museums In Paris (+Tips To Save On The Others)

#1 The Louvre is the beginning of the “Axe Historique”

The historical axis of Paris, is a straight line of sight that extends westward from the Louvre to the Arc de la Défense.

The beginning of this historical axis traces back to Caterina de Medici and the 16th century. Initially stretching only from the Tuileries Palace to the Place de la Concorde, it gradually expanded over time, reaching the Champs-Élysées and ultimately extending to the Arc de la Défense in the 1980s.

Essentially, it’s a long, straight road stretching from the center of Paris to the suburb of La Défense.

Visually speaking, standing on the Arc de Triomphe, you can gaze in a straight line towards the Louvre on one side and the Arc de la Défense on the other.

Interestingly, the Axe Historique is home to many historically significant landmarks: the Louvre, the Tuileries Garden with the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel, the Place de la Concorde, the Champs-Élysées, and finally, the Arc de Triomphe.

#2 The Louvre has 5 Pyramids

The large glass pyramid of the Louvre is likely familiar to you, but did you know that there are a total of five pyramids in the Louvre? In addition to the glass pyramid in the Cour Napoléon, there are already three smaller pyramids in the courtyard.

Beyond their aesthetic appeal, they provide natural light to the underground entrance area of the Louvre Museum. Since this area is located below ground, the pyramids serve as crucial sources of light.

In this underground area, you’ll also find the fifth pyramid. This one is an inverted pyramid, essentially pointing downward from the ceiling. If you look closely, you’ll even discover a sixth pyramid directly beneath the inverted one.

However, since this one is made of stone and not glass, it is typically not counted among the pyramids of the Louvre.

#3 The Mona Lisa hung in Napoleon’s bedroom

It’s not surprising that in the realm of Louvre facts, the former Emperor of France is not far behind. Napoleon was a fervent art enthusiast, and under his reign, the art collection at the Louvre expanded significantly.

He was particularly enamored – understandably so – with the Mona Lisa. The famous painting has been in the possession of the Louvre since 1797, making it a beloved artwork already during Emperor Napoleon’s time.

He liked the Mona Lisa so much, though, that he didn’t hesitate to hang it in his private bedroom. Personally, this is one of my favorite facts on the Louvre Museum.

By the way, the art that Napoleon essentially plundered during his reign, often through questionable means, was partially returned after his abdication.

However, much of it remains unrecovered, rightfully sparking numerous debates even today.

#4 The Louvre Pyramid was called the “Cheese Dome”

When the plans for the modernization of the Louvre were announced in 1984, Parisians were far from thrilled. The design of the glass pyramid triggered a tidal wave of criticism, and “Cheese Dome” was one of the more polite nicknames.

It took years, if not an entire decade, for Parisians to come to terms with the renovation, especially the Louvre Pyramid. The project was torn apart and passionately criticized on all fronts.

The design by I.M. Pei was undoubtedly a bold modern venture, but it’s also somewhat in the nature of Parisians to initially respond to changes in the cityscape with fierce reluctance.

Similar sentiments were experienced by the Eiffel Tower, the Centre Pompidou, the Bastille Opera, and most recently, the Tour Triangle.

#5 The oldest artwork is 9000 years old

There are over 35,000 artworks in the exhibition rooms of the Louvre Museum. Some are so large that they fill entire walls, while others are so small or unassuming that they can be easily overlooked.

Among the easily overlooked is almost the Ain Ghazal plaster statue, yet it holds the distinction of being the oldest item on display in the Louvre, dating back approximately, 9000 years.

The statue is one of 32 found nearly 50 years ago in Jordan. The discovery of the early Neolithic settlement was accidental, occurring during road construction. It took several years for the significance of the find to be fully realized.

The statue, now in the Louvre, is one of the more recent additions. It was generously loaned to the Louvre by Jordan and has been on display there for only 30 years.

#6 You’d need 100 days to see every artwork in the Louvre

If you plan to examine every item in the Louvre, brace yourself for an extended vacation. It would take 100 days. And that’s only if you dedicate no more than 30 seconds to each artwork and completely forgo sleep.

#7 The Louvre was a Fortress

The Louvre wasn’t constructed with the foresight that it would one day house the world’s largest museum. Initially, it was a fortress designed to protect the city from attackers coming from the west.

The fortress was built during the reign of King Philip II in 1190. He wanted to ensure that the city would be protected during his absences. Because Philip spent a significant part of his life on distant crusades far from home.

By the way, the outer walls of the former fortress have been preserved, and you can visit them in the basements of the Louvre.

#8 The Louvre was the Royal Palace

After the Louvre served its purpose as a fortress in the 14th century, King Charles had new plans. He had the idea that the castle could be turned into an elegant palace and embarked on its renovation.

However, he passed away before the work could be completed, and the project fell into oblivion. It was King François I, nearly 200 years later, who remembered the Louvre when he was searching for a residence in Paris.

Since the old structure was not up to contemporary standards, he ordered extensive renovations, added buildings, and gave the Louvre the enduring and then state-of-the-art Renaissance style that still stands today.

#9 The Louvre holds 25% of all Leonardo da Vinci paintings

Indeed. Art historians agree that only 24 paintings by da Vinci are still existing today, and 6 of them are displayed in the Louvre. That’s more than in any other museum; even the Uffizi Gallery in Florence has only 3 works by Leonardo.

#10 Unbelievable Louvre Facts: The Phantom of the Louvre

Like all respectable historical palaces, the Louvre has its castle ghost. In this case, it’s more of a castle mummy named Belphégor.

According to legend, Belphégor is a diabolical creature that manipulates its victims to bring wealth to him.

He appears in various forms and may currently have taken possession of one of the mummies in the Louvre. With occasional nightly strolls through the empty museum.

The legend of Belphégor was fueled in the 60s by a television series that even prompted reporters to lock themselves inside the museum in hopes of witnessing the phantom’s nocturnal wanderings.

#11 Louis XIV was the last king to live in the Louvre

The Louvre served as the primary residence for generations of kings until the completion of the Palace of Versailles. However, Louis XIV was the last king to live in the Louvre.

#12 Jacqueline Kennedy borrowed the Mona Lisa

It’s hard to believe, but Jackie Kennedy actually managed to convince the French Minister of Culture to send the Mona Lisa on an exhibition tour across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States.

It took quite a bit of charm and even an invitation for the minister as an honored guest to the White House, but in 1962, the Mona Lisa was loaded onto a ship.

The French people were fiercely outraged by this plan. So much, that President Charles de Gaulle even imposed a news blackout to quell the uprising on the streets.

The excursion to the USA was, of course, a resounding success. The Mona Lisa was exhibited at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the MET in New York, and then safely returned to the Louvre.

By the way, the insurance value of the Mona Lisa was equivalent to more than 800 million dollars. And, roughly a decade later, the Louvre went on a second trip. This time to Moscow and Tokyo.

#13 The Louvre is located in a flood-prone area

The Louvre Palace is situated directly on the Seine. Every year, there are more or less severe periods of flooding, submerging the adjacent basements.

For the Louvre, this means that artworks sometimes need to be evacuated, leading to the closure of the museum.

The same applies, incidentally, to the Musée d’Orsay, located on the opposite side of the Seine.

#14 There are 3 Louvres in the world

The Louvre is unique, but not singular. In addition to the famous location in Paris, there is also a smaller French Louvre Museum in Lens, a mining town in northern France.

The museum is situated on a former mining site, and it regularly receives loans from the main Louvre in Paris.

The third Louvre Museum is not in France, not even in Europe, but in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

In essence, the museum is a collaboration with the Louvre in Paris. The Louvre commits to loans, and in return, the emirate provides financial support. Just the usual arrangement.

#15 During World War II, 4,000 artworks were hidden

The director of the Louvre, Jacques Jaujard, displayed considerable skill and foresight when he ordered the evacuation of the Louvre in 1939. The valuable paintings were by no means to be plundered by the Nazis.

But how do you evacuate priceless artworks that are not only expensive, irreplaceable, and delicate, but sometimes also meters in size and weigh tons?

Among the evacuated artworks were not only the petite Mona Lisa but also the over 2-meter-tall marble statue Nike of Samothrace and the not-so-compact wither Venus de Milo. They weight tons!

For the plan, all Louvre staff were mobilized, and employees from adjacent department stores were borrowed, along with their fleet of trucks and cars. The Mona Lisa, for instance, was transported from the Louvre in an ambulance.

Jaujard managed the unthinkable: relocating the Louvre’s 4,000 most precious pieces to secure locations within a few months. The majority found refuge in Loire Valley castles, far from bustling cities and railway connections.

#16 Picasso was accused of having stolen the Mona Lisa

Since its arrival, the Mona Lisa has left the Louvre only four times, one of which was involuntary. On August 12, 1911, La Jaconde, as the Mona Lisa is known in France, was stolen.

Shortly after the theft, a certain Baron d’Ormesan slyly passed a small statue, stolen from the Louvre, to a journalist. Boasting about the ease of obtaining art from the Louvre, he claimed previous thefts and to have sold two statues to a Parisian painter.

The police are convinced the Baron played a role in the theft of the Mona Lisa and believe he might lead them to the masterminds behind the operation.

The situation becomes precarious for Pablo Picasso. Because the Parisian Painter? That was him. Holding the two statues bought from the Baron and kept them stashed away in his closet.

Aware that the police are closing in, he anonymously surrenders the statues, knowing it’s only a matter of days before they unravel the truth.

Despite linking Picasso to the incident, the police failed to establish a direct connection to the Mona Lisa, resulting in his release a few days later.

The Mona Lisa remains lost

For two years, the famous painting remained mysteriously vanished, as if swallowed by the earth. It wasn’t until 1913 that the Mona Lisa reappeared. When the Italian Vincenzo Peruggia offered it to a Florentine art dealer for sale.

Arrested, Peruggia returned the Mona Lisa to the Louvre. Working as a glassmaker there, he orchestrated the theft with two accomplices. They let themselves lock in after closing time and casually exited the next day.

Unbelievable: Peruggia, posing as a craftsman, carried the painting rolled up under his arm.

#17 Louvre Museum Facts: 66% originate from French artists

One might attribute a certain national pride to the French, whether rightly or not. Undisputed, however, is that among the Louvre’s approximately 7,500 paintings, 66% come from French artists.

#18 The Louvre served as a treasure trove for the Nazis

Upon seizing Paris, the Nazis were surprised to find the Louvre empty of its treasures, nothing but dust-filled rooms. In response, they promptly repurposed the Louvre as a repository and temporary storage for the artwork they had looted while occupying France and other territories.

#19 Louvre Fact: it began with 537 paintings

The Louvre, too, had humble beginnings. When it first opened its doors on August 10, 1793, visitors could marvel at just 537 paintings and 184 art objects. Three-quarters of these exhibits were previously owned by the king.

With the French Revolution, the king’s art collection became public property. The remaining Louvre exhibits hailed from church treasures.

Over the following decades, the Louvre’s collection grew steadily. However, many artworks were brought in from abroad and confiscated for the Louvre during the era of colonization. Negotiations for returns and compensations continue to this day.

#20 The Louvre was spared during the Second World War

During the Second World War, the Louvre itself, particularly the locations housing its art, remained unscathed. Visible markings from the air and signs at entrances to these hiding places and castles indicated the presence of Louvre artworks, requesting respectful treatment of these treasures.

Fortunately, art’s revered status ensured that everyone adhered to these requests, safeguarding the artworks without any damage.

Those were 20 intriguing and fun facts about the Louvre in Paris. Hopefully as enjoyable for you as they were for me. For further insights into the Louvre, consider exploring the article on the Louvre Pyramid, filled with more fascinating details worth discovering.

à bientôt,

Parisienne since 2006 🩷

Expert in: Parisian Life &

French Culture, Travel

Planning, Crochet & Food and Drinks

Join me on Facebook for updates and news about Paris.

If my Paris insights help you plan your trip, please consider supporting me. Merci! ❤️ ☕

Paris Travel Tips

Flights & Transportation:

• I use Omio to compare flight fares & connections
• Airport transfers I book through Welcome Pickup
• For car rentals, I use AutoEurope. It’s easy to compare prices
• Train Tickets, you can book through Omio
• Here’s my Parisian Metro Guide

Accomodation:

• Hotels in Europe I mostly book through Booking.com (check reviews carefully)
• Vacation Rentals through Airbnb or VRBO

Tours & Attractions:

• I book tours & activities through Get Your Guide or Viator.
• Museum & Landmark tickets can be cheaper on the official page, but they are often sold out.
• I love the GoCity Travel Passes for easy planning
• I use Tiqets for Seine Cruises because with my code SALUT5 we get 5% off

Must-Haves for Paris:

• eSim card to stay online while in Paris. I used GigSky for my travels.
• You likely need a travel adapter to plug your devices.
• Travel Insurance – if you don’t have one, VisitorsCoverage is a good option.
• If your flight is delayed or even canceled, use AirHelp to get compensation.

Like this post? Pin it to Pinterest, so others can enjoy it, too:

FAQ: Louvre Facts