Palace · France · Still standing

Louvre Palace

Palais du Louvre

The Louvre Palace is a vast historic palace on the Right Bank of the Seine in Paris, composed of interconnected wings and pavilions around several formal courtyards. Built up from a 12th‑century fortress, it was enlarged and unified by successive 16th–19th century architects and by the mid‑19th century formed the continuous palace complex fronting the Tuileries Garden and the Seine. Today the complex houses the Louvre Museum and related cultural institutions.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

First raised

1190

Its prime

1867

Today

Still standing

As it stood in 1867

What Louvre Palace looked like in its prime.

A vast, continuous ensemble of warm beige limestone façades punctuated by tall vertical windows, sculpted pediments and rusticated blocks, crowned by steep dark slate mansard roofs with dormer windows and ornate chimney stacks. Regularly spaced central pavilions project from long horizontal wings; cornices, pilasters and classical sculptures articulate each storey. Large open courtyards and the adjacent Tuileries lawns frame the palace, with marble statues and stone balustrades in the foreground; the whole appears complete and heavily ornamented.

Step inside

8 places to explore in 1867.

The record describes 8 distinct spots at Louvre Palace, including 3 interiors: salle des caryatides (lescot wing interior), grande galerie along the seine, salon carré (main picture salon). Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more photos, more angles and more of the immersive experience.

Approach from the Tuileries Garden toward the Cour NapoléonCour Napoléon (central open courtyard)Pavillon de l'Horloge exterior façadeCour Carrée as seen from the Pavillon SullySalle des Caryatides (Lescot Wing interior)Grande Galerie along the SeineSalon Carré (main picture salon)Pavillon de Flore and terrace facing the Tuileries

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The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1867, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

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Whose seat

Families who held Louvre Palace.

The families tied to Louvre Palace across its history, follow a name to its page.

Valois
Francis I demolished the medieval keep from 1546 to raise the Renaissance palace, seat of the Valois court in Paris.
Bourbon
Paris residence of the Bourbon kings — Henri IV built the Grande Galerie — until Louis XIV left for Versailles in 1682.

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