About this experience
The Louvre is always referred to as 'the most': the largest in the world, the main one in Paris, with the most significant collections... You can wander through this universal museum for years and still not see everything. If you feel like you want to see more and are 'hungry' for museums to the point where you can 'feast,' meaning listen to the guide for four hours, then this extensive tour is for you. You will not only get acquainted with the main symbols of the Louvre, but also walk through the halls of Etruscan, Ancient Greece, and Ancient Rome art, learn to navigate in the huge museum-palace.
What to Expect
Palace and museum history
In the world's largest museum, you will learn how it was created, what 'departments' are hidden in this museum-palace, what collections of countries, eras, and periods are represented in numerous rooms. Visit the halls of Medieval Louvre, where you will see the powerful stone walls of the second half of the 12th century, the former moat, donjon, and the helm of King Charles VI.
Ancient Egyptian Art
The Louvre's collection of Ancient Egypt artifacts is considered the second most significant in the world. You will get acquainted with the heaviest Louvre exhibit, about 4500 years old — the Sphinx from Tanis. I will tell you how the word 'Sphinx' sounded in Egyptian and how it is translated, as well as reveal many secrets of the Ancient Egyptian Civilization. The most fearless among you can see the famous Louvre scribe with a mesmerizing smile and a gaze that meets every visitor's eyes (many later appear in dreams).
Halls of Ancient Greece, Rome, and Etruscans
You will see two famous Louvre ladies: learn why the Armless Venus de Milo is considered a masterpiece and why the Nike of Samothrace stands alone on the staircase without a head but with wings. In the Etruscan art halls, you will see the 'Sarcophagus of the Spouses' and learn the mystery of its name. Get acquainted with Greek sculpture and understand why the Greek gods look like humans. Exploring the Ancient Roman exhibits, you will learn about the art of portraiture among the Romans and see how Emperor Tiberius and Octavian appeared.
Italian Painting Masterpieces
The Louvre rightfully boasts the richest painting collection. And first and foremost, you will get to know the works of Italian masters such as Botticelli, Raphael, Titian, Veronese, Caravaggio, as the ideas of the Renaissance came to France precisely from Italy. You will learn how and when this happened, and of course, see the Louvre's main symbol — Leonardo da Vinci's 'Mona Lisa'. I will also tell you about the emergence of portraiture in Europe, what attributes allow identifying Christian saints, what it means to be an exemplary Renaissance artist, and how a new fashion — Mannerism, and then Baroque — replaced Renaissance ideals.
French Canvases
France became a leading country in the field of painting only in the 19th century, when French painting masters David, Delacroix, Ingres, Géricault gained worldwide fame. You will peek into two red halls of large-format French painting, where these artists will vividly and emotionally tell the turbulent history of the country during that period. For us, this is an opportunity to talk about Napoleon, about the affairs of Talleyrand and Cabassères, about the beautiful women — Josephine and Madame de Récamier. You will remember how many revolutions France had and learn why present-day France is the Fifth Republic.
Emperor's Apartments
At the end of the tour, you will visit the part of the Louvre called 'Napoleon III Apartments', where you will find out what was located here before and why Bonaparte was the first president and the last emperor.
Organizational Details
- Louvre tickets are not included in the tour price (€17)
- During the tour, there will be an opportunity to take a short break and relax with a cup of coffee in one of the cafes inside the museum
