The Louvre Residence Of French Kings

Built in 1190 by King Phillipe Auguste it was used as a defensive fortress, to protect Paris from foreign attack. By the 14th century it had become the home of the kings and emperors of France, and served in this capacity for the next 700 years. The first building of the existing Louvre was built in 1535 after the old fortress was taken down. King Henry IV loved the arts and during his reign built the Grande Galerie. He invited hundreds of artists to live and work in the lower floors.I found some more information here. The Denon Wing begun by Catherine Medici in 1560 was completed by Louis XIII, he also built the Richelieu Wing, which housed the Ministry of Economy of France. After the Ministry was moved, this wing was opened to the public as a museum in 1793 during the French Revolution. Napoleon I built the famous Arch de Triomphe to commemorate his victories. Napoleon III built a wing full of sculpture and art. When the French court moved to Versailles, the kings lost interest in the Louvre, and in 1793 it became a museum. Today the Louvre’s collection of fine art numbers in the 380,000 piece range. One of the most visited museums in the world.

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