Delve into the secrets of the Louvre

The Louvre, Paris’ iconic landmark, is more than just a museum. Behind its artworks lie fascinating stories, ancient mysteries, intriguing legends, and momentous events that span the centuries. Here’s a journey through 30 of the Louvre’s most captivating anecdotes, revealing little-known secrets and hidden treasures.

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An invitation to explore further

THE Louvre , with its majestic galleries and priceless masterpieces, embodies the meeting between past and present. At Paris Créations Virtuelles, we invite you to continue this artistic exploration from home, by discovering contemporary works inspired by the greatest masters exhibited at the Louvre.

Explore our online art gallery and immerse yourself in unique works that revisit the history of art from a contemporary perspective. Each piece is a modern reinterpretation of classical themes, a new vision of artistic heritage.

 

Discover our artists inspired by the masters of the Louvre

The Louvre, Paris’ iconic landmark, is more than just a museum. Behind its artworks lie fascinating stories, ancient mysteries, intriguing legends, and momentous events that span the centuries. Here’s a journey through 30 of the Louvre’s most captivating anecdotes, revealing little-known secrets and hidden treasures.

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1. The theft of the Mona Lisa (1911)

There Mona Lisa was stolen in 1911 by an Italian worker, Vincenzo Peruggia. It remained hidden for two years before being found. This incident contributed to its worldwide fame.

2. The controversial pyramid (1989)

There The glass pyramid , inaugurated in 1989, caused controversy for its modern style in contrast to the classical palace. Today, it is an essential symbol of Paris.

3. The Louvre during World War II

Before the Nazi invasion, thousands of works were secretly moved to protect them from bombing and looting. Mona Lisa was part of this transfer.

4. The Louvre was once a royal palace

Before being a museum, the Louvre was a fortress and then a royal palace for more than 600 years, until the Revolution transformed the site into a museum in 1793 .

5. The Mystery of the Sphinx of Tanis

Discovered in Egypt, the Sphinx of Tanis is one of the largest statues on display at the Louvre. Its exact origins remain unclear, with several pharaohs having reused it over the centuries.

6. The Apollo Gallery

This majestic gallery, designed by Charles Le Brun , today houses the crown jewels French, in a golden decor of baroque splendor.

7. The hidden underground passages of the Louvre

The remains of Philippe Auguste's medieval fortress are still visible beneath the Louvre, transporting visitors to the heart of the site's military history.

8. The Clock Pavilion and its hidden secret

THE Cabinet des Dessins , located in the Clock Pavilion, contains more than 250,000 drawings , preserved in precise conditions and rarely exhibited to the public.

9. The Venus de Milo without arms

Discovered on the island of Milos, the Venus de Milo fascinates with its beauty and its missing arms, whose origin and initial posture remain a mystery.

10. The Victory of Samothrace, Guardian of the Marches

This statue represents the goddess Nike in full motion. Discovered in several pieces, it watches majestically over visitors from the top of the Daru staircase.

11. Napoleon and the Louvre

Under Napoleon, the Louvre was renamed Napoleon Museum , and works of art looted during his campaigns enriched its collections, before some were returned.

12. The Ghosts of the Louvre

THE The Red Ghost , a legend of the Louvre, is said to have haunted the Tuileries gardens and the corridors of the museum, appearing at certain times, notably during the time of Catherine de Medici.

13. The Louvre floods

In 1910, the rising Seine threatened to submerge the Louvre's basements. Since then, rigorous plans have been in place to protect the works in the event of flooding.

14. The Talking Mummy

Thanks to modern technology, scientists have been able to recreate the sound of the voice of Nesyamun , an Egyptian mummy, by reconstructing his vocal cords.

15. The Hall of the Caryatids

This impressive room, once used for royal receptions, is decorated with four female statues called Caryatids , which support the ceiling.

16. The Curse of the Khorsabad Court

The winged bull of the Khorsabad Court is surrounded by mysterious legends, some claiming that a curse accompanies this ancient sculpture.

17. Crown Gems

The French crown jewels, including the famous Regent Diamond , are exhibited in the Apollo Gallery, symbols of the power and opulence of the kings of France.

18. The Mummy of Padiamenope

The Louvre houses the mummy of Padiamenope , a scribe of the 25th Egyptian dynasty, surrounded by mysteries regarding the funeral rituals practiced in his time.

19. Charlemagne's crown has disappeared

There Charlemagne's Crown , one of France's most precious treasures, disappeared during the French Revolution, and no one knows what became of it.

20. The smallest painting in the Louvre

Among the giants of the Louvre, a small work by Gabrielle d'Estrées , measuring barely 6 centimeters, surprises with her minimalism in an ocean of large formats.

21. The mysterious room of Napoleon III

THE Napoleon III's salon is a reconstruction of the splendors of the Second Empire era, with opulent furniture and decorations reminiscent of imperial grandeur.

22. Archaeology under the Louvre

Archaeological excavations in the 1980s revealed sections of the original medieval fortress beneath the Louvre, visible today in some galleries.

23. The underground passages of the Carrousel du Louvre

Under the Carrousel du Louvre , old tunnels, now disused, were once used for military purposes to protect the palace.

24. The Department of Islamic Arts

Inaugurated in 2012, this department houses one of the most important collections of Islamic art in the world, with pieces of rare beauty and great historical value.

25. The hidden treasures of the Louvre

Alone 35,000 works are on display to the public, but the Louvre's reserves contain more than 400,000 objects , some too fragile or rare to be displayed.

26. Delacroix's Secret Marriage

The painter Eugene Delacroix was said to have married in secret in the Louvre in 1834, a mystery that persists as few details have survived regarding this discreet union.

27. Egyptian Mummies

The Egyptian Antiquities Department contains mummies, including that of Nesyamun , who played a key role in the growing interest in Egyptology.

28. The creation of the Napoleon Museum

Under Napoleon, the Louvre was transformed and enlarged to become the Napoleon Museum , reinforcing the idea that art and conquest were intimately linked.

29. The mysterious pools of the Tuileries

THE Tuileries Gardens house water basins whose use remains unclear, with some saying that they were used for mysterious rituals in royal times.

30. Freemasonry and the Louvre

Some rumors claim that the construction of the Louvre, especially the pyramid , would be linked to Masonic symbols, because of its mysterious proportions.