Construction of Louvre Museum

The Louvre opened as a public museum in August 1793, during the French Revolution, when the revolutionary government turned the former royal palace into a place where the nation's art collections could be seen by all. The building began as a fortress built by King Philip II in the late twelfth century, and it was converted into a royal residence by Francis I in the sixteenth century, who also began the royal art collection that included Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. The kings later moved to Versailles, and the palace was used for the arts. Napoleon filled the museum with works taken from conquered territories, many of which were returned after 1815. Today the Louvre is among the most visited museums in the world, with a glass pyramid entrance designed by I. M. Pei opened in 1989.

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