The Louvre. From The Da Vinci Code,
Red Notice, to the amazing series Lupin, over 500 films and music
videos have featured this iconic museum. I mean, can you blame them? As far as museums are concerned, this is the top, the best of the best. Averaging over 9.6 million visitors each year,
containing over 35,000 works of art. It would take over 200 days
to see each one for only 30 seconds at a time. But, it's much more than just the Mona Lisa
or the Venus de Milo. In fact, the first artwork
you experience isn't inside. It's outside. The building itself is a work of art
covered in hundreds of sculptures with a fascinating history
that spans hundreds of years. The architecture in this museum
is the definition of eclectic. The building bears witness to everything
the louver has been from its fortress moats to its iconic modern
pyramid. Let's go beyond the collection of artwork
to understand why the Louvre is one of the most
amazing museums in the world. It was built in many different times. Here we are in the Cour Carée. This is the most ancient place
in the Louvre. So here we are,
right above a medieval ditch. Imagine the medieval castle of this size. And in the middle of the court
was a dungeon. All right. Also right below, we're standing on top of a medieval
castle. Well, one thing I really want people
to understand when they're here, I mean, you walk in to the museum
so quickly that the whole exterior of the building
is covered in works of art. Definitely. Tell me more about what we're looking at. Right in front of us. Is the outside enterance part of the museum. So that is the Renaissance facade,
with Renaissance sculpture. Okay. But in the alcoves,
there are other statues. Oh, okay. Most of them are
from the 19th century. We're so used to going inside a museum, especially in the States,
to experience works of art. But here you have to remind yourself that the outside was more important
in some ways than the inside. And the sculptures
were really intended to be outside. Definitely. What are these letters?
It looks like a crown. Perhaps it’s up there? The letters are for the Kings. Okay. If there is a crown about a letter,
that would be a symbol. Sure. We have a medieval castle
and then we have a palace. So there's so many different aspects of
this building that were brought together to make the Louvre. Where are we going to next? So beautiful and so calm today. We're in the court Napoleon, Napoleon Court. So tell me,
I feel like there is a lot going on here. These statues are known as the renown men. There are 86 of them. 86 of them. Wow. And this is just a small portion
of all the other statues because if you look above there are some little children. Wow, oh my gosh. So just concentrate on the renown men. So who are the famous men? Artists, literary, and it's a way of telling the story
of France. Yes. So you see here on this one there is here. Yeah. You know this one. It sounds familiar,
I feel like I should know more so. So what did all these men do? Their little details to explain? Yeah, in each one. And who they are
is very well-known for sculpture. I don't know, but maybe you know Benjamin Franklin? I mean, that name sounds familiar, Yes! Thomas Jefferson. Right. Or George Washington he did their busts. And actually in the Louvre,
the Thomas Jefferson is exposed. Really? Who would have thought? If you walk in here,
we're right by the entrance and you just take the time
to kind of get closer, I mean, these
are all relevant in some way. The first artwork you really experience at the Louvre
is the exterior, the facade. This is the first that you see. Yeah. So yeah, it puts you in a special,
I think, condition to appreciate for what you are going to see inside. You have these beautiful facades,
ancient facades and then you have the amazing new entrance
pyramid. Well, I think we're going to head inside
now, right? We can take a look. Let's do that. The pyramid at the Louvre. A massive glass and metal structure designed by Chinese-American architect
I.M. Pei, reaching over 71 feet in height, spanning over 112 feet wide at its base and weighing in at an impressive 180 tons. The pyramid is covered in unique,
completely clear glass that took over two years to develop. Place right in the middle of the court
Napoleon. Millions of selfies are taken
with this iconic backdrop each year. But not everybody wanted it. In fact, years of debate
would go on before its opening in 1989. So what were the issues? For one,
how would it look with a modern design set right in the middle of a classic French
Revolution era courtyard? Secondly, the pyramid is used
as a symbol of death in ancient Egypt. Many asked why place a symbol of death
in the middle of Paris? Third,
the Grand Louvre project was the brainchild of then president Francois Mitterrand
and he had clearly lost his mind. Or so they thought. Fourth, what did a Chinese-American
architect know about French culture in order to be entrusted to design
such a huge landmark? There even remains a longstanding rumor
that there are exactly 666 panes of glass representing Satan. In 2003, the bestseller The Da Vinci Code played on this 1980s rumor,
which didn't help things. I hate to spoil the book and Tom
Hanks movie, but there were and still remain 673 panes on the pyramid. Sorry, Tom. Of course, once it was opened in 1989,
it didn't take long for the visitors and French public to see the light
and realize how this beautiful structure somehow complements
the ancient architecture around it. While I love Renaissance architecture,
it can often become very ornate and visually busy. So I love how the pyramids, clean
lines, scale and light reminds us that the treasures
deep inside this world famous museum are as relevant and important today
as they were hundreds of years ago. So, Tiphaine, we have moved down into what I believe
is the basement or underground? So tell me, what are we looking at
and what's on these lines around the floor? Right now we are entering
the medieval parts of the Louvre. Okay. And so on the floor there is a dark line
which symbolizes the ancient walls. And as you can see, the edge of the tower
that has disappeared now. To absorb or to feel like what was down here, where we are. Yeah, definitely. And so we're going to see,
like a real medieval wall. We are walking inside. It's a moat,
so not a place where people live. Right. We are below the ground. This is the only museum
that I can think of in the world where you you are able to walk in an ancient moat. What you have to keep in mind that here
it was the castle that was used in the 19th century,
and then it became a museum. What I want you to notice is you can see a different signs
on the stones, like hearts. Yeah. Is that graffiti? They are not from in-love tourists, okay, they are also medieval. Okay. Like I see the hearts and some, like,
plus signs. So, you know what are called job marks. Okay. At that time, people were not paid
per hour. They were paid per task. Like per duty or per job. Current job. Okay. So what they did is to mark their stones. At the end of the day,
everybody had a different sign. And so you count, so I put this stone, this stone, and this stone.
So you are paid this amount. That's amazing. So this is not graffiti. Good thing to mention. So a lot of people probably are
going to ask, how does this still exist? And then obviously the castle, which
we were up above, has been flattened. At the Renaissance, the medieval castle was out
of fashion, so they really cut it down. But to cut down a moat that is another job. Right. So it was easier to fill it. O fill it with dirt, yeah, that makes sense. Stones. And then during the construction
of the great Louvre, you know, in the nineties,
they decided to dig it. Oh, wow. So when we were upstairs,
you saw the round floor. So that kind of tells you. Yeah. So this was the dungeon originally. And then right here,
it looks like there was like these two pillars were holding up Something. Was it a Bridge? The bridge. Okay, so that's where the bridge was. Wow. So this part of the castle,
then, is this somewhere that people would have actually lived? Actually, this was a real living place. And that’s where there are some
sculptures, many details. All right, so we'll come in here. These doors are incredible. Well, this is totally different. So tell me now that we're interior,
where were we outside? So on this side it’s the square court, the Renaissance facade we talked about. All right. So where we just were. And on the opposite side, that is a cour
Napoleon with a pyramid. Wow. And if you are so we are inside
a renaissance room, with antiques exposed. Now, if you are lost always look outside
of the windows to see which court you're at.
That will help you to see and see all the details on the facade. When you look at the building itself, you really get the understanding
that it was a palace like a fortress. I mean, the walls are so thick. Yeah, right. It's a crazy chimney, you know. Something I love about the Louvre is that I think because it was a palace
and the way the lighting is, there are not many lights overhead
that you see it just so beautiful. And all the light. It's on that statue. Oh, my gosh. She's like, floating. It is like floating. Well, that's
what I always loved about the statue. Is that as a work of art, it's like that
was the intent is to make it look like she had just landed
right at the front of the bow of the ship. So much history
in that beautiful sculpture. And then here we are. I love this room. So tell us more about it, where we're at. So this is known as a Salon Carée, right. This square salon, even just,
you know, square little rectangle. If you look at the decor of
this room you can see this beautiful ceiling. Oh, yeah. You have to look up.
You have to look up. And this is one bit of advice for this museum
to look up, look down, look on the wall, because, well, there are some paintings,
so really look everywhere. They are details everywhere. So on this ceiling,
the different arts are represented here. You can see, for example, the architecture
is reaching below and above. The little angels are holding architect tools. And the above it is written Plescot, who is a great architect of the Louvre. The Renaissance facade is known
as the Lascaux facade. Okay. As is that you in the Napoleon Court. Right. And below there are also several painters from all the countries; Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo. One thing I love about the history of this museum is
it's like a respect of all these different forms of the arts, from architecture
to philosophy to obviously, like Michelangelo, da Vinci, Raphael,
I mean, such a respect for all the different things
and people who of come before. Lots of layers. Yeah. Because different time, different people. And that is the same with all the arts. Yeah. All the artists. I know people come with an agenda of certain pieces
they want to see, obviously. But as you're walking down,
I mean, as perfect timing, we have three gorgeous Da Vinci paintings,
just, you know. Four, actually. That's right, four. So just on one small wall. So it's overwhelming. There's so much work here. But yeah, you may not realize
some of the most important works you're passing are amazing. This is one of the renowned men.
This is Puget. Oh. Okay. So you can see, as I told you, his tools
to correct for his profession. All these different statues showing so much appreciation and respect
from the architects to the sculptors. It's just amazing. I love it. Thank you for showing us around. With pleasure. And I hope as everybody is watching,
they just have a much better appreciation for the fact that,
like we talked about, this whole museum is full of art. But when you come here first, appreciate
the fact that you are experiencing art first and foremost on the exterior
with all these beautiful statues. This is a visit that starts outside. Yes. So takes your time before
entering the museum. Yeah, exactly. Awesome. Thank you so much. You're welcome.
