13 Must-See Masterpieces at the Louvre Museum in Paris
The Louvre Museum in Paris is massive. With more than 380,000 works of art in its collection (and about 35,000 on display), it’s impossible to see everything in one visit. Chances are, you’ll only have a few hours before your Paris itinerary takes you to the next landmark.
Rather than wandering aimlessly through the museum’s 15 acres of galleries, it helps to have a plan. We mapped out the highlights—some of the most famous and fascinating works of art in the world—so you can make the most of your time.
To save you from backtracking, these highlights are grouped by wing. The Louvre has three main wings: Denon, Sully, and Richelieu. Each one spans multiple floors, so be ready for some walking.
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Tip: The Louvre is undergoing renovations, so some pieces may be temporarily relocated. Don’t hesitate to ask museum staff for directions if you can’t find a particular work.
The Louvre can feel overwhelming, but with a plan you can see its most famous works in just a few hours. Whether it’s the mysterious smile of the Mona Lisa, the dramatic sweep of Liberty Leading the People, or the timeless beauty of the Venus de Milo, these masterpieces will make your visit unforgettable.
Denon Wing Highlights at the Louvre
The Mona Lisa (Room 711, 1st Floor)
The Mona Lisa receives nearly 20,000 admirers per day. That’s probably why there is a long line stretching through several floors of the Louvre. Don’t worry. The line moves quickly. The guards at the exhibit emphasize the fact repeatedly that you can take one photo and then you need to move on. In fact, my wife and I were taking a selfie, then I spun around with my nice camera to grab a shot as the guard told me “Only one photo.”
Why is the Mona Lisa so popular? I don’t know. It’s said to be the most famous painting of all time, despite it being smaller than you think. Leonardo da Vinci painted it in 1503-1506. It’s said to be a painting of Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Francesco del Giocondo. The Louvre has housed the painting since 1797 – except for the two years it was stolen by an Italian man who felt the painting belonged in Italy. It was housed in his apartment during those two years.
INTERESTING FACT: The Mona Lisa is an oil painting on wood – not canvas.
The Raft of the Medusa (Room 700, 1st Floor)
I couldn’t really understand this painting. With all the Greek and Roman art I’d seen, I assumed this painting had some reference to Medusa, the Greek monster. I later learned it was an oil painting depicting the aftermath of a French frigate (the Méduse) that ran aground near Mauritania in North Africa.
It was painted in 1818-1819 by French Romantic painter Théodore Géricault.
As you can see from the photo above, the painting is massive – 23 feet x 16 feet. I guess had I known the premise of the art (a frigate, not a monster), I would’ve understood more about why it was in this section of the Louvre.
Liberty Leading the People (Room 700, 1st Floor)
I’ve always been intrigued by the French Revolution. This large painting depicts a woman, representing the concept of liberty, leading the people over the barricade and bodies toward revolution. It was painted by Eugène Delacroix in 1830.
The hat the woman is wearing, known as a phrygian cap is a symbol you’ll see throughout France. It’s a symbol of liberty and is often worn by a woman. We learned a little more about the phrygian cap during our visit to the Paris Money Museum, as the cap is found on coins throughout French history.
I often associate this painting with a scene out of the movie and story of Les Miserable by Victor Hugo.
The Coronation of Emperor Napoleon I (Room 702, 1st Floor)
I remember learning about the story of this painting when I was in high school. Napoleon, in 1805, placed the crown on his own head, marking the end of the republic and the beginning of a new monarchy. He then placed the crown on his wife’s head.
This painting is massive. In fact, it’s one of the largest ones found in the Louvre. A nearly identical version of this also hangs in the Coronation Room in the Palace of Versailles.
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There are a few interesting facts about this painting. The artist, Jacques-Louis David, included himself in the painting. He was there that day, so it seems appropriate. However, Napoleon’s mother was not present at the actual event, but the artist included her prominently on a large chair, along with Napoleon’s two brothers and three sisters.
Winged Victory of Samothrace (Room 703, Daru Staircase, 1st Floor)
The Winged Victory of Samothrace was sculpted in about 200 BC, although the artist is unknown. It depicts the Greek goddess of victory, known as Nike. The statue is located at the top of a large staircase, so it’s one of those pieces that is hard to miss.
Since 1883, the statue has been on display at the Louvre. In 1939, it was removed from the Louvre and taken out of Paris for safekeeping in anticipation of World War II breaking out.
Sully Wing Highlights at the Louvre
Venus de Milo (Room 345, Ground Floor)
I didn’t realize how long ago the Venus de Milo status was created. We’re talking 130 to 100 BC. That’s more than 2,100 years ago. While there’s a lot of debate around several facts of the status, the biggest one is probably around the actual name of the artwork.
The statue was discovered in the Greek island of Milos. The debate is whether she’s Venus (the Roman goddess of love the beauty), Aphrodite (the Greek goddess of love and beauty) or the sea-goddess Amphitrite. What do you think?
Great Sphinx of Tanis (Room 338, Ground Floor)
It seems like the majority of art in the Louvre is Greek, Roman or European, but the Great Sphinx of Tanis is part of the Egyptian artifacts found in the museum. I was surprised to learn that this creature – featuring the body of a lion and the head of a king – is said to be created in 2600 BC.
It was discovered in the early 1800s and names of some of the pharaohs were found inscribed on the granite stonework. It was acquired by the Louvre in 1826 and is featured in the Crypt of the Sphinx.
Joseph the Carpenter (Room 912, 2nd Floor)
This tender painting by Georges de La Tour shows Joseph working by candlelight as young Jesus watches. It’s a quiet, intimate moment amid the grandeur of the museum. It’s one of my daughter’s favorite pieces. She originally saw it during our trip to Paris in 2021. When she returned in 2025, she made it a point to admire the painting in person yet again.
Richelieu Wing Highlights of the Louvre
Sleeping Hermaphroditus (Room 348, Ground Floor)
There’s no clear date on when Hermaphroditus was initial sculpted. But it was discovered in the early 1600s. In 1620, an Italian artist sculpted the mattress she’s sleeping on. The mattress looks pretty realistic, right? The statue and stone mattress were transferred to the Louvre in the early 1800s.
Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss (Room 403, Ground Floor)
Once you know the mythological story behind this statue, it makes more sense. In short. Psyche opened a bottle she thought had beauty in it. Instead, it had a sleep of darkness. Her lover, Cupid, found and awoke her by pricking her with his arrow. When she came to, she reached up to kiss her lover.
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Sounds a little like the story of Sleeping Beauty, without the spinning wheel. On the backside of the statue, you’ll see the bottle Psyche is said to have opened, and the arrow used by Cupid to awaken his lover.
It was sculpted in 1787-1792 and moved into the Louvre in the early 1800s.
Captives Known as the Rebellious Slave and the Dying Slave (Room 403, Ground Floor)
Michelangelo started carving these two statues out of marble in 1513 because they were part of a planned tomb for Pope Julius II. The Dying Slave (the one with his elbow raised) is said to be in an eternal sleep. The Rebellious Slave is almost wrestling with his hands behind his back, twisting trying to escape.
The French Crown Jewels (Apollo Gallery, Room 705, 1st Floor)
There’s something cool about seeing a crown that was actually worn by royalty. The jewels on it were massive and ornately placed. The crown shown above was that of Louis XV, worn only during his coronation in 1722. But hopefully you won’t be disappointed to know that the jewels currently in the crown are paste imitations (they aren’t real).
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This crown held 282 diamonds (161 large and 121 small), 64 colored stones (including 16 rubies, 16 sapphires and 16 emeralds) and 237 pearls.
The glittering crowns, scepters, and jewels of French royalty are displayed in the ornate Apollo Gallery. However, several pieces from the collection were taken during a recent heist (October 2025) at the Louvre. According to Interpol, eight pieces were stolen in the robbery.
Regardless, I hope you’ll take in all the fancy French crown jewels that are still on display in the Apollo Gallery.
Outside the Museum
The Louvre Pyramid (Cour Napoléon)
The giant glass pyramid that serves as the entrance to the Louvre may seem a little out of place – almost modern. The structure was installed in 1989 and has become iconic to the Louvre. Three smaller glass pyramids are also found in the courtyard, so take some time to wander before or after you explore inside the museum.
There’s some controversy surrounding the glass pyramids. Some French argue it’s an eye sore because it wasn’t designed by a French architect. In fact, it was designed by a Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei.
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The whole reason for the new structure was to help accommodate the masses visiting the Louvre every day. The original Louvre entrance just couldn’t handle the crowds.
The Details
Address: Mus̩e du Louvre, 75058 Paris РFrance. The nearest metro stop is Palais-Royal Mus̩e du Louvre (lines 1 and 7)
Cost: Tickets are around $25 (22 Euro) per person. Everyone under age 18 is free, along with those living in the European Economic Area under age 26, people with disabilities and the person accompanying them, and people on income support. It’s best to purchase tickets online in advance, at which time you must select your date and entrance time. Louvre admission is free for Paris Pass holders, but you must reserve your arrival time online in advance. Paris Pass holders with reserved times can skip the line, which helps you access the museum quicker. An audio guide is available for about $6 (5 Euro) more.
Hours: The Louvre is open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., but it’s closed on Tuesday. On Wednesday and Friday it’s open until 9 p.m. It closes on January 1, May 1 and December 25.
Website: https://www.louvre.fr/en
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I had no idea you could see crown jewels at the Louvre! Definitely heading downstairs (or was it Level 1?) when I go.
I got to see Mona but was on a serious time crunch so missed a lot of the museum.
The Louvre is so massive, that it’s challenging to see “Everything” it has to offer. But glad you were able to see the Mona Lisa. I guess you’ll just need to go back to see the rest of the museum. Now may be a good time to find some deals on the voyage over the Atlantic. We got $800 round trip from SLC, but I know others who got $400.