The Louvre was first built as a defence for Paris – a fortress on the banks of the Seine for almost three and a half centuries. Following the decision by Francois I to create a palace out of the old fortress, the building took a severe bashing, and over the ensuing centuries, it has grown significantly in size and boasts a plethora of architectural delights. So, before you even think about touring the inside, take a good look around the exterior of this fine and historic royal palace.

The Tuileries, the garden that was the dream of Catherine de Medici in 1560s, has survived the test of time and retained its formal style over the generations. This was the first garden of this type to become available to the public, and it has remained free to wander round since the mid-1700s. Towards the Louvre we cross over a small ditch – the parterres – which originally acted as the barrier between the public and royal gardens, and I speculate that this was perhaps the first time that Joe Public could have got anywhere near the antics of the royal court. Nowadays, a walk through the gardens to the very centre of the Louvre’s stylised buildings is full of interesting sculptures, water gardens, and finely manicured hedges.

You can’t fail to miss the mini Arc de Triomphe, which was completed by 1810 to celebrate the Napoleonic triumphs of 1805 and is topped by four horses and a chariot. It's a grand affair.

The Cour Carree courtyard is an impressive part of the original Louvre, and here you can view an original Renaissance building at its best, Le Mercier Horloge, and speculate how this would have been as the royal court in the 1600s – much more serene than the multitudes that passed through it in the early 2000s! Outside of the courtyard, it's possible to identify the extent of the original fortress, as there are indications in the paving as to the line of the earliest fortifications.

You can’t fail to admire the splendour of this vast site that started as a small museum as early as 1793 and has grown significantly over the centuries. The Louvre still dominates the Seine river banks, and although the view from the Quai des Tuileries is not as spectacular, it's difficult to walk this route without suffering a bit of neck ache! The building is bordered with a delightful sculptured frieze of angelic cherubs alongside grotesque creatures.

In March 1989, the stunning addition of the now-world-famous Pyramid was opened. It was not without controversy, but I reckon that it’s a feature that strangely enhances the ambience of the Louvre. I’d certainly rate a viewing on a decent day – not sure it would necessarily stimulate the senses if it was being rained upon! Viewed from underneath the intricate web of metalwork, it provided us with some fascinating views of the old museum buildings.

The Louvre is something to be experienced by everyone. So much history is here, they say it would take over 9 months to see all the artwork. We found that we chose about five things we wanted to find, and it became a scavenger hunt to find these pieces. We took some fun photos and did some learning but just took it easy and toured the amazing apartments, enjoying all the decorations.

If you are touring anywhere in Paris, it is almost impossible to skip the Louvre. Because of its massive size and multiple buildings, it's pretty much visible from anywhere in Paris along the Seine. Trying to skip over it would be a tragedy, because there is simply so much to see on its outside as well as inside

The Louvre's Buildings themselves are astounding architectural feats. From the new glass pyramid entrance by the famous modern architect IM Pei to the beautiful classical architecture of the 18th century, completed during the reign of Louis XIV, all the buildings are simply breathtaking. Though its functions have changed throughout the years from fortress to palace to museum, the Louvre and surrounding grounds, Les Jardins Tulieres, have remained timeless institutions.

Inside the Louvre there is so much to see. Some of the most famous artworks of all time have made their permanent home here. The "Mona Lisa," though, often speculated to be a fake to avoid thefts, lies behind a large protective case so all could visit her while keeping her well preserved. Almost any historically famous artist you can name has paintings here: Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Delacroix, etc., etc., etc. It is so awesome to see these pieces in their original form instead of just the reproductions that populate text books. The size and detail when seeing the "Venus de Milo" up close is unimaginable. The cut off to the museum's permanent collection is 1848—anything younger than this date is either not displayed or only welcomed for temporary exhibitions.

The Louvre has a huge collection of ancient art. Some of the objects date back to the times of pharaohs and Middle Eastern development. It is almost mystical to see the objects that were crafted long, long ago.

To see the Louvre all at once is a bit much; some people study the works of the museum as a career! My suggestion is seeing the paintings and pieces of art you know are housed there that you want to see, then going exploring in other places that might be of interest. You can kill anywhere from a day to a week just browsing through the museum's enormous collections, so it is more a matter of personal taste to your itinerary.

The lines of the Louvre are pretty long, but you can save time by buying a ticket online via their website at www.louvre.fr. Tickets for special exhibitions might or might not be available but are certainly worth the few extra dollars to visit something that interests you.

This was our second trip to the museum. We again visited the Denon wing of the gallery that had alot of the paintings and sculptures we were interested in. These included the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo Sculture, The Madonna Child, and John the Baptist by Raphael. The museum, compared with our first journey in the summer, was relatively uncrowded (we came in May). Again, this continues to be our favorite museum in Paris.

The Louvre is a must-see for anyone interested in art. Whether you have a degree in art history or simply like spending a day looking at some pretty pictures, you'll enjoy the Louvre.

The Louvre is one of the largest museums in Europe and has one of the most extensive collections of art. The most famous pieces located within the museum are, of course, DaVinci's "Mona Lisa" (referred to as La Jaconde by the French) and the statue of Venus de Milo (referred to as Aphrodite in French). In addition to fabulous artwork it plays home to, the Louvre is also an architectural masterpiece. Those familiar with the architectural designs of I.M Pei will enjoy the famous Pyramides de Louvre located outside in the center of the main courtyard.

For history buffs, it is also important to note that the Louvre was home to the French kings and queens prior to the building of Versailles by Louis VIX. The French court returned to the Louvre during the reign of Napolean. You may, in fact, visit the Napoleanic apartments.

The museum itself, as stated above, is extremely large. You will want to allow several hours to an entire day to visit the museum. For art lovers, I recommend at least 1 day of your trip be reserved; give yourself less time and you may feel rushed. To some, the Louvre may feel somewhat overwhelming and you may find it difficult upon your first trip to absorb all there is to see. For those with less interest in museums and art, and those who wish to see the main attractions only, be sure to make a quick stop at the information desk upon entrance to it to pick up a map. This will direct you to the popular tourist attractions.

For those who tend to feel somewhat claustrophobic or who dislike large crowds, I recommend arriving at the time the museum opens to avoid standing in long lines or being stuck in large crowds at the popular exhibits, such as the Mona Lisa.

If you're traveling in the winter, be sure to bring an umbrella and dress in layers in the event you do find yourself waiting outside in a long line to get into the museum.