{"id":841,"date":"2013-04-01T20:31:32","date_gmt":"2013-04-01T09:31:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/?p=841"},"modified":"2016-09-08T13:33:35","modified_gmt":"2016-09-08T03:33:35","slug":"26-my-paris-day-three-at-the-louvre-and-moulin-rouge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sugarpopblue.com.au\/blog\/26-my-paris-day-three-at-the-louvre-and-moulin-rouge\/","title":{"rendered":"26. Top Tips for Visiting the Louvre & Moulin Rouge"},"content":{"rendered":"

The last time I went to Paris it took me three days to explore the long galleries of the Mus\u00e9e du Louvre. This time, experience under my belt, we nailed it in a day. <\/p>\n

Walking the great halls of this immense fortress-turned-palace-turned-museum<\/a>, I wonder at the nobles who served here in an age long ago, the kings and queens who ruled from here, the artists who lived in this epic building. Was it just as grand before Napoleon I renovated and restructured it? In any matter, the Louvre is a work of art itself, from it’s medieval foundations to it’s French Renaissance architecture… let alone the fortune lying within its belly. No wonder the monarchy was overthrown!<\/p>\n

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Even the walls and ceilings are a work of art in itself.<\/p><\/div>\n


\nInstead of hiring the audioguide, we spin our own stories behind each artwork; tales of woe and the stuff of legends. We ourselves become critics; dozens of agonised Christ’s in identical positions are subject to our judgement, each pained portrait redundant in duplication. We pick out the subtle details in the giant masterpieces; rings of faeries, flames of hell, dancing nymphs. <\/p>\n

We have fun with it, while the rest of the gallery-goers ignore their companions as they shuffle along in silence, headsets strapped on like horse blinkers.<\/p>\n

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Some of our highlights included the paintings;<\/p>\n

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La Jeune Martyre, by Paul Delaroche 1855<\/p><\/div>\n

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The Abduction of Helen, by Guido Reni circa 1626-31<\/p><\/div>\n

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Melancholy, by Domenica Fetti circa 1620<\/p><\/div>\n

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Escena de Carnava, by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo 1760<\/p><\/div>\n

Our friend Domo particularly loved Leonardo’s work;<\/p>\n

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The Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci circa 1503\u20131506<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/a>Not to mention our two favourite sculptures; the only artwork in the Louvre that simultaneously moved me, and rendered me as motionless as the marble statues themselves…<\/p>\n

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Winged Victory of Samothrace<\/a>, 190 BC<\/p><\/div>\n

She is captivating, standing proud and tall against all who would oppose her. I can imagine the North winds rippling through her marble robes as she perched on the bow of a ship. Her headlessness only enhances her triumph – the Greek Goddess Nike (Victory) has me enthralled.<\/p>\n

…While my husband stood beside me with glistening eyes, marvelled by the skill and elegance in which Psyche and Cupid’s embrace was immortalised;<\/p>\n

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Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss, by Antonio Canova circa 1787 – 1803<\/p><\/div>\n

And of course, the extensive Egyptian collection;<\/p>\n

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Mummies, circa 4000 BC<\/p><\/div>\n

We also found this cute little guy, and our token skull in the Decorative Arts of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas;<\/p>\n

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Tribal artifact<\/p><\/div>\n

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Tribal skull<\/p><\/div>\n

So, my tips for a successful visit?<\/p>\n

1) Instead of waiting hours in the long queues at the Pyramid entrance<\/span>, use the Porte Des Lions staircase<\/span> for admittance in minutes. The map below should help you find this secret entry. <\/p>\n