The Louvre, Redeemed (Sort Of)
A courtyard, a pyramid, and the Louvre at its best.
I have a love-hate relationship with the Louvre. In my previous post, I shared why it drives me nuts. This one? It’s about what I love—and how the Louvre redeems itself at night.
One of my favorite things to do after dinner is take a long walk back toward my hotel. My favorite route in Paris is through the Louvre courtyard. I love the contrast of I.M. Pei’s glass pyramid against the classic French architecture behind it. At night, it’s gorgeous.
At night—
Entering the courtyard from Rue de Rivoli through Passage de Richelieu, the arches in the passage perfectly frame the pyramid for a beautiful photo.
From Passage de Richelieu—
If you’re lucky, a musician will be playing in the passage—adding to the magic of the moment.
On a nice evening, find a spot to sit in the courtyard and take a few minutes to enjoy the moment.
The Louvre Courtyard—
If it’s near the top of the hour, head toward the side facing the Tuileries—you’ll catch the Eiffel Tower light show in the distance.
Facing the Tuileries—
I may not recommend going inside, but I do recommend walking through the Louvre at night.
It’s one of those moments where it really hits: I’m in Paris.
Speaking of love for the Louvre—if you feel you must go in the museum... spend some time with the Nike of Samothrace. It was the one piece I absolutely had to see after my Art of Ancient Civilizations class and I still love it to this day. The marble statue once stood on the bow of a ship—and at the Louvre, it’s positioned at the top of a staircase so you get a sense of what that might have been like. Her dress clings to her body, wind-blown and dramatic—the illusion of movement, created from solid stone.
The Nike of Samothrace—
It is a gorgeous piece of art.
And the only thing that could lure me back inside that building.
Traveling with Linda - Travel stories with a side of snark.