The Louvre Museum ( ), located in Paris, is the world's most visited art museum, a historic monument, and a national museum of France. It is a central landmark, located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement (neighbourhood). Nearly 35,000 pieces from the 6th millennium BCE to the 19th century CE are exhibited over an area of .

The museum, in the Louvre Palace (Palais du Louvre), began as a fortress built in the 12th century under Philip II. Remnants of the fortress are still visible. Over time, the Louvre progressed into a palace and place to display art. In 1674, Louis XIV chose Versailles for his household, which allowed the royal collection to be displayed in the Louvre. During the French Revolution, the National Assembly decreed that the Louvre should be used as a museum, to display the nation's masterpieces.

The museum opened on 10 August 1793, showcasing 537 paintings; the core of the collection was primarily drawn from confiscated church and royal property. Because of structural problems, the museum was closed in 1796 until 1801. The size of the collection increased under Napoleon when the museum was renamed the Musée Napoléon . After his defeat at Waterloo, many works seized by Napoleon's armies were returned to their original owners. The collection was augmented

Medieval, Renaissance, and Bourbon dynasty

main: Palais du Louvre

The museum, in the Louvre Palace (Palais du Louvre), began as a fortress constructed by Philip II; remnants are still visible in the crypt.Mignot, p. 32 It is unknown if this was the first building on that spot, but it is possible that Philip modified an existing tower. Likewise, the Louvre's etymology is uncertain: the name may refer to the structure's status as the largest in 12th century Paris (French L'Œuvre, masterpiece), its location in a forest (French rouvre, oak), or, according to Larousse, a wolf-hunting den (via Latin: lupus, lower Empire: lupara).Edwards, pp. 19394

The Louvre Palace was altered frequently throughout the Middle Ages. In the 14th century, Charles V converted the building into a residence; in 1546, Francis I renovated the site in French Renaissance style.Edwards, p. 198 Francis acquired what would become the nucleus of the Louvre's holdings; his acquisitions included Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. After Louis XIV chose Versailles as his residence in 1682, constructions slowed; however, the move permitted the Louvre to be used as a residence for artists.