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Louvre Palace

The Louvre Palace is a vast complex of wings and pavilions arranged around three large open spaces: the Cour Carrée to the east, the Cour Napoléon in the centre and the Place du Carrousel to the west. In the Cour Napoléon stands I. M. Pei's iron-and-glass pyramid, which marks the entrance to the underground complex with shops, exhibition spaces and an auditorium. The Lescot Wing, built between 1546 and 1551, is the oldest part visible above ground and preserves the Salle des Caryatides; the Lemercier Wing extends it symmetrically. On the east side the Perrault Colonnade stands out, with paired columns and a pediment on a high base. Beneath the Sully Wing you can see the remains of Philip Augustus's medieval fortress, displayed as the Louvre Medieval. The Grande Galerie runs along the bank of the Seine, and at the western ends are the Pavillon de Flore and the Pavillon de Marsan.

Things to do at Louvre Palace: 4 missions

• Explore the exhibition Medieval Louvre in the Sully wingDiscover the archaeological finds of the original fortress that form part of the Louvre Medieval exhibition in the museum's Sully wing.
• Walk the palace's Grande GalerieWalk along the long Grande Galerie, on the first floor of the side facing the Seine.
• Admire the decoration of the Galerie d'ApollonAdmire the Galerie d'Apollon, decorated by Le Brun.
• See the Hall of the CaryatidsAdmire the room with sculpted caryatids based on Greek and Roman works, installed by Lescot.

Near Louvre Palace