Always The Louvre?

Certainly, the famous museum in Paris, the Louvre, has been visited by many many people over the years. But has it always been the Louvre?

When it was first built in 1190, the Louvre was a fortress meant to reinforce city walls surrounding Paris.

In the 1500s, it was rebuilt as a palace and stayed that way until 1682, when Louis XIV relocated the royal residence to Versailles.

At that point, the Louvre began exhibiting artwork, and it officially became a museum in 1793.

So there we have it! And, I know those of you who have been blessed enough to visit it, know how wonderful it is!