• Location: center of Paris

The Louvre was originally built in the 12th century as a royal castle to help defend Paris against Viking attacks. It went through many metamorphoses until it was finally opened as a museum of art in 1793. The complex of buildings was turned over entirely to art and culture in 1882, when the Tuileries was demolished. The Louvre became one of the world's largest and most popular art galleries and museums, housing masterpieces like Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, the Winged Victory of Samothrace and Whistler's Mother.

You can give yourself months to get through the many exhibits and still never spend the time you would need to see everything in the Louvre, so be sure to allot ample time for the things you wish to see on your tour. The museum is handicapped-accessible, and has documentation in Braille as well as tours and material for the hearing-impaired. The museum is open on Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays 9 a.m.–6 p.m; Wednesdays and Fridays 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. It is closed on Tuesdays. Entrance is forbidden from 45 minutes before museum closing time. Fees vary from €4.50 to nearly €20, depending on the exhibits you wish to visit and whether you go alone or in a guided tour. You can avoid waiting in line and purchase a ticket through the website: www.louvre.fr, or by calling Fnac: 0 892 684 694 (commission = €1.30) or Ticketnet: 0 803 697 073 (commission = €1.10).

There is a restaurant on the premises, Le Grand Louvre, as well as a large gift shop.

How to get there: