The Louvre Museum in Paris, France, stands as one of the world's most famous and visited art museums, renowned for housing masterpieces like the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo. Originally built as a fortress in the late 12th century under Philip II, the Louvre Palace evolved into a royal residence by 1546 under Francis I, later serving to display royal collections after Louis XIV moved to Versailles. During the French Revolution, it was decreed a public museum, officially opening its doors on August 10, 1793, with an initial exhibition of 537 paintings. Its immense collection, now spanning eight curatorial departments and including approximately 38,000 objects from prehistory to the 21st century, significantly expanded through eras including Napoleon's reign. Today, the Louvre is the largest museum globally by exhibition area and welcomed 8.7 million visitors in 2024, with its iconic underground Louvre Pyramid serving as the main entrance.