Louvre

Rita, there's lots of good information on the Louvre's website:

https://www.louvre.fr/en

Hours:
https://www.louvre.fr/en/hours-admission-directions
(Open late on Wednesdays and Fridays)

Floor plans in English:
https://www.louvre.fr/sites/default/files/medias/medias_fichiers/fichiers/pdf/louvre-plan-information-english.pdf

Mona Lisa is on Level 1 of the Denon Wing: Paintings, Italy, 1250 - 1800, rm 711. The painting is quite a lot smaller than most people expect, and you're kept some distance away from it. These photos will give you some idea:

https://360.org/news/mona-lisa-louvre-museum
https://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-photo-mona-lisa-image19980475

There is an information desk in the center of the Louvre situated by the entrance and before you go into any of the wings. I have found the staff there to be excellent. They will mark on the museum map the location of the Mona Lisa and any other work that you may be interested in seeing. They seem to all speak English. On one occasion I was trying to gain information on the roof tour at the Notre Dame that had been closed the few days I was there and they kindly made a few phone calls to help me plan my day. I think you will find them most helpful.

Thank you for the replies. Very helpful

You're welcome. Mona wasn't the highlight of the Louvre for us so do make time to explore others of its treasures? :O)

You may be surprised at how small she is. Hopefully you'll be able to see her in better circumstances than these.

Yes, my husband joined the hordes to take a second look at Mona Lisa -- to see if it was as tiny as he remembered (it was!) -- I waited at the back of the room directly below the A/C vent. My favorite part of the Louvre is seeing the ceilings from when the building was used as a palace (and no lines to see them, just look up!)

And that room is filled with Titians, Veroneses, Bassanos, among others. But nobody looks at all the other masterpieces. Be sure to see the Marriage at Cana at the other end of the room.

Rick's guidebook gives an excellent description of the challenges of seeing the Louvre, and the way to make the most of it.

Also you can simply google the Louvre's website for a listing of its opening days and hours.

I want to see Holbein's portrait of Anne of Cleves. I wonder if that's a tourist draw! I saw his portrait of Jane Seymour in Vienna.

For those in the know, what is a quiet day of the week to visit the Louvre assuming you don't want to see the popular Mona Lisa or Venus de Milo? The days I'm considering are Wed Oct 31 and Thurs Nov 1. I would think that Friday and Saturday will be more crowded although I will be in Paris on those days. I'll be leaving that Sunday for Germany. Thanks.

I think the art most people want to see is in the Denon wing of the museum. Go early, go straight to the Mona Lisa, check her out, then walk back, enjoying the other really cool stuff on your way out.

My best technique for checking hours is to look at Google Maps then click on the museum. When I do that for the Louvre today, a panel opens on the left. When I click next to todays hours, it shows hours for the week. Today it shows the Louvre will be open until 10 on Wednesday and Friday.

For seeing the Mona Lisa without crowds, have either an active museum pass or pre-purchased ticket and get in line at least 30 minutes before opening. I was in line (in September) a little earlier than 30 minutes and was first in the museum pass line. I had no bag to inspect so they waved me through security. I was the lone patron in the museum for at least a few minutes. I hadn't planned on Mona Lisa, because I didn't want to fight crowds, but changed on the fly and headed straight there (Italian renaissance paintings). A Canadian couple who were first in line with pre-purchased tickets caught up to me on the way. We took pictures of each other with the Mona Lisa. It may have been ten minutes before anyone else filtered into the room.

Make sure you don't try on a free day. There is a free weekend in mid-September (heritage days). If it's free there will always be a crowd. If you're there mid-September I'd recommend buildings that normally aren't open to the public and get there early (maybe 8) to beat the crowds. I chose the Senate and Presidential Palace (one on Saturday and the other Sunday) plus a few places that had no lines.

It is truly wonderful to read all your comments and get support for a visit. What an adventurous bunch. Thank you, Rita

They have a couple lovely Vermeer's. Also, we enjoyed seeing Napoleon's apartments.

Winged Victory of Samothrace...ahhhh!

Both the guided tour and the audio tour are well worth the cost, to give a much better look at what you are seeing. Kathy's post at the top of the thread contains the main link to the museum

I want to see Holbein's portrait of Anne of Cleves. I wonder if that's
a tourist draw! I saw his portrait of Jane Seymour in Vienna.

LOL. And here I thought I was the only one who just HAD to track the Holbein down! That portrait and the 2 Vermeer's were highlights for me!

Well, that Holbein is on my list now so thanks for that, lol especially after Rebecca’s great report on Best of England and all the British history talk on there.

I love Winged Victory as well as the Code of Hammurabi and the Napoleon III apartments.

My name is Pam and I confess to serial visits to the Louvre every trip!!

We are also serial visitors, and my husband likes to visit the Mona Lisa. I'm too short, so I just admire the other works being ignored. On our visit last August, the crowds really dissipated in the afternoon. By 3:00 p.m. (or 15:00), you could walk right in through The Pyramid whereas we had a line even going through the Rue Rivoli entrance about 11:00 a.m.

Lovers of Hans Holbein. How cool! :-)

Is there an entrance recommended that typically has the short security lines compared with a main entrance? Thanks.

Vermeer's "The Lacemaker" is one of my favorites. It's only 9.6 in x 8.3 inches although the impressive frame is much larger. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lacemaker_(Vermeer)

"The Oath of the Horatii" at the Louvre is also among my favorites. It usually doesn't win popularity contests but I can explain - I'm an artist, an art historian as well as an IT guy! Both sides of my brain are overworked. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oath_of_the_Horatii