A view through a clock window in the Musée d’Orsay towards the Palais du Louvre aka the Louvre Museum in central Paris, France.
The orgins of the building we now know as the Musée Louvre lie in the Middle Ages, when the first palace was built as a defensive fortress in the late 12th century. This function became lost as the city expanded in all directions, so in 1578, it became the main residence of the Kings of France.The building was enlarged many times over the centuries, by the best architects of their time, indcluding Pierre Lescot, Jacques Lemercier and Louis LeVau. However, each architect over the centuries strived for an architectural continuity, in which they were remarkably successful.
An architect who oversaw one of the greatest transformations, Hector LeFuel, observed that “Le Louvre est un monument qui a vécu” (the Louvre is a monument which has gone through a lot).
During the French Revolution, the royal palace was transformed into a state-owned museum and opened to the public.
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