the Louvre District and its Secrets
You probably know the Louvre Museum in Paris, don’t you? Maybe you have visited it, or you have heard about it and have in mind its symbol: the glass pyramid that bears its name. But do you know the Louvre district? And do you know what you can do there besides visiting its famous museum? That is what we will discover together in this post. And as a bonus, we will also talk about the Opera district, right next door.
Introducing the Louvre district
The Louvre district is located right in the center of the capital, where it is no shortage of attractions. It dates from the very beginning of the Middle Ages, which makes it one of the oldest in our capital. Both monarchs and mythical French intellectuals have evolved there, whether old or newer. On the other hand, the Tuileries Palace dates from the sixteenth century, and the credit goes to Catherine de Medici. The Palais Royal, for its part, was built by Richelieu at the time of Louis XIII. And almost a century later, the Place Vendôme was born.
Things to do in the Louvre district
Of course, the district’s main attraction is the Louvre Museum, renowned worldwide for holding some of the most sumptuous artistic treasures in the world. Its pyramid is also worth a look. But you’ll also love discovering the beauty of the Royal Palace, which looks just as beautiful inside as it is outside.
You can then walk in the district gardens, that of the Tuileries, the Carrousel, and the Palais Royal. A short tour of the Comédie Française is also in order. Then you can go to the Place Vendôme, well known for its many luxury jewelers, windows to see absolutely, to dream!
At 40 rue Richelieu, the most famous playwright of the French language is honored. Indeed, you can admire an imponent bronze statue from the late nineteenth century representing Molière. A nice nod to the dramatic arts since the building is a stone’s throw from the Comédie Française. It is also close to our next destination: the Opera district. Oh, just one more thing: if you think about staying in the Louvre district during your trip to Paris, we have an excellent apartment 200 meters from the Palais Royal garden just for you. Have a look!
Opéra district
The architecture and organization of this district are certainly one of the most beautiful legacies of Second Empire urban planning. This very lively sector of the capital has succeeded in the challenge of modernizing while preserving its beauty dating from the nineteenth century and consisting of period buildings sometimes classified. With a great cultural heritage, the Opéra district has gradually become the temple of shopping and fashion. It covers a large part of the 9th arrondissement and also a portion of the 1st and 2nd arrondissements of Paris.
History
Under the reign of Napoleon III during the Second Empire (1852-1870), the French capital underwent urban renewal. These titanic projects modernized Paris. Indeed, streets that were too narrow and unhealthy did not allow for fluid traffic. This urban planning project was carried out in its entirety by Baron Haussmann. The architecture and organization of the Avenue de l’Opéra represent the aesthetics of the time: very wide, and the absence of trees lets passers-by have a breathtaking view of the jewel of the district, the Opera Garnier.
Places to visit
Let’s start with the Palais Garnier that we just mentioned. Its architecture is sumptuous and representative of the “Second Empire” style. It has various architectural inspirations ranging from the ancient classical style to the aesthetics of the Renaissance. The gilding and the many statues that decorate the façade of the Opera Garnier are very representative of this flashy style.
For lovers of wax statues, you can walk down the Boulevard de Montmartre to find the Grevin Museum and all its personalities. Whether a music, cinema, or football fan, you will find your happiness and probably your idol in this establishment. It opened in 1882, and its goal was to allow Parisians to put a face to the personalities who made the headlines. But the museum does not only have personalities of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Indeed, some residents, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Louis XIV, or La Fontaine, will allow you to go back in time.
Finally, for serial shoppers, this zone is ideal. It is full of many shops of famous brands all gathered in the same neighborhood. It is here that you can visit the very famous Galeries Lafayette. There is also the Avenue de l ́Opéra, full of small shops of very varied styles.
