The Louvre Pyramids, Paris

The Louvre started out as a fortress in the Middle Ages, built to defend Paris against Norman invaders.  As Paris grew the City’s walls expanded outward and the Louvre was no longer needed for defensive purposes.

In the 1300s and through the Renaissance Period it was renovated and expanded by successive Kings and used as a Royal Residence.  Louis XIV was the last king in residence until he relocated to the Palace of Versailles.  It was used subsequently as a museum exhibiting priceless arts and antiquities.

The Louvre Pyramids are relatively recent Parisian landmarks and date from the 1980s.  They were designed by Chinese architect, I. M. Pei.  The largest was created as the new entrance to the Louvre in response to the previous entrance being unable to handle the massive influx of visitors to the Louvre.

Even so, with tourism to the Louvre now approaching 9 million per annum, the entrance is once again under pressure and the layout beneath the Pyramid is once again undergoing redesign.