From Pyramid to Portrait: Capturing the Louvre’s Best Views

As the world’s largest museum and home to the world’s most famous masterpieces, the Musée du Louvre has become a pilgrimage site for photographers and visitors wanting to witness and capture its beauty on camera.

If you plan to visit the Louvre but have no idea which part deserves your attention, you’re exactly where you need to be.

Below, we’ll share the six most stunning and must-snap locations for capturing the Louvre’s best views.

1. Pyramide du Louvre

Can you imagine the Louvre without the iconic glass pyramid at the center of the Cour Napoléon? We bet not—the monumental entrance to the museum has now become symbolic of its history, beauty, and grandeur.

Constructed in 1989, the massive piece of architecture was designed by Chinese-American architect I. M. Pei. Since its construction, the pyramid has become one of the most photographed landmarks in the world, drawing millions of visitors annually.

Here’s a Pyramide du Louvre photo tip:

To capture that “empty street effect” in your frame, be sure to arrive at the Louvre early in the morning. The museum opens at 9 AM, so it’s best to arrive an hour before the opening to avoid the crowds.

• See also: How to Get the Best Mona Lisa Photo?

2. Jardin des Tuileries

Jardin des Tuileries (The Tuileries Gardens) is one of Paris’s most iconic green spaces. Located at the heart of the City of Lights, the famous garden connects other must-visit areas around the Louvre, from Place de la Concorde to the Musée d’Orsay.

Its location makes it ideal for anyone who wants to relax and explore, capturing great sights and breathtaking artworks along the way.

The garden’s Italian architecture will be a superb backdrop to your portraits, featuring a massive fountain at the center, verdant hedges, numerous walkways, and a beautifully ornate grotto.

Jardin des Tuileries got its name from the tile factories once erected in its place. Queen Catherine de Medici’s Palais des Tuileries also stood there before its tragic burning on May 23, 1871.

Today, the garden hosts many spectacular masterpieces from famous sculptors like Auguste Rodin, Jean Dubuffet, and Paul Belmondo.

Walk straight through the Jardin des Tuileries and you will find yourself in the Louvre Gardens, decorated by magnificent sculptures by the French artist Aristide Maillol.

3. The Arc du Carrousel

Although the smallest of three triumphal arches, Arc du Carrousel, located in the courtyard between the open wings of the Louvre, is another attractive monument for its historical significance.

Erected by Napoleon to celebrate his triumphant wars in the 1800s, Arc du Carrousel offers a unique perspective of the entire Louvre museum.

The top of the arch features two female figures, Victory and Peace. Pose inside the arch and you can find astonishing ornate detailing of its history.

From bas-reliefs depicting Napoleonic battles to fascinating sculptures and statues of the Grande Armée soldiers, the Arc du Carrousel is a must-visit landmark in the Louvre.

• See also: Expert Tips for Unique Paris Photos

4. The Louvre Palace

Even without entering the museum, you can still find many spectacular subjects to capture with your camera, starting with the phenomenal external facade of the Louvre Palace.

The Louvre is the result of 800 years of expansions and renovations and has become a witness to the most crucial points of French history. This building is a vital historical artifact and itself a work of art worth remembering.

Providing a stunning blend of Romanesque, Renaissance, and postmodern architectural styles, there’s no shortage of gorgeous subjects to point your camera at here.

The Louvre’s eastern facade is a fabulous photo subject we recommend you explore. Designed by Claude Perrault in the 17th century, it has become one of France’s most important architectural works.

Following the five-part pattern typical of French palaces, the facade consists of marvelously ornate pavilions, recessed wings, pediments, and balustrades.

You can also find the “Minerva surrounded by the Muses of Victory crowning the bust of Napoleon” sculpture on the pediment, a masterpiece of the French sculptor François-Frédéric Lemot.

Here’s a valuable tip for photographing architectural sites:

Adding reference elements in the frame is a superb way to capture vast structures. People, trees, cars, and other smaller figures help by evoking a sense of scale, bringing life and context to your images.

• See also: 51 Famous French Photographers You Should Know

5. Louvre Castle Ceiling Art

Musée du Louvre’s interior is no less impressive than its exterior facades. From the stone floors to the ornate colonnades and ceilings, every inch of the Louvre radiates beauty and majesty, demanding reverence and awe from its viewers.

But perhaps the best of all is the ceiling art of the Gallery of Apollo, an enormous room above the Petite Galerie, which also houses the French Crown Jewels and other royal treasures.

Made as a tribute to the “Sun King,” Louis XIV, the Gallery of Apollo is heavily themed based on the Greek god Apollo and the Greek god of the Sun, Helios.

Charles Le Brun, a French painter in the 17th century, designed the gallery’s interiors. The symbolism heavily draws on the celestial cycles.

The ceiling of the Galerie d’Apollon features many wondrous painted masterpieces from several French masters. Jean-Jacques Lagrenée, Joseph Benoît Guichard, and Eugène Delacroix are among the most famous names behind the frescos.

6. Passage de Richelieu

Here’s a secret that not many tourists know: there are four entrances to the Louvre. The first, of course, is the Pyramide du Louvre, which is also the busiest.

Then there’s the Carrousel du Louvre, which some call the “mall entrance to the Louvre.” There’s also the not-much-known Portes de Lions, near the Louvre Pyramid, a great place to get in without dealing with long queues and lines.

Finally, the best entrance for those who enjoy taking snaps of staggering medieval corridors and arches is the Passage de Richelieu. This “secret” path is on Rue de Rivoli, beside the Seine River.

Passage de Richelieu opens to a stunning view of the Sculpture Gardens, boasting lush hedges and beautiful sculptures commissioned by Louis XIV (the 14th) at the end of his reign.

Some of the most notable and picturesque statues here include Vénus Callipyge by François Barois, L’Aurore by Philippe Magnier, and Flore by Antoine Coysevox.

• See also: 5 Unconventional Spots for Unique Louvre Photos

Final Thoughts

There you go! Those are six of the most photogenic spots to capture the beauty of the Louvre. As you now know, the museum is a treasure trove of historical and artistic wonders to steal your breath away.

Include these six stunning sites in your Paris itinerary, and enjoy a lifetime’s worth of unforgettable memories!