The Louvre: A Palace Unfit for a King

DID YOU KNOW? On November 18, 1793, the Louvre officially opens in Paris. The Louvre, one of the world's finest art museums, was once a residence of French kings--but not an altogether pleasant one. No one knows exactly what the name means, but suggestions have included "Saxon fortress," "leper hospital," "signal tower," "wolf kennel," "oak tree formation," and "red place." We do know the original structure was built in the 12th century as a fortress, not a palace. Compounding the Louvre's inadequate accommodations was its unfortunate location: Paris in the Middle Ages was a town widely known to be a breeding ground for plague and other maladies. Over the centuries, various kings rebuilt and added onto the Louvre, but never stayed in it for long. In 1666, Louis XIV decided he had had enough of his uncomfortable apartment inside the palace and the stench of raw sewage that rose from the ditches surrounding it. He moved out to the countryside of Versailles, leaving a jumbled mess of a palace that would only get messier. Louis XIV authorized various state academies to occupy the Louvre, including those associated with art, poetry, philosophy, and theology--even the royal rabbits moved in! The palace fell into a state of disrepair that saw prostitutes roaming the halls and duels fought in the courtyard. By the time of the French Revolution, some of the stone walls actually were falling down. Today, the Louvre has benefited from ongoing major renovations and ultramodern additions, but you can still get a feel for its dreary origins: Parts of the original 12th-century tower meant to protect King Philippe Auguste from British attacks were recently excavated and put on display.