Our Paris trip day 3...The Louvre and random photo's in Paris

Day 3 of our trip to Paris, our last day here. What I have enjoyed on this trip is not the touristy places to visit, but the random street walking we did, people sat having coffee and reading the paper. Shops selling cheap Paris souvenirs, scarves, mugs, Eiffel towers in glow lights and key rings. Fabulous little Bistro restaurants tucked away, with the aromas of the food drawing you in...

After our walk around the Parisian streets we made our way to the Louvre, we have been here before, and you need at least a few days to go round there properly, we barely skimmed the surface on our previous visit. This time we admired what was on offer on the outside....beautiful buildings you just walk past without admiring..such details on the buildings, each could tell a story....

First stop in Paris for most Art lovers is the Louvre, the largest Museum in the western world. Originally the building was a fortress and if you go to the basement you can see the original walls which date from 1190. In the 16th Century it was turned in a Renaissance style Palace which housed the royal art collection which consisted of dozen paintings by such artists as Leonardo di Vinci and  Raphael that had been stolen from Italy. The palace was expanded and renovated and was the home of King Louis XIV until he moved to Versailles and the palace fell into disrepair, full of bums,bars and brothels....The Louvre once again became the home for some of the royal art of Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette shortly before their beheadings in 1793 when it held over 2500 pieces. Though originally only Kings and royalty were able to view the art, after the French Revolution the doors  were opened for everyone. It contains some of the most famous pieces in the world including Venus di Milo, Mona Lisa, Winged Victory of Samothrace and the best collection of Greek, Roman and Egyptian antiquities, and paintings from the middle ages to be found under one roof.

Here are some random photo's to finish off our trip to Paris.....Love random photos :-)