Semi-Private Louvre Tour with Mona Lisa

Semi-Private Louvre Museum Tour Description

Your 2.5-hour tour includes:

• Skip-the-line entry to the Louvre Museum

• Guided tour of the Louvre's famous artworks and exhibits

• Fun, English-speaking guide with art history expertise

• Maximum group size of 6

Skip-the-Line Louvre Tour

Follow your expert Louvre guide into the world's largest museum and discover some of the most fascinating art exhibits in the world. The lines to get inside the museum can be long, but your guide help you navigate the crowds to start exploring straight away.

Ancient Sculptures in the Louvre

Part of what makes the Louvre so amazing is the unfolding of millennia of art, and you'll start your journey through a hall filled with sculptures from Greek and Roman eras. Your guide will lead you from one key piece to another, helping you see how these works evolved with time and skill. Of all the works in the Louvre, the Winged Victory of Samothrace and the Venus de Milo are some of the most admired. But you might also be fascinated by the life-size sculpture of the mythological Sleeping Hermaphroditus carved by Bernini.

Renaissance Paintings

After journeying through the unique art pieces of the medieval and gothic periods, it's time to step into the light of the Renaissance. As you inch closer to the most famous painting in the Louvre, you'll get to see other famous works by Leonardo da Vinci like St. John the Baptist and learn why this captivating painting is so important and almost controversial.

Besides Leonardo da Vinci, the Louvre also contains works by Renaissance artist Botticelli, master of the 16th-century Venetian school Titian, and the grand-scale artist Veronese. Raphael also has work featured throughout the Louvre, one being his famous depiction of Saint George on a magnificent horse.

Da Vinci's Famous Mona Lisa

Why is the Mona Lisa so famous? Mostly, it's due to the massive amount of media coverage it got when it was stolen and eventually found in the kitchen of an Italian. And it's now the highest insured work of art at a whopping $800 million! But what draws so many visitors is also the mysterious smile she wears. You can see for yourself, though you will have to navigate a crowd of people itching for that up-close selfie of the woman of mystery.

As you approach, don't forget to take in the other incredible art in this room, such as the massive Wedding Feast at Cana on the opposite wall. Your guide makes sure you have time to get to know this unique piece as well.

The Crown Jewels of France

While there's really only one set of crown jewels that most people think of, you'll get to explore a set that's meaningful to the French. On display at the Galerie d'Apollon, these jewels and intricate valuables will catch your eye as you hear how old some of the pieces are and who actually wore them.

It was a tradition to have a new crown created for each coronation in France. With your guide's narration, it is easy to imagine the extravagance of the crowns created throughout history for each new king and queen.

Prized French Art

Although the Louvre is filled with the works of many international artists, you'll also see some truly iconic French masterpieces—after all, you are in France! The Louvre offers opportunities to visit works by Jacques-Louis David, Napoleon's personal painter, and Eugène Delacroix. Delacroix's most famous piece Liberty Leading The People is one of France's most beloved paintings, depicting the 1830 French Revolution. It's truly awe-inspiring as you stand before it, hearing the story unfold behind its inspiration and creation.

You'll also see a huge painting of the Coronation of Napoleon, which is rightfully impressive even if more than a little inaccurate. This is where your guide comes in handy since they'll decipher what's true and what's not (almost hilariously not true) about the details of this painting.

After your tour is finished, you'll have the option to stay in the Louvre and continue exploring, or head to the city for the rest of your day now that you have a well-rounded understanding of the art world under your belt.