Since the end of the 19th century, the building of the Louvre; situated on the limits of the city, they had been gradually catched up by it, then contained in the centre of it. At the same time, the former dark fortress carried out its transformation to become the modernized residence of François 1er and then the grand palace of Roi Soleil.
In 1793, the central museum opens to public in the Grande Galerie and the Salon Carré. Years after years, the museum spreads, the collections invades slowly the building.
The disappearance of the Tuiliers, demolished in 1882, marks the act of birth of the modern Louvre. The government moves out permanently the Louvre who can devote totally to culture ever since. Only the Ministry of Finance looks odd in the heart of the buildings. From then on, the museum occupies slowly but definitely almost the entire building.
In September 1981, the republic president François Mitterrand announces a project to reorganize the museum. The Ministry of Finance moves out. Sino-American architect Icoh Ming Pei takes on this great responsibility. The surface for the exhibitions is doubled and a glass pyramid of 19 meters tall is built in the court of Napoleon. Today, with 60000 m² of exhibition, it’s one of the biggest museum in the world.
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