Pyramid of Cheops and in front of the Louvre building. Louvre, La Gioconda and glass pyramids

Louvre and Phalikon Pyramid

Yes, yes, there is also a pyramid. Modern.

Probably the most famous pyramid in France is the glass and steel pyramid that adorns the square in front of the entrance to the Louvre, in the heart of Paris. After Dan Brown’s international mega-bestseller “The Da Vinci Code” was published, it became perhaps the most mysterious and attractive point of all tourist routes. At the same time, it is somehow forgotten that, despite all the wishes of the author, the number of glass panels in it does not amount to 666 - the guide to the Louvre calls the unremarkable figure 673 glass panels. Close, of course, but for symbolism such a discrepancy still looks very approximate, “at random.”

The outer pyramid was built in 1989 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution. And in 1993, an internal, “inverted” pyramid was added to it, which, being at the intersection of the main tourist routes, points visitors to the entrance to the Louvre. Both pyramids were designed by the architect Pei. The top of the inner pyramid hangs 1.4m above the floor, the edges of the individual 30mm wide glass panels connected by steel crosspieces, each 381mm long. Directly below the top of the inverted pyramid there is another one (about a meter high), which seems to be a “reflection” of the one above it; their tops almost touch. This unique structure is given almost the central place in the novel “The Da Vinci Code”, and according to the author’s plan, this is where the Holy Grail, or the body of Mary Magdalene, is located.

It should be noted that the pyramid at the Louvre is not the only one in Paris. During the French Revolution, all of France was seized by a fascination with Ancient Egypt, and the country was struck by a real mania for building its own pyramids. On July 14, 1792, on the Champ de Mars in Paris, where Eiffel erected his tower a century later, the “Pyramid of Glory” was built in memory of those who died during the storming of the Bastille. And on August 26 of the same year, another pyramid rose in front of the Louvre in the Tuileries Gardens, approximately in the same place where the glass one is now located. This pyramid was intended to perpetuate the memory of the victims of the revolution. It was planned to build several more similar structures, but none of them were ever built. One such idea that was never realized was Etienne Boullet's proposal to build an "Egyptian cenotaph", which would be a pyramid with a truncated top and would perpetuate the memory of the dead.

Glass pyramid - entrance to the Louvre

In general, some researchers are convinced that the rulers of new France had close ties with the Freemasons and their strange love for the pyramids is nothing more than a reflection of their fascination with mystical ideas rooted in hoary Egyptian antiquity. It is characteristic that all these Freemasons sought to build pyramids in memory of the dead... This, you see, is reminiscent of Ancient Egypt, where pyramids were quite likely built, among other things, to perpetuate the memory of departed heroes.

And yet, France has its own “real” pyramid, although it is not very widely known and not very large in size. Its base is something like 5-6.5 m, and it is located in the vicinity of the town of Falikon, not far from the magnificent Mediterranean resort of Nice. Despite its distressingly small size, for a long time this pyramid was considered one of the rarest pyramids that were found in Europe. And since it belongs to this type of structure, then, very likely, the same unwritten law applies to it: there are absolutely no clear explanations for why it was built. True, there are several theories about its origin, and, naturally, among them there are those that imply a connection with Egypt. For example, the grandson of the famous archaeologist John Ward-Perkins thought that the pyramid in Phalikon could be the tomb of an ancient leader who was expelled from the country of the pharaohs for some offense. True, I personally consider such ideas simply a figment of a rich imagination, since at the moment no evidence has been found to support this theory.

There is no mention of a “pyramid” on the detailed maps; the site is designated as “Grotte de Ratapinata”, since the pyramid is actually located above the entrance to a cave known as the “Cave of Bats”. Let's note for ourselves that the pyramid here seems to guard the entrance to this very cave. Let us recall that both the Pyramid of Cheops and the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan were also built over natural caves, which later became an organic element of the overall pyramid project. This fact suggests that the “miniature” French pyramid has the same characteristic features as its great sisters in other places on the globe.

The upper part of the pyramid at Phalikon has not survived, however, fortunately, there are photographs where it is much higher than it is today. And the lower part of the pyramid is still quite clearly visible. Photographs and preserved sections of the structure allow us to reconstruct its general appearance quite well, so we know that the entrance to the pyramid was in the southeast corner. It was large enough for one person to enter, assuming, of course, that the cave located under the pyramid was allowed to enter only one person at certain times.

These days, this place is widely known among local firefighters, as they often have to rescue tourists from the cave who dare to climb there. The fact is that for a relatively experienced climber, descending into it does not present any particular difficulties, but to climb to the surface, one must overcome a horizontal canopy on an almost vertical wall, which rescuers can do with the help of winches, but a person groping in complete darkness I would like to put my foot down - no.

The cave itself has been known since the early nineteenth century, but it was not until 1898 that Professor Jean-Robert Salifar organized a scientific expedition to explore the system of underground passages accessible from the pyramid. The results of the expedition are contained in a report of 657 pages and containing 174 illustrations. The report states that three tunnels led from the main room, with one going deeper “for a considerable distance.” However, when the famous speleologist Jules Gavet descended into the cave in 1901, it turned out that all three tunnels were blocked by someone. What could have happened between 1898 and 1901? Someone, but obviously not Salifar, did everything for certain purposes to make access to the tunnels impossible. For what? Did this “someone” want to ensure the health and safety of visitors and ensure that not a single living soul would ever wander the dungeons at the risk of getting lost? Or were these unknown people trying to hide something hidden in the depths of the mountain?

Now regarding the purposes of building this pyramid. In 1976, Henry Brosh, the author of many books, stated that this territory was located on land that was once the property of the Knights Templar. Could the mysterious knights of this mysterious order be the builders of the pyramid? Maurice Guingand does not deny this possibility. True, none of the authors of pyramid studies mention the work of Jean Garon. This scientist gained access to the family papers of a certain Baron de Rode. The very ancient documents that the scientist read spoke of some valuables that were of great importance and were in the custody of the baron’s heirs. In some places there was talk that these values were part of the famous treasures of the Templars, which disappeared immediately after this order was dissolved in 1307. However, after this, both Garon and other researchers found out that the territory in which the Phalikon pyramid is located did not belong to the Templars, which means that if any treasures were stored there, it is unlikely that they went to the French crown after the arrest of the leaders of the order. In any case, it is clear that the pyramid was not built to hide treasures there, and not for the Templars to use it. But it could well have been a place for some religious ceremonies. Already in the first underground chamber there are enough indications that it was used for some kind of ritual purposes. It has seven steps, as well as a small raised platform, which is believed to have once served as an altar.

There is an assumption that in the pyramid there was a sanctuary of the god Mithra, whose cult was widespread in Ancient Rome. This god was worshiped throughout Europe during antiquity. And hand in hand with this cult were the cult of Osiris and the veneration of Isis. Shrines dedicated to both are found far to the north, on the border of England and Scotland; so if in southern France one of the researchers happened to stumble upon the temple of Mithra, then this is rather the norm than the exception to the rule. Sanctuaries dedicated to this god, as a rule, were created underground, so the cave under the pyramid at Phalikon ideally meets all the requirements that this cult places on such structures.

However, it is possible that Mithra was not worshiped here from the very beginning. In 1922, Etienne Gottland settled near Falicon and discovered that a certain cult was associated with the pyramid. He examined the structure itself and, using calculations of the precessional movement of the earth's axis, came to the conclusion that the age of this archaeological site (but not the pyramid itself) is approximately 4335 years, that is, it arose around 2413, which approximately corresponds to the Egyptian Pyramid Age. This, of course, is an extremely inaccurate dating and the period is approximate, but still very long. If a sanctuary of Mithra did exist on this site, then the pyramid did not appear earlier, therefore, it can only be dated from 200 BC. to 300 AD However, one can only guess about her real age...

Since 1922, the pyramid at Falicon has been rapidly collapsing, and the French authorities seem to have absolutely no interest in either the preservation of this structure or in exploring this place. Naturally, this gives rise to all sorts of speculation on this topic. In any case, some researchers believe that the authorities simply want this place to be completely destroyed as soon as possible and to be firmly forgotten, because for some reason its very existence is “inconvenient” for them. Another topic for rumors emerged after NASA consultant Maurice Chatelain voiced his own assumption that the pyramid was built in 1260 by crusaders returning from Jerusalem. More importantly, he claims that the Phalikon pyramid is a 1:288 scale replica of the Great Pyramid. Chatelain himself states the following on this matter: “Why the crusaders who built the pyramid in Phalikon chose such a scale of 1/288 is unknown, but the similarity of its proportions with the Great Pyramid is simply amazing, especially considering that, returning from Jerusalem, the crusaders could not to see the original, because we have not been to those places” (12). However, in this regard, it can be said that there is no evidence yet that the pyramid in Phalikon was built by the crusaders, just as no precise measurements have been taken to confirm that the scale that Chatelain is talking about is the same 1:288. Thus, at present it is extremely easy to reject any theories about the possible origin of this small pyramid, but it is very difficult to determine who, when and why built it.

From the book Queen Margot by Dumas Alexander

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Yaacob HASAN / flickr.com Stew Dean / flickr.com Inverted Pyramid - view from the inside (Erik Drost / flickr.com) Artotem / flickr.com bvi4092 / flickr.com Paris Sunset from the Louvre window (Dimitry B. / flickr.com) Khairul Abdullah / flickr.com Jez Elliott / flickr.com Anna & Michal / flickr.com Peggy2012CREATIVELENZ / flickr.com Louvre Lobby (midorisyu / flickr.com) Louvre Lobby (Spencer Means / flickr.com) Ruben Holthuijsen / flickr.com Entrance to museum (Connie Ma / flickr.com)

The Louvre is one of the most famous art museums in the world and at the same time an architectural monument. As you know, it is located in Paris on the Rue de Rivoli. The exhibition area is almost 60 thousand square meters.

Among the 35 thousand items available, there are Venus de Milo and La Gioconda, known to every schoolchild. Initially, the Louvre was a fortress, from the walls of which the lower reaches of the Seine were monitored. It was built during the reign of King Philip Augustus, who reigned from 1180 to 1223. In 1317, the treasury was moved here, and under Charles V - the residence of the French kings. It became a museum in 1793, but acquired its modern appearance only in 1871.

Pyramid of the Louvre - Vault of the Grail

Very often tourists are interested in the question: why was it necessary to build an inverted pyramid in Paris next to this masterpiece?

Dan Brown's novel "The Da Vinci Code" added fuel to the flaring fire of curiosity. In it, the Louvre pyramid is a tombstone, under which is the repository of the Grail. But in reality, for what purpose was the pyramid built in front of the Louvre?

History of creation and main characteristics of the pyramid

The Pyramid is part and most controversial element of the Grand Louvre project, which was launched by François Mitterrand shortly after his election in 1981. The creators planned to modernize the museum complex, expanding the entrance and eliminating queues.

The opening ceremony of the pyramid took place at the end of March 1989. It was built according to the design of New York-based architect Yo Ming Pei (author of the Japanese Miho Museum project) from metal and glass in the inner Napoleonic courtyard of the Louvre.

This object consists of 70 triangular and 603 diamond-shaped segments, the thickness of which is only 21 mm. It is surrounded by three smaller pyramids, which are both portholes and fountains.

The Louvre pyramid weighs about 180 tons. The height of the structure is 20.6 m, each side of the base is 35 m long. The prototype for it was the Cheops pyramid.

Today, this structure represents the main entrance to the museum complex, providing optimal illumination for the lobby, which is located underground. Here are the entrances to all wings of the museum (there are three of them), information desks and ticket offices.

Myths and interesting facts

The source of the most famous myth is a mistake made in the very first booklet, which was dedicated to the new landmark of Paris. Its authors claimed that the pyramid consists of 666 glasses. In fact, there are 673 of them. This myth is reflected in Dan Brown’s bestseller.

It is not surprising that the decision made by the French President to build such an unusual facility was perceived very ambiguously. Some believed that the Louvre was an example of classical architecture, and all sorts of futuristic delights would not fit into the overall ensemble.

Others believed that this juxtaposition represented a wonderful combination of new and old influences. As stated above, the reasons for the construction of the pyramid were strong enough, and therefore it was erected.

By the early 1980s, the flow of visitors to the Louvre had become so significant that the old entrance could no longer cope with it. That's why a new one was needed. Today, to get to the museum, you need to go through the pyramid and down into a spacious lobby. Only after this you can enter the main museum premises.

The main pyramid in front is the largest of the others built near the museum, including the descending La Pyramide Inversee, which is a skylight in an underground alley.

The Chicago Museum of Science and Industry and several others have taken a similar approach to visitor admission systems.

All about the Louvre: preparation for a visit, museum opening hours and ticket prices. What to see on your own and which tour of the Louvre to prefer.

The Louvre is the most famous museum in the world. Over the centuries, it was rebuilt several times, each new ruler of France updating or expanding it in his own way. Founded in 1793, it was one of the first European art museums, following the opening of those in London (1683), Dresden (1744) and the Vatican (1784). Today, this collection of masterpieces plays a major role in the cultural life of the whole world.

More than 5 million people visit the Louvre every year. On weekends it can be especially crowded, despite the fact that the exhibition area is 60 thousand square meters. meters.

External and internal finishing

The now museum complex was built in the 12th century; its function was to protect the city from attacks by the Normans. Over time, Paris grew, and its borders went far beyond the defensive fortress. Since the Louvre could no longer serve as a defensive structure, it was decided to use it as a royal residence; it turned into a museum later - in the 18th century.

The territory of the Louvre is huge, and it’s easy to get lost while walking through the halls, even if you have a map in hand. The museum's courtyards are a separate topic for study. The facade of the palace has a very original decor: you can see statues supporting the roof of the museum, sculptures of lions, figures of birds, animals, angels and a lot of openwork elements. All this gives the building pomp and grace. Every building, every turret of the Louvre has a thoughtful decoration.

The interior decoration is no less impressive. Firstly, the luxury in which the French monarchs were accustomed to live is striking. Gilding on the walls, crystal chandeliers, luxurious decoration of the floor, walls and ceiling - this magnificence will take your breath away. What can we say about the exhibition, for which visitors are ready to stand in line and squeeze through the crowd.

The seven departments into which the modern Louvre is divided present the development of ancient and ancient art of the Mediterranean, as well as European art, from the Middle Ages to the first half of the 19th century. The history of the Louvre is closely connected with political events in the history of France.

The collection of paintings and statues of the museum today is so large that it is physically impossible to get around it in one day. It was calculated that if you go to the Louvre and stand near each exhibit for 30 seconds, it will take more than 7 days to see all the halls!

How to get to the Louvre - on foot and by metro

There are two metro stations near the Louvre: Louvre - Rivoli(branch 1) and Palais Royal Louvre(branch 1 and 7). The second one is a little closer, although the first one is only a couple of hundred meters away.

The easiest way to get there is to walk along Rue de Rivoli or from Quai François Mitterrand. The Louvre is located so well in relation to most attractions that you will not be able to miss it even if you wanted to. There will always be an opportunity to take a photo with the famous pyramid in the background.

A very stylish move is to go to the Louvre accompanied by a guide. On Tripster, such unusual excursions are already in demand. For example, 3 hours with guide Nadezhda, which became a hit, and a 4-hour, more in-depth route with Alexandra. The last title is telling, isn't it?

For the youngest travelers, the same Alexandra (she is a certified tour guide) has a 2-hour walk: . Just for fun, take a look at the website, there are already more than 30 reviews of it - young art connoisseurs are clearly not disappointed, and parents are absolutely delighted.

The advantages of these excursions are obvious - this is an opportunity to save time in the vastness of the Louvre and learn a lot of educational information. The guide will take you the shortest route to most of the world's masterpieces. By the way, if you have favorite works in the Louvre, this is even better - inform the guide about them in advance, and the route will be tailored to your individual wishes. Let me remind you that on Tripster you can ask questions before paying, this is very convenient.

If you don’t yet have your favorite pieces in the Louvre collection, please read this article to the end, and perhaps you will have them.

Opening hours and ticket prices

The Louvre Palace Museum is open to visitors every day except Tuesday. Opening hours: from 9-00 to 18-00, from 9-00 to 21-45 (Wednesdays and Fridays). The Louvre is closed on Tuesdays, January 1, May 1 and December 25. It is better to check the opening hours on other French public holidays in advance on the official website.

The cost of an adult ticket to the Louvre is 17 euros, an additional audio guide is 5 euros. Unfortunately, there is no audio guide in Russian; you can choose English or any other popular European language you speak.

Facts about the Louvre that everyone should know

The palace has a lot of secrets and mysteries; legends and stories are written about it. Among the interesting facts related to the Louvre, we note the following:

The glass pyramid of Farikon, located in one of the courtyards of the Louvre, is a modern structure and owes its appearance to President Francois Mitterrand. This object, despite its young age, has gained immense popularity among tourists. Almost every visitor to the palace takes a photo with him. However, the indigenous population does not like the glass pyramid, as they believe that it looks ridiculous against the backdrop of ancient buildings.

Nobody knows for sure why the huge museum complex was named Louvre. Some historians claim that previously there were wolf lands on this site, and “Louvre” translated from French means “wolf forest.” The version is valid, but most researchers do not share it.

Interesting facts about the Louvre that are worth studying before visiting the museum

Not all rooms of the former royal residence are given over to the museum and furnished with exhibits. The French Ministry of Finance also operates in the building. Naturally, tourists are not allowed to enter there.

“La Gioconda” is the most expensive painting in the world! Every day she gathers crowds of fans and admirers of painting around her. There is such a dense ring around the painting that it is almost impossible to see the canvas itself. This is why tourists often leave the Louvre in disappointment.

The museum stores more than 300 thousand exhibits, but only 35 thousand are presented to the public. The rest of the works are either waiting in the wings of the Louvre, or regularly tour the world.

The palace has three exhibits, which are called the "leading ladies of the Louvre". These are the mysterious Mona Lisa, the marble Venus de Milo and the winged Nike of Samothrace. They are always surrounded by a “round dance” of admirers.

There are many hypotheses as to what the Venus de Milo held in her hands, and where her limbs went. Several expeditions were sent to the island where Venus was once found in order to discover her hands. However, this came to nothing. Therefore, experts are inclined to believe that the statue was created without hands from the beginning - a strange idea of the master.

Most of our compatriots dream of visiting the Louvre not so much because of the collection of paintings and not even for the purpose of admiring the La Gioconda. The collected works of Dumas, read in adolescence and youth, stir the heart. It’s exciting to walk through the corridors and halls where the events in the plot of the novel “Queen Margot” once unfolded.

Louvre collection: what to see

Few museums in the world can boast such a diverse collection of paintings. But the Louvre is lucky: its collection includes works from all European schools from the end of the 13th to the mid-19th centuries. We are talking about a wide variety of genres and formats: small paintings and huge canvases, frescoes and decorative paintings. The history of the transformation of the Louvre into a museum stretched over five centuries - this led to a rich collection that absorbed various tastes, directions and trends. An organic collection has emerged that represents the development of all European painting.

Several years ago there was an idea to meet tourists - one-day visitors to the Louvre - and place two of the brightest pearls in one room at once: "The Dying Slave" by Michelangelo And "La Gioconda" by Leonardo da Vinci.

However, the project was never implemented. The museum administration was adamant: “A journey through the halls of the palace is a lesson in the history of art, and the desire to see only famous works leads to profanation.” It’s hard to argue with this statement, because the Louvre is preparing a lot of discoveries and first “face-to-face” acquaintances with works of art of world significance:

"Madonna with a Green Pillow" by Andrea Solario - typically Italian painting of the 14th century.

"Freedom Leading the People"(“Freedom on the Barricades”) by another French romantic, Eugene Delacroix, is a world-famous work.

"The Raft of the Medusa" Theodore Gericault, who became the first sign of romanticism in the fine arts of Europe.

"Dedication of Emperor Napoleon I and Coronation of Empress Josephine..." by Jacques Louis David, an ardent admirer of the emperor. In general, Napoleon Bonaparte occupies a special place in the museum’s chronicles.

Finally, "La Gioconda" or "Mona Lisa", to which all Louvre roads lead. The smile of the wife of the Florentine merchant Francesco del Giocondo, who at one time did not even bother to pay for the master’s work on the portrait, has worried visitors to the Louvre for centuries more than any of its other exhibits.

"The Dying Slave" Michelangelo, reference "Venus de Milo" and the winner "Nike of Samothrace" regularly win “gold” in the hearts of visitors, even against the backdrop of such a favorite as La Gioconda.

They will help you study painting before your trip "12 masterpieces of the Louvre that you need to know". The article has already won the hearts of our site readers along with "Masterpieces of Orsay"- a museum dedicated to the impressionists of Europe.

The collection of objects of plastic and applied art is also of great value. Thanks to generous gifts and smart purchasing, monuments of ancient civilizations appeared in the Louvre. They are dealt with by the departments of Islamic and Oriental, Egyptian, Ancient Greek, Etruscan and Ancient Roman art. Archaeological finds and masterpieces of applied art from all eras (furniture, jewelry, vases, porcelain) are exhibited according to all museum canons.

Most of the Louvre's collection of antiquities is represented by sculptures, some of which have enjoyed well-deserved fame at all times.

Excursions in Paris at the best prices

The most interesting excursions in Paris - routes from local residents. A choice of more than 150 (!) walks in Russian: sightseeing, gastronomic, excursions to the Louvre, the Orsay Museum, the Marais quarter and Montmartre, trips outside the city, quests, etc.

Glass pyramid - central entrance

The pyramid, located in the courtyard of the Louvre and surrounded by fountains and three other, smaller glass pyramids, took on all sorts of functions. This is both a decoration of the courtyard, and the main entrance to the museum, and a means of illuminating the lobby. In the 80s, when active preparations were underway for the bicentenary of the Great French Revolution, Paris was rebuilt. French President Francois Mitterrand announced a competition for the best project to renovate the Louvre.

The unusual solution in the Art Nouveau style won. The project was developed by Chinese-American architect Yo Ming Pei. According to the plan, the glass pyramid of the Louvre was supposed to connect earth and sky, and in addition, accommodate office premises, restaurants, shopping galleries, shops, etc. The prototype of the structure was, as you might guess, the pyramid of Cheops.

The grand opening took place on March 30, 1989. The main glass pyramid weighs 180 tons, height 22 m. Its base is 35 m long, the angle of inclination is 52 degrees. The Louvre pyramid consists of 673 glass plates 21 ml thick: 603 of them are diamond-shaped, and 70 are triangle-shaped.

The construction of the pyramid, as well as the underground lobby under it, helped solve the problems with queues: the original entrance to the Louvre could no longer cope with the daily flow. After passing things through the tape and passing the security frame (it is not recommended to take piercing/cutting objects and liquids that cause suspicion), visitors on the escalator find themselves at the ground floor level. Downstairs, even if you are not planning to visit the museum, you can buy souvenirs or albums dedicated to the masterpieces of the Louvre, visit perfume shops or antique shops.

Central entrance to the Louvre - ground floor

Experienced tourists take advantage of the free entrance to the lobby to visit the toilet, hide from the rain, have a snack in the cafe or drink a cappuccino.

From the ground floor you can go to one of three wings, where the exhibits are located: Richelieu outbuilding- in the north, outbuilding Sully, stretching around the Square Courtyard, and Denon outbuilding, stretching along the wall. At the information desk, pick up a free guide map of the Louvre in Russian. It will be useful for those who are determined to explore the museum without a guide. The map contains detailed plans of the halls, sections and rooms where the famous masterpieces are located.

Two tips: eat before visiting the Louvre at one of the fast food restaurants and leave your outerwear in the cloakroom, and only then buy a ticket.

Glass pyramid of the Louvre: decoration of the facade or bad taste?

Pyramid illumination

The lighting project was developed by American designer Claude Engle: he installed halogen lamps along the inner perimeter. After 15 years, the previous lamps were replaced by metal halide lamps, which have lower power but greater light output. Thanks to “cold” lighting, the structure was given an even more modern look. True, some Parisians still believe that the structure looks out of place in front of a palace built in classical traditions. But guests of the capital, as a rule, are fascinated by the combination of classics and modernity, considering such a mix to be the key to success.

Where to stay: hotels in the Louvre area

Living in the Louvre area is perhaps the third stylish move you should make in Paris. Don't think that I will offer you five-star hotels Grand Hotel Du Palais Royal overlooking the Tuileries or Hotel Regina Louvre, where Angelina Jolie is staying. You can easily find offers at exorbitant prices yourself. Here you will see the top 3 mini-hotels with ideal price/quality ratio, located as close as possible to the museum.

But please note that no matter how reasonable the cost, in arrondissement No. 1 it is by definition higher than in other areas of Paris.

#1. Hotel Prince Albert Louvre

3-star hotel five minutes from the Louvre and the Tuileries Gardens. The interior is designed in a classic style (it fits perfectly with an article on a palace theme!), the rooms are traditionally small, but everything is there. The street is quiet, with shops and restaurants. There is an elevator, free wi-fi and parking.

#2. Hotel Louvre Bons Enfants

The location couldn't be better. Almost opposite the Louvre and the Tuileries Gardens. The rooms are small, but clean, cozy and Parisian stylish; I'm impressed by the quality of the beds and mattresses. The staff is very friendly, breakfast is standard for Paris.

#3. Hotel Elixir

A modern three-star hotel located close to the Louvre, but on the Rivoli shopping street. Jean Lantier Lane is quiet, extraneous noise does not disturb sleep. There is a bakery and an awesome pastry shop nearby! If you get a room on the 5th floor with a balcony, you will get a panoramic view as a bonus.

Booking.com - from 8,000 rub.

When we hear the words, at first it may cause some confusion.

The word pyramid is more likely associated with Egypt, but, nevertheless, the glass pyramid of the Louvre has firmly entered the life of the old museum and even became a city landmark.

The pyramid was built in the 1980s as the main entrance to the museum.

The modern glass structure, which forms a striking contrast to the Louvre's historic facades, has become an iconic symbol in its own right, although not everyone has been enthusiastic about its appearance.

We can say that another rather controversial architectural object has appeared in Paris, just like a decade earlier.

The Louvre Pyramid was built as part of a project known as the "Grand Louvre", first proposed in 1981 by President François Mitterrand for expansion and modernization.

In the 1970s, the Louvre struggled to cope with the increasing number of visitors.

The entrances were too small, each wing had a separate entrance, and the layout was so confusing that visitors struggled to find the entrance or exit or simply each other in the corridors of the medieval building.

Mitterrand proposed expanding the museum by moving the Ministry of Finance, which had occupied the Richelieu wing of the Louvre building since 1873, to the Bercy area. Finally, the museum with its priceless collections was able to occupy the entire U-shaped building.

Architect Yoh Ming Pei excavated the Courtyard Napoleon, the central courtyard of the Louvre, and created an underground lobby with access to three different wings and ample space for ticket offices, shops, restaurants and other amenities. This made it possible to solve the problems of accessibility to the museum entrance.

By building the entrance to the underground level, Pei wanted to avoid looking like a subway station and create something that would attract visitors.

It seems that the Chinese-American had a rich imagination and courage, since his newly-minted design came into clear conflict with the classical facades of the Louvre.

Pei came up with a pyramid shape that became a lighthouse in the center of the courtyard. He chose glass for the shell as it was the least intrusive and allowed light to filter into the foyer below.

The pyramid is quite modest in size compared to the surrounding wings of the palace. Based on a base of 35 meters, it has a height of about 22 meters. It is surrounded by three small pyramids and pools with modern fountains.

Most critics were hostile to the bold project and constantly attacked the original design. The plans also provoked protest from Parisians, who were tired of modern projects after the construction of the Montparnasse Tower and the La Défense arch.

Polls have shown that a large majority of French citizens oppose the new structure. Personally, the pyramid also causes mental discomfort for me; it is too modern compared to the background of the old Louvre.

I believed that after the discovery of the Bosnian pyramids there would no longer be any reason to be surprised by the sensational finds. But it turns out, in plain sight, almost in the very thick of civilized Europe, there is not a small pyramid built, as facts show, not in our time, but in the times before the cataclysm, which covered it with a many-meter layer of clay.
I found this information thanks to friend His post is devoted to information about the change of poles in the past and about the upcoming process in the future. This is already its sixth part. I will give an excerpt from this part, where the Le Pertus pyramid is shown:

One of the most striking such objects is the Pyramide-Le-Perthus pyramid, Le Perthus, France, coordinates 42°28"30.56"N 2°51"38.78"E. This is what it looks like from a satellite.

This is a completely unique structure, which not only absolutely does not fit into the modern belief in history and geography, but also directly exposes the enchanting lies of official science.
Firstly, this 80-meter-high pyramid is located in the south of France. Have you ever heard of the pyramids in the south of France??? No? Exactly. But on satellite images and on images from the road that passes by this pyramid, the shape is visible quite clearly and there is no doubt that this is some kind of hill or hill. Regarding the Bosnian pyramids near the village of Visoko, official “science” has the opinion that these are not pyramids, but hills, although they were built using high-quality cement, as evidenced by scientific research. Read more about the Bosnian pyramids here.
How is it possible that such a building is in the south of France, but no one knows about it, what’s the matter?
Well, why don’t they know, the skeptics will object. Wikipedia knows FSE! That's right, Wikipedia pretends to know almost everything, but how much can you trust this information? Let's check. We go to Wikipedia and see what it says not about the pyramid, but about the Le Pertus Pass, where this pyramid is located. Moreover, it is absolutely impossible not to notice it - it dominates the road. There is no information on Wikipedia about the pyramid at this pass, either in English or Russian. Only about the Le Pertus pass itself in Spanish, French, Italian and, apparently, also in Catalan. But the mighty Google translator copes with the translation of text from French into Russian just fine, look, read in small letters at the very end of the article:
"The pyramid was built between 1974 and 1976 at the junction of the A9 and AP7 motorways. It is the work of the architect Ricardo Bofill. It is dedicated to Catalonia. It is located on the opposite side of the Pompey Trophy."
The only thing that can be said after such “information” is that someone treats Wikipedia readers as complete asses.
We look at the photographs and are surprised. Firstly, the pyramid is oriented towards the past pole in Nebraska, USA.

Secondly, it is covered with a layer of earth, sand and clay on the south-eastern side, at least fifty meters thick. By the way, the sea is also located in the south-southeast.

That is, you and I are asked to believe that the architect Ricardo Bofill not only collected debris from the construction of a road in the shape of a pyramid 80 meters high, but also placed this pyramid on the cardinal points before the last pole change and also covered his brainchild after the completion of construction with a fifty-meter layer of soil on the south-east side and planted grass and wild trees on this soil.
Who do the authors of the official version take us for???
I wonder why all this nonsense about the construction of the pyramid in supposedly 1976 was necessary for such an important reason?
Yes, everything is simply outrageous.
The Perthus Crossing (Col du Perthus) is a passage in the Pyrenees along the motorway on the Franco-Spanish border, between the Eastern Pyrenees region in Languedoc-Roussillon and the province of Girona in Catalonia. The peak is at an altitude of 290 m, it is one of the lowest borders of the crossing of the Pyrenees. It is the western border of the Albères mountain range.
That is, it is impossible to build a road in another place without a tunnel in a mountain range, and this is very expensive. And here stands this damn pyramid, aimed at the past pole and it’s an eyesore. It costs almost as much to bulldoze it as to build a tunnel through the Pyrenees elsewhere. What to do? So what? Blatantly lie about the fact that the pyramid is not a pyramid at all, but a heap of construction waste. And it was built just yesterday. And the fact that it looks at the previous pole and is covered with a fifty-meter layer of soil brought by the inertial tide during the next pole change is something that the population of people on Earth does not need to know at all, let them chew on the official version about construction waste and 1976. Official nonsense about her has been collected.

We noticed that the pyramid stands on the border of Spain and France, the province on the French side is called Languedoc-Roussillon. Yes, you read that correctly, Roussilion. Russian province, that is. The same Russian as Prussia in the north of Germany or Etruria (the inhabitants of Etruria - Etruscan, “they are Russians”) in the north of Italy.

I’ll add photos that I was able to collect on the Internet and from Google Earth:

Apparently the brick structure that is located at the top of the pyramid is the work of the architect Ricardo Bofill, but not the pyramid itself!

The brick objects are clearly a remake, but the staircase is most likely also from our time...

In addition to the Bosnian pyramids, which are also under a layer of clay, Mexico also has the Pyramid of Cholula, covered with thousands of tons of clay.