Mona Lisa in Louvre Museum

Mona Lisa (called La Joconde in french) by Leonardo da Vinci is the most famous painting of the spectacular Louvre Museum in Paris, the capital city of France.

Leonardo da Vinci was born in 1452 in Vinci near Florence in Italy. He was a genius in many fields including painting, music and engineering.

Impressed by the Italian renaissance and in particular by Leonardo da Vinci, François the first, the King of France at that time, who was fighting a war in Italy, brought him back to France with him.

Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci

The Virgin and child with St Anne by Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa during his stay in France between 1503 and 1506.

The subtle smile of the Mona Lisa is world famous. Leonardo da Vinci used his finger to erase outlines and create an impression of fuzziness.

Leonardo da Vinci died in 1519 in Amboise, one of the favorite towns of the King in the Loire valley.  

The Mona Lisa is the masterpiece of the Louvre Museum, which has many many more pieces of art to amaze you. Don't miss it when you come to Paris.

Musee du Louvre
75058 Paris Cedex 01

station Palais Royal on line 1

Open 9am to 6pm all days except Tuesdays, January 1st, May 1st, November 11th and December 25th. The museum is open until 10 pm on Wednesday and Friday evenings.

Leonardo da Vinci's Self portait

St John the Baptist by Leonardo da Vinci

Full-day Louvre museum entrance fee: 9 euros 
Louvre museum entrance fee from 6pm to 9.45pm on Wednesday and Friday evenings: 6 euros.

To get easy access on your own to Paris museums, get your Paris Museum Pass. You will also save altogether on entrance fees. As the Louvre museum is quite large, we also recommend you a guided visit.  

Louvre museum web site

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