10 August 1793 – The Louvre Opens Its Doors to the People

From royal palace to revolutionary museum, how France gave art to the masses

When you think of the Louvre today, you picture that glass pyramid, the crowds around the Mona Lisa, and the sheer scale of one of the most iconic buildings in the world. But the Louvre did not begin as a museum, and it certainly was not always open to the public. In fact, the day it opened — 10 August 1793 — was nothing short of revolutionary.

Literally.

It was the height of the French Revolution. The monarchy had been overthrown. The guillotine was in regular use. France was in chaos. And yet, in the middle of all this, a group of revolutionaries decided that the great works of art once reserved for kings should now belong to the people.

This is the story of how the Louvre became the people's palace.

From fortress to palace

The origins of the Louvre go back to the 12th century. It was built originally as a fortress to defend Paris from invasion. Over time, it became less of a military stronghold and more of a royal residence. By the time of the Renaissance, French kings had transformed it into a lavish palace filled with art, tapestries, and sculptures.

When I visited years later as an adult, I could still feel that layered history in the stone. Each corridor felt like a timeline in itself. It is easy to forget when you are standing in front of the Venus de Milo or the Winged Victory of Samothrace that this place was once filled with soldiers and kings, not tourists with cameras.

Revolution and repurposing

By the late 1700s, the tide in France had turned. The revolution had upended everything. The monarchy had fallen. The aristocracy was in retreat. And the question of what to do with royal property became urgent.

Rather than destroy the treasures of the past, the revolutionaries had a different idea — put them on display. Let the people see what was once hidden behind palace walls. Let art be for everyone, not just the elite.

On 10 August 1793, exactly one year after Louis XVI had been removed from the throne, the Muséum central des arts opened in the Louvre. It was free to the public and featured just over 500 paintings, many of which had been taken from royal and church collections.

It was a profound moment. In the middle of political terror and social upheaval, France found a way to turn cultural heritage into public treasure.

A symbol of democracy

The idea of a national museum was new. This was not about impressing foreign dignitaries or flaunting wealth. It was about education, enlightenment, and access. The Louvre became a symbol of what the revolution claimed to stand for — liberty, equality, fraternity.

That is what makes the date so important. This was not just about art. It was about ideas. It said that culture belonged to the people. That knowledge should not be hidden behind velvet ropes. That beauty was not the property of the powerful.

Even as someone born in 1981, I still find that concept radical.

We take museums for granted now. School trips, Sunday afternoons, audio guides. But in 1793, this was new. It set a precedent for countries around the world.

Napoleon and expansion

Of course, the Louvre did not stay static. Under Napoleon Bonaparte, the museum was expanded significantly. Artworks were brought in from across Europe — many of them seized during his military campaigns. At one point, the Louvre was renamed the Muséum Napoléon.

While Napoleon’s collecting methods were highly questionable, his belief in the power of art was sincere. He saw the Louvre as a way to glorify France and himself. When he fell from power, many of the stolen pieces were returned, but not all. Some of the controversy around the museum's holdings still lingers today.

As I walked through its halls on my first visit, I could sense that complexity. The splendour of the collection is breathtaking, but the history behind it is far from simple.

From national to global

By the 19th century, the Louvre was growing rapidly. More wings were added. More donations and acquisitions came in. By the time the 20th century arrived, it was firmly established as one of the world’s great cultural institutions.

The Louvre weathered wars, invasions, and occupation. During World War II, much of its collection was secretly evacuated to protect it from Nazi looting. After the war, the museum expanded further, both physically and symbolically.

In 1989, the Louvre Pyramid was unveiled. Designed by architect I. M. Pei, it divided opinion but has since become one of the most recognisable entrances in the world. For me, that contrast — the old palace and the modern glass — sums up the Louvre perfectly. It is ancient and modern. Grand and accessible. Rooted in history but always evolving.

A place of stories

What makes the Louvre remarkable is not just the size of its collection. It is the variety. Greek sculpture, Islamic art, Renaissance paintings, Egyptian relics, modern installations. It is like walking through the memory of human creativity.

But more than that, it tells the story of France. From kings and conquerors to revolutions and republics, the Louvre has stood witness to it all.

And through it all, the people have come. Tourists, students, artists, dreamers. Each bringing their own story into contact with centuries of history.

Final thoughts

On 10 August 1793, the Louvre opened its doors to the public. It was a radical act at the time. A palace turned into a museum. Royalty replaced by republic. Art given to the people.

More than two centuries later, it remains a symbol of culture, history, and shared human heritage.

I might have been born long after those first paintings were hung on the walls. But standing in those galleries today, you can still feel the moment it all changed.

Because the Louvre is not just a museum. It is a revolution that never stopped.