Medieval Louvre
Our tour of the Medieval Louvre
in conjunction with our project of detailing the evolution of Le Louvre, I wanted to tour the Sully Wing this year.
The Sully wing is not my favorite (perhaps for the wrong reasons) I don’t get excited about Egyptian, Islamic, etc Art. (although the Islamic basement exposition was very dramatic and impressive)
I finally asked an attendant, he said go to Venus de Milo and you will be close
Then I walked through the Salon of the Caryatides
(walk under the Sculpted female figures (Caryatidies) serving as columns,
then descend down to the medieval Louvre exhibit.
My French language skills really lack, but even I detected that there was a Tour Sign, listing times and including Anna who was prepared for the next French Language Tour. I persuaded Anna to give me an “English” tour, if no one showed up for the tour. And that is what transpired
We satarted at what appeared to be the bottom of the moat, it’s walls representing the foundation of the Louvre Fortress. It was a “Keep” where King Philipe Auguste stored the treasures of Paris. It was a Fortress located along the Wall of Paris, with a Turent to view the boats approaching Paris by way of the River Seine. The blocks of the wall bore carved symbols, ie. hearts and crosses. They counted the blocks with “hearts” and that is how you were paid.
Charles V converted the structure into a residence. A floor for the King, a floor for the Queen, with Balconies. Anna, my guide told me that they know of the castle by it’s plans which still exists (she provided the name of that site) and told me that this Castle Plan was used by Walt Disney for Sleeping Beauty. Anna and I completed the tour through loose translations of French and English. So I am not sure if Anna referred to the Sleeping Beauty Caste at Paris Disney or the Movie Sleeping Beauty or the Book Sleeping Beauty. But there was definitely a reference to Sleeping Beauty (“la belle au bois dormant”) and definitely Walt Disney. I can’t find any other references or verification, but I am accepting this Louvre version
Francois I, was impressed by the Renaisance, so much so, that he tore-down all evidence of the Louvre Castle and created a Reannaissance Louvre Palace. Francois was good friends with Leonardo di Vinchi and his emphasis on the Rennaissance endures. You might be surprised that the Grande Gallerie, with is the most famous exhibition hall at the Louvre does not display French Paintings. It displays Italian paintings from the Rennaisance
Paris for the Holidays 