Beyond the Mona Lisa: explore some of the Louvre’s most overlooked galleries

First, head to room 301 of the Richelieu Wing where you’ll find yourself in the Galerie d’Angoulême and discover the near Eastern collections, with notable works from Iran and the Levant. This row of five adjoining rooms contains some of the oldest objects in the Louvre, dating back to around 7,000 BC. Beyond the objects, the rooms themselves are stunning, with few visitors and large windows, light comes pouring in generously, allowing you to fully realise the vastness and scale of the Museum.

Continue walking through the Richelieu Wing and stop at room 229 to discover the Cour Khorsabad. The courtyard houses the remains of an Assyrian city, which would have been built around the 8th century BC and is one of the most stunning elements of the Louvre’s collection. Your attention will instantly be directed toward the gigantic winged human-headed bulls which would have decorated King Sargon II’s palace. Don’t forget to take notice of the carved stones representing servants, King Sargon II himself, and even Gilgamesh overpowering a lion which would have also served a decorative purpose. If you speak French or are looking to improve your language skills, we can’t recommend this podcast episode enough. It is produced by the Louvre and talks about the winged bulls and the many mysteries that make them such interesting artefacts.

Another easily overlooked gem of the Richelieu Wing is the Napoleon III Apartments. This series of rooms reminds visitors that well before it was a museum, the Louvre was a palace, inhabited by many leaders of France throughout its turbulent history, and one of its inhabitants was none other than Napoleon III’s Minister of State. The lavish decor and dazzling ornate rooms give a rare insight into the Louvre as a home and a place of gathering. Complete with golden chandeliers, striking raspberry red velvet chairs and sofas and busy ceiling decor, these rooms give the palace of Versailles a run for its money. Please note that the Napoleon III Apartments are undergoing renovations and will reopen to the public in May 2024.

Next, head over to the Denon Wing. There, make your way to room 410 to discover Anne of Austria’s Summer Apartments which house a vast collection of Roman antiquities. Specifically, if you’re at all interested in Roman Emperors, this is the gallery for you. Pay attention to the stunning ceilings in the rooms formerly belonging to Louis XIV’s mother, and later used to house Napoleon Bonaparte’s collection of Antiquities. Those with knowledge of Ancient Rome will recognise a few familiar faces in these rooms, with striking busts of Emperors Hadrian, Marcus Aurelius and Tiberius on display. The rooms are also a great introduction to Imperial Rome, with a lot of information about the Emperors and their life made readily available, visitors can take their time to learn without feeling suffocated by the crowds that usually flock to the more popular galleries of the museum. Pay attention to the statue of Marcellus, Octavian Augustus’ son-in-law which presents an idealised representation of the male figure.

Also in the Denon Wing, lies the dazzling Gallery of Apollo (Galerie d’Apollon). Visitors often walk right past it as they head to see the Venus de Milo, but this room is undoubtedly one of the museum’s most sumptuous. A perfect representation of everything Louis XIV wanted to be perceived as, this gallery is lavish, glittery, and covered in gold and almost seems to be imploding with sunlight. Appropriately, the Apollo Gallery houses the Crown Jewels of France, along with a myriad of other precious jewels, tiaras, accessories and delicate hardstone vessels. Pay attention to the ceilings and their ornate decor and notice the representations of the Zodiac running around the room.

All in all, it’s hard to go wrong with visiting any of the Louvre’s rooms. There’s so much to see across the many floors and wings of the museum. It would be a shame to limit one’s visit to the Italian paintings. If you can, we highly recommend taking your time to get lost in the museum’s many halls and simply make the most of being in one of the world’s largest and most beloved museums. You can find out more about booking your tickets for the Louvre on their official website. We do recommend you book your entrance tickets in advance, as they can sell out.