APARTMENTS IN THE LOUVRE - REALLY??

Who knew? I've seen the MONA LISA several times, so on my most recent visit 2 months ago, I decided to see something I had never seen before. They actually have rooms that NAPOLEAN III (BONAPARTE) had built during his reign.  

When I got home I researched a bit to see if he actually lived there.  This is what I found.........

"Although the State Department and other administrative offices, including the Office of Finance, would later occupy them, Napoleon built private apartments in the north wing of the Richelieu Pavilion. In 1870, with Empress Eugenie and their son, he moved in, the first ruler to live in the Louvre since Louis XIV had abandoned the palace, the heart of the city he feared and hated.

....... The imperial family would spend little time in the Grand Salon. In 1870, during the FRANCO-PRUSSIAN WAR, Napoleon III was taken prisoner and held until the peace treaty of March 1 of the following year. He was deposed in absentia by the National Assembly in Bordeaux, which declared him "responsible for the ruin, invasion, and dismemberment of France"."

Excerpted from the book THE LOUVRE by Alexandra Bonfante-Warren -

History of the Louvre Part 5 of 5: Bonaparte through Modern Times

Here are some photos I took of the APARTMENTS in the LOUVRE to share with you, in case you never have the opportunity to see this yourself. Crowded with visitors, it was difficult to get pictures without people in it. 

The OPULENCE is AMAZING!!  

How about a few CHANDELIERS???  

The GOLD!!

And the PAINTINGS on the WALLS and CEILINGS?? 

So much to take in!

Can you imagine DINING at this TABLE in this SPECTACULAR room??

And naturally, there is a SPIRAL STAIRCASE........

THIS BED!!!  THE GOLD!!! 
And wonderful TAPESTRIES and RUGS.....

And a GOLD and GLASS (likely hand-blown) VANITY TABLE. Of course!

A few STATUES........ NAPOLEON LOVED his ART!

From these 2nd floor rooms, the view into the COURTYARDS is AMAZING!

I highly recommend a visit to these "APARTMENTS" if you have the time and opportunity to visit THE LOUVRE when in PARIS.

JOAN