Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Carrousel du Louvre is an underground shopping centre in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, under the Louvre Museum and the Carrousel Garden. Designed as part of the work of the Grand Louvre by architects Ieoh Ming Pei (famous for the Louvre pyramid) and Michel Macary, it was inaugurated in 1993. This project is part of a desire to modernize access to the museum while creating a versatile space, combining shops, culture and events. The architecture includes the inverted pyramid, an emblematic element visible from the outside.

The site hosts various spaces: shops, the Salles du Carrousel (dedicated to fairs or events such as the general meeting of BNP Paribas scheduled for May 2025), a studio-theatre of the Comédie-Française, and the grand amphitheatre of the École du Louvre. Its strategic location, between the museum and the Tuileries gardens, makes it a must for visitors. Access is facilitated by public transport (metro lines 1 and 7, several bus lines) and dedicated parking.

The entrance hall of the Carrousel houses historical statues saved from the demolition of the Tuileries Palace in 1882. Five 17th-century works are exhibited here: The Council and Value of Thibault Poissant, The Sincerity attributed to Louis II Lerambert, The Religion of Philippe de Buyster, and the head of La Justice of Michel De La Perdrix. These sculptures, once scattered in private parks (such as Domont or the Château de Maisons-Laffitte), have been reintegrated into the collections of the Department of Sculptures of the Louvre. Their presence underlines the link between the Carrousel and French artistic history.

In February 2017, the site was the scene of an attack on military personnel, recalling its vulnerability despite its status as a cultural and commercial venue. Today, the Carrousel du Louvre remains a symbol of the fusion between historical heritage and contemporary dynamism, attracting both tourists, students and professionals.

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