The Louvre Just Made Its Collection Free to Browse Online

The world’s most-visited museum remains closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but thankfully, you can now see its famous collection without having to get on a flight and having to pay an entrance fee!

The Louvre announced last week that it has created an online platform showcasing more than 480,000 artworks for everyone to enjoy from the safety of their homes—for free.

“Today, the Louvre is dusting off its treasures, even the least-known,” said Jean-Luc Martinez, the president and director of the Louvre. “For the first time, anyone can access the entire collection of works from a computer or smartphone for free, whether they are on display in the museum, on loan, even long-term, or in storage.”

The website features three-quarters of the Louvre’s entire archive, including pieces from all of its eight departments such as Egyptian antiquities, Islamic arts, sculptures from the Middle Ages and Renaissance, among many others. You can search by department, theme, or to make it feel even more realistic, use the interactive map that lets you explore the former palace, floor by floor, room by room.

Included, of course, are masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, The Raft of Medusa, and the Venus de Milo. 

“The Louvre’s stunning cultural heritage is all now just a click away!” added Martinez. “I am sure that this digital content is going to further inspire people to come to the Louvre to discover the collections in person.”

The online experience might not be as life-changing as actually being there, but hey, at least you won’t have to compete with the crowds when life opens back up.