Before opening as a public museum in 1793, which art museum was a royal palace?

The Louvre, or Louvre Museum, in Paris, was originally built as a fortress in the 12th century. It was later reconstructed in the 16th century to serve as a royal palace. In the 21st century, it is one of the most popular museums in the world, famously housing masterpieces such as Leonardo da Vinci's 'Mona Lisa'.

King Philippe II of France (1165—1223) laid the foundations of a fortress between the Seine and the walls of Paris. In 1546, Francis I (1494-1547) converted it into the primary residence of the French Kings.

In 1682, Louis XIV (1638-1715) chose the Palace of Versailles for his main household. The Louvre became a place to display the royal collection art. In 1692, the building was occupied by the 'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres' (Academy of Inscriptions and Literature) and the 'Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture' (Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture). It eventually opened as a museum on 10th August 1793.

The building was renovated during François Mitterand's (1916-1996) time as French President (1981-1995). The famous glass pyramid, erected in 1988, is the work of architect I.M. Pei (1917-2019).

As of 2021, the Louvre is ranked as the most visited art museum in the world. It contains well-known works by Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Rubens, Titian, Delacroix, and many more famous artists.