On July 6, 2016, the Pavillon de l’Horloge (the Clock Pavilion) is opening its doors to address questions visitors may have about the palace, its collections, and its missions.
What traces can still be seen from the major periods of construction of the palace? Which kings actually lived there? Why did it become a museum? How were the first Egyptian sculptures acquired? What are the Louvre’s current large-scale projects?
Located in renovated historic areas between the Cour Carrée and the Cour Napoléon, the Pavillon de l’Horloge welcomes visitors and takes them through the transformation of the palace—once home to the kings of France—into a museum.
Interactive models, digital displays with archived documents, films, and artworks from the Louvre collections help tell the story.
The Pavillon de l’Horloge spans three levels in the Sully wing:
- Level -1: From palace to museum
On the lower floor, in the medieval moat, visitors will learn about the rich story of a fortress transformed into royal palace, before becoming a museum.
- Level 1: One museum, many collections
On the first floor, in the Salle de la Chapelle, visitors will discover the varied and rich collections of the Louvre, the story of how they were established, and different trails within the museum.
- Level 2: The Louvre today and tomorrow
On the second floor, visitors will better understand the breadth of the Louvre with news not only of its current projects and missions (acquisitions, restorations, scientific research), but also its satellite locations (Lens, Abu Dhabi), and its partners, explaining that the Musée du Louvre is part of an extensive network of museums in France.
These are the three stops of the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Center, which pays tribute to the late founding Father of the United Arab Emirates Nation, in accordance with the intergovernmental agreement signed in 2007.
As the backbone of the museum, the Pavillon de l’Horloge plays a role of introducing visitors to the Louvre and will spark their interest in the new trails. Building on renovation of the welcome areas under the Pyramid and the opening of the Petite Galerie, the Pavillon de l’Horloge is in line with the determined efforts of Jean-Luc Martinez, the president-director of the Musée du Louvre, to make the museum more accessible, easier to understand and more welcoming.
Organized by:
Jean-Luc Martinez, President-Director of the Musée du Louvre.
Project Manager:
Néguine Mathieux, Head of the History of the Louvre Division,Research and Collections Department, Musée du Louvre.
