You have entered the magnificent Palace of the Louvre and you are specifically in the "cour carrée", or "the square yard".The history of the Louvre dates back to the late 12th century when King Philip Augustus built a fortress to protect Paris from Viking raids. The word Louvre would be of Saxon origin and would mean "fortified enclosure". In fact, it is under your feet that the fortress was located, for which we can see the old foundations today.Starting in the 14th century, the kings of France left the Palace of the "Ile de la Cité" to come and settle in the Louvre and make their royal residence. Over the centuries, the Louvre, will continually be transformed, modified according to the taste of its kings and queens. When Louis XIV decides to leave the Louvre and move to Versailles, the palace will host many artists. Their works are intended to glorify the king.But the French Revolution will end this monarchical sovereignty, and in 1793, the National Assembly will decide to return all the treasures to the people by creating a museum. The Grand Louvre project, launched in the 1980s, fully renovates the premises. The final transformation of the Louvre palace into a museum, takes place with the inauguration of the new Richelieu wing, two hundred years after the opening of the Louvre to the public. The Louvre Museum is one of the largest and richest museums on the planet.The collections of the works of art are grouped into seven departments; they include Eastern and Islamic works, Egyptian Antiquities, Greek, Etruscan and Roman objects of Art, Sculptures, Paintings and Graphic Arts. The Louvre is the home of the most famous painting in the world: "La Joconde", or the Mona Lisa.Did you know that the "Joconde", or the Mona Lisa was stolen in the early 20th century, by an Italian Vincenzo Perugia, an employee of the Louvre who had been hired to participate in the setting under glass of many of the museum's works. He kept the painting in his room in Paris for 2 years (it is even said that he used it as a table for dining!). While trying to sell it in Italy, the thief was caught, and the Mona Lisa returned to the Louvre.Now, continue towards the Pyramid. Go under the porch of the "pavillon de l'Horloge", or "Clock pavillion". Turn your device back on when you're ready and facing the main entrance of the Pyramid