The Louvre Pyramid is one of the most distinctive features of the Parisian landscape. Serving as the grand entrance of one of the world's finest museums. Pyramid at the Louvre has become been a symbol of the museum and of modern Paris.

The scale of the Louvre Pyramid is quite impressive. At the base, the pyramid of glass and steel is nearly 100 feet wide; the massive sculpture soars 72 feet, towering above the visitor promenade. Nearly 800 diamonds-or triangle-shaped panes of glass were specially designed to let in the perfect amount of the light to the visitor center below.

The Pyramid at the Louvre can be seen from the outside plaza and from below. The spacious lobby beneath is properly called the Hall Napoleon, serving as an visitor center and an entry point into the massive museum home to Leonardo da Vinci masterpieces and so much more. Escalators lead to public galleries and a spiral staircase descends from the Cour Napoleon, the central courtyard.

The history of the Louvre Pyramid begins in the early 1980s when French President Francois Mitterrand commissioned the new addition to the historic museum. From the beginning, the plans stirred up controversy; many were concerned about a modern structure added to a building begun in the twelfth century. Even with this chapter in the history of the Louvre Pyramid, it's become one of the most visited landmarks in the entire world-along with other treasures such as the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, Egyptian antiquities, and decorative objects once owned by French royalty.

La Pyramide Inversee, a counterpart to the Pyramid at the Louvre, opened in 1993. The inverted skylight towers over the Carrousel du Louvre, an underground shopping mall next to the Hall Napoleon. Below the glass pyramid, you'll find dozens of shops, cafes, and open spaces. It's a fine place to enjoy the views and the special displays. Every November, the exhibit space serves as one of the galleries for Paris Photo exhibition.