Opened in December 2012, the Louvre-Lens Museum is located in the former mining area of northern France, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Its delicate, resolutely contemporary architecture of glass and light is set harmoniously on a former coal-mining site, which has been transformed into a 20-hectare landscaped park.
The Galerie du temps is truly the heart of Louvre-Lens. It features more than 200 masterpieces from the Louvre’s collections, in a spectacular 3,000 m² space, and offers a unique journey through the history of art, from the invention of writing in Mesopotamia in the 4th millennium BC to the industrial revolution in the mid-19th century. Its chronological and multidisciplinary scenography creates a new dialogue between eras, techniques and civilisations.
Every year, temporary exhibitions on an international scale take a completely different look at the Louvre’s collections, contrasting with the Galerie du Temps, and showcasing works from all over the world. With the scientific support of Le Louvre Museum, and thanks to innovative and diversified mediation, these exhibitions combine cultural excellence and accessibility for the widest possible audience. This same ambition is reflected in the Glass Pavilion, with its exhibitions showcasing the treasures of the museums of Hauts-de-France.
Louvre-Lens is more than just a museum; it is a cultural city dedicated to delivering an all-encompassing artistic experience. The stage and its shows, the Resource centre and its media library, the Backstage area revealing the reserves and the restoration workshop, the park and its summer events, all contribute to making it a privileged venue for sharing and interaction.
Desired and supported from the outset by an entire region and its population, the Louvre-Lens has now found its place at the heart of a region experiencing profound change. Through an extremely robust partnership approach, it is part of a global and virtuous strategy, supporting its cultural influence as well as its economic and social development.
