> Before opening as a public museum in 1793, which art museum was a royal palace?And the answer: The Louvre. Located in Paris, The Louvre was originally built as a fortress in the 12thcentury, but was reconstructed in the 16th century to serve as a royal palace.Today it's one of the most famous museums in the world, and includesmasterpieces like the Mona Lisa.Photo credit: Benh LIEU SONG [https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Benh] (Flickr [https://www.flickr.com/people/75729488@N03]).From Medieval palace to artmuseum, The Louvre has undergone eight centuries of architectural and conceptualtransformation. King Philippe Auguste began work on the Louvre with theintention of creating a fortress – a square, defensive line between the Seineand the walls of Paris. It wasn't for another century that the structure wasaltered to become a royal residence. For the next several hundred years, Frenchrulers occupied the walls of the Louvre, creating new wings and additionsreflective of their respective time period. Catherine de' Medici, a widow of Henri II, built another palace and garden justoutside of the walls, intended for her personal use. Along the waterfront, HenriIV constructed La Grande Gallerie, connecting the two magnificent structures. At460 meters, it was the longest building ever seen in Paris at that point, andthe first milestone of an ambitious project that would continue under hissuccessors. Over the next several centuries, more projects by successive rulers andarchitects would take hold of the palace until its structure was finallysolidified to the state with which we are familiar today. Its transition tomuseum was gradual – after Louis XIV moved the royal residence to Versailles,only a single wing of the entire Louvre Palace was dedicated to salon-style artfor many years – but eventually the public came to know the Louvre as a sourceof high art and inspiration. Today, it remains so. Learn more about The Louvre below.