Palais Royal - Musée du Louvre

Palais Royal-Musée du Louvre serves one of the quietest and most beautiful gardens in central Paris. The Palais Royal gardens - enclosed on three sides by 18th-century arcaded galleries and on the fourth by the palace itself - are a genuine refuge from the crowds of the Louvre and the Tuileries nearby. Daniel Buren's striped black-and-white columns fill the main courtyard in a controversial 1986 installation that has become one of Paris's most photographed public artworks. The Comédie-Française, France's national theatre founded in 1680, occupies the southern wing of the arcade.

The station entrance on Place du Palais Royal is decorated by Jean-Michel Othoniel's glass bead canopy - two golden domes made from Murano glass spheres that have become an iconic piece of Parisian public art since their installation in 2000.

Station Overview

Zone 1. Lines 1 and 7. Step-free access available - making this the best accessible approach to the Louvre from the Métro.

Travel Tips

• The Palais Royal gardens are free, open all day and rarely as crowded as the Tuileries or Louvre courtyard - an excellent 20-minute stop
• The Louvre Pyramid entrance is a 5-minute walk east through the arcades
• Galerie Vivienne (one of the most beautiful covered arcades in Paris) is a 5-minute walk north
• The Othoniel entrance canopy on Place du Palais Royal is best photographed in morning light

Nearby Attractions

Palais Royal Gardens - Directly above. Free, elegant arcaded gardens with Buren's columns, independent restaurants under the arcades, and antique and toy shops.

Louvre Museum - 5 minutes walk east. Step-free access makes this the recommended accessible Métro approach.

Comédie-Française - In the Palais Royal complex. France's national theatre, founded 1680. Tickets available at the box office or online.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

Standard Métro hours. The gardens are open from approximately 07:30 to 22:30 (hours vary seasonally). The arcade restaurants under the Palais Royal galleries are excellent for a quiet weekday lunch away from tourist crowds.