LE LOUVRE - LENS

Opened in December 2012, the Louvre-Lens has successfully established itself in the former Nord-Pas-de-Calais mining region. In just a few years, it has become the region's second most visited museum. The glass-and-light building, designed by Japanese architects Sanaa, houses a selection of prestigious works from the equally prestigious Louvre-Paris. The museum's star attraction? Its remarkable Galerie du Temps. Over 3,000^m2 of a single 120-metre section, 5,000 years of history (from the invention of writing to the middle of the ^19th century) and stories can be discovered. Despite the absence of an opening to the outside world, this astonishing space has a soothing atmosphere. The works of art are well spaced out, allowing visitors to wander freely through the treasures on display. You can also use the museum app to learn more about the works and benefit from a host of features. Each year, on the anniversary of its creation, the museum renews the works presented, allowing visitors to discover new treasures with each visit. The Glass Pavilion, bathed in natural light, invites visitors to take a break in front of the park designed by French landscape architect Catherine Mosbach. A well-stocked resource center in the heart of the reception hall allows visitors to fully explore the site. Temporary exhibitions are regularly scheduled. In 2024, the museum is staging an astonishing exhibition devoted to subterranean worlds in art. Whether mythical or frightening, representations of life underground often reveal a great deal about society and its torments. Louvre-Lens also caters particularly for children and families, with specially adapted facilities and guided tours from 9 months (!) upwards. The museum is also a living space in its own right, with a media library open to all for work. Modular furniture is available to suit everyone's needs and desires. To get there, take the train and ask for the Louvre-Lens transport pass when you book your ticket. This pass includes a same-day return ticket to Lens at the price of a one-way ticket, on presentation of your museum admission ticket for the return journey. A free shuttle bus runs between Lens station and the museum, making two trips per hour.