The Louvre museum and the National Gallery

The Louvre museum and the National Gallery are my favourite places to visit to view art. I have not finished exploring these museums yet. They are too large and the works in them too great to rush through. I would like to talk about the profiles of these places, focusing particularly on their cafés.

The Louvre museum is one of the most famous museums in the world. It was established in 1793 in the centre of Paris. The building was initially used as a palace and became a historic monument and a national symbol before the museum opened. The collection contains about 35,000 pieces. The collections in the Louvre museum were the first in the nation. These treasures of France were opened to the public in the 18th century. Entrance fee is 9 euros and, unfortunately, there is no student discount. I think it is a little expensive.

The National Gallery in London was founded in 1824 and built in the centre of the city. It has been funded with donations from the people of Britain. It is one of the most famous museums in the world and contains truly magnificent works. Having said that, entrance is free. When I visited it for the first time, I was so impressed.

Each museum has a good café in which to rest. Cafe Marly in the Louvre museum is beside the entrance to the glass pyramid. The view from the terrace is really interesting and attractive. The opening hours are long and last from the early morning to midnight. This means that not only tourists but also the local people who may be busy during the day, have the opportunity to enjoy the museum café. Many foods are served. I especially recommend the macaroons.

In comparison, the National Dining Rooms in the National Gallery in London are open only during a much more limited time: 10am to 5pm every day except Wednesdays when it is open until 8:30 pm. There are many kinds of teas, as may be expected in a tea-loving country such as England. There is a pleasant atmosphere but the service was rather poor.

The histories of the museums are very different. The Louvre Museum was founded by the state whereas the citizens of Britain were responsible for establishing the National Gallery.

Even if I were only to focus on their cafés, I could already say that the character of each place is very different. I think this is because they have been coloured by the culture of the country in which they can be found. Café Marly is less formal than the Nationl Dining Rooms and you can’t help feeling as though the conventions are less important here. In the National Dining Rooms, on the other hand, the more formal atmosphere makes you want to mind your manners far more. When all is said and done though, both of these cafes are so lovely in their different ways that any comparison is difficult. Perhaps you could say that the different character has each place has is part of what makes it so special.