Beneath the Pyramid

Pause in the reception hall beneath the Pyramid, clear of queues and people passing. Daylight comes through the glass above. Find the names Denon, Sully and Richelieu on the signs. Each leads to a different wing, and those three names will help you connect what you see inside with the palace around the courtyard. I. M. Pei, the architect born in China who worked in the United States, placed this central reception space underground. It connects the wings and receives people arriving for different parts of the museum. The palace above grew as a royal residence over centuries. This hall was designed for the museum’s visitors. Before leaving the hall, find the wing indicated in your next direction. Keep your ticket ready for the collections entrance. If a passage is closed, ask staff for the open approach to the next room. You can take the visit one part at a time without having to understand the whole building at once.