Louvre

Before you stands the Louvre, a structure that began its life in the late twelfth century as a defensive fortress. King Philippe Auguste ordered its construction to protect Paris from river-borne invasions, and its original design featured a massive ninety-eight-foot-tall keep, thick walls, and a surrounding moat. Today, you can still view the remnants of these medieval foundations in the lower levels of the building, providing a direct connection to a time when this site served as a military stronghold rather than a sanctuary for art.