I have been to Paris several times but one of my most enjoyable days there was when my sister and I toured the Louvre. It really is a remarkable place packed full of some of the most interesting collections I have ever seen.

We went a couple of years back when the Da Vinci Code’s popularity was at its peak. A large number of tourists flocked by the audio guide stand paying the hefty fee to have Jean Reno talk to you through headphones about the film’s location. So from time to time you could see a tourist or two acting out a scene or frantically running through the corridors as you tried to focus on some sculptures.

After a few two many run-ins with these enthusiasts we decided to take some of the routes less traveled. This is my favourite thing about the Louvre. You can choose to turn in any direction and find yourself in a grand room all by yourself. It seems to stretch forever.

At one point the rooms opened up into a courtyard of sorts with a glass roof giving the place an indoor-outdoor feel. This was towards the end of the day so this part was empty except for the numerous sculptures looking in on us.

We made a point of seeing the real tourist attractions at the start of the day the Venus de Milo and Mona Lisa being our main two. And yes we were unimpressed with the size and display of Mona Lisa preferring instead the replica in the gift shop by the metro station.

One of the most intriguing parts is the original foundations of the Palace seen in the basement area I also really loved the rooms reconstructed to appear as they would have done during the 16th century- so ornate and grand. Even the smallest of detail was beautiful especially some of the ceiling decorations.

It has to be said you cannot fit this experience into a day but that to me is the charm. I would gladly visit again and again knowing each trip would present another unseen part of this magnificent structure.

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