The great Palace of Louvre began as a military fortress built by King Philip II around the late 1300s. Its transformation in the icon of luxury was undertaken in the mid-16th century by Francis I, and technically did not stop for at least three successions. Its grounds were extended by each incoming king, as were its art collections. Ironically, the biggest additions to it came after the overthrow of the French monarchy.

On this day, November 8, in 1793, the former two-hundred year-old royal palace, the Louvre, with its bountiful collection of priceless European art, reopened as a public museum in Paris.

The Louvre’s collections were greatly expanded by “donations” from aristocrats seized during the Revolution. In the spirit of the Enlightenment, almost every piece — some 537 paintings and 184 other works of art — was put on display for the public free of charge for three days a week. The expansion of the collection continued under the military conquests of Napoleon III, although a lot of the looted works were returned after his defeat.