POWER TAKES OFF FROM THE RIVER

THE LOUVRE WAS A FORT GUARDING ACCESS TO THE SEINE 

(FROM ABOUT 1200 TO 1500)

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It grew out so far along the river that it takes an aerial view 

to show its full extent:

        As imagined from the archives by Theodor Josef Hubert Hoffbauer toward 1885 /zoom 

The palace toward 1630

The Louvre in 1860, Seen from the Tuileries Gardens by Michel-Charles Fichot / zoom

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Palais-Royal nestles behind it. Prime Minister Richelieu built it as his palace, and bequeathed it to the king (Louis XIII, in 1643).

Maurice Leloir in Richelieu by Theodore Cahu,1900 

     Adapted from a plan in Open Street Map / zoom

View of the Palais Cardinal by Israël Sylvestre, 1650 / zoom

Its gardens would become the center of Parisian life.

Palais-Royal in 1679, anonymous / zoom

But first,

 a story that takes place at the Louvre.

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Next,

Fatal passion at the Louvre