Louvre-Lens in Lens, France is the first ever sister museum to the world famous Louvre in Paris
Lens is located just over an hour from Paris by train, making it an easy daytrip for visitors to the city. Though Lens itself has suffered from world wars and the demise of the coal industry, the Nord-Pas de Calais region is known for cultural vitality and a dense network of museums. The area received UNESCO World Heritage site after the announcement of the new museum, further adding to its cultural appeal.
The Louvre-Lens is built on the site of a former coal mine, and showcases a modern design that is very different from the Louvre in Paris. The museum, designed by a Japanese firm, features five brushed steel wings shooting off a glass central entry point. Inside, two sprawling exhibition spaces unfolds, containing a variety of works from the Louvre’s impressive collection. The museum itself will not hold a permanent collection; instead, it will showcase a variety of rotating works and themes. In many ways, the Louvre-Lens will serve as a space for the Paris museum to experiment – a space where anything is possible.
