Cour Carrée

courtyard, Paris, France

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June 25, 2026

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The Cour Carrée is the original square courtyard of the Louvre Palace in Paris, France. Its construction began in the Middle Ages, with King Philip II building a castle on the site around 1200 to strengthen western defenses. Over centuries, the castle evolved into a palace, with significant architectural contributions from figures like Francis I, Charles V, and Louis XIV.12

Two of the Cour Carrée's facades, designed by Pierre Lescot and Claude Perrault, have greatly influenced French architecture, blending classical elements with French decorative styles. Today, the Louvre Museum, housing vast art collections, occupies the palace surrounding the Cour Carrée.1

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Paris
The Louvre
…original square, known as the Cour Carrée (Square Court), two galleries extend westward for about 1,640 feet (500 metres), one along the river and the other along the rue de Rivoli. In 1871, only 19 years after the huge oblong was completed, its western face, the Tuileries Palace (begun 1563),…
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…original square, known as the Cour Carrée (Square Court), two galleries extend westward for about 1,640 feet (500 metres), one along the river and the other along the rue de Rivoli. In 1871, only 19 years after the huge oblong was completed, its western face, the Tuileries Palace (begun 1563),…
Read More