The French Revolution fundamentally transformed tourism by democratizing cultural access. The revolutionary government's decision to open royal palaces and aristocratic collections to the public created the modern concept of the public museum.
The Louvre: From Palace to People's Museum
In 1793, the Louvre opened as a public museum, revolutionary in its concept that art belonged to all citizens, not just the elite. This model spread worldwide, but it began in France. Visitors could now see masterpieces previously hidden in private collections, establishing cultural tourism as we know it today.
Napoleon's Influence
Napoleon's campaigns, while militaristic, inadvertently promoted tourism:
- His soldiers returned home with tales of France's monuments
- The systematic cataloging of French heritage began
- Infrastructure improvements, including roads and bridges, facilitated future travel
- The creation of departmental museums spread cultural tourism beyond Paris