Route 4: Hidden Gems and Quiet Spaces

For repeat visitors or those seeking peaceful contemplation

Starting Point: Lions entrance Difficulty: Easy to Moderate Duration: 3 hours

Itinerary:

1. Near Eastern Antiquities (Richelieu Wing, Ground Floor) - Start with ancient Mesopotamia - Code of Hammurabi - Stunning Assyrian bulls - Usually uncrowded - 30 minutes in ancient worlds

2. Objects d'Art (Richelieu Wing, Level 1) - Decorative arts galleries - Crown jewels in darkened room - Exquisite furniture and timepieces - 25 minutes of luxury

3. Northern European Paintings (Richelieu Wing, Level 2) - Peaceful galleries - Dürer, Holbein, van Eyck - Incredible detail rewards slow looking - 30 minutes contemplation

Quiet Lunch: Café Richelieu (less crowded than others)

4. Egyptian Antiquities - Coptic Section (Sully Wing, Level 1) - Often missed by crowds - Beautiful textiles - Early Christian art from Egypt - 20 minutes serenity

5. French Drawings (Sully Wing, Level 2) - If open (check ahead) - Delicate works on paper - Rotate regularly - 20 minutes if available

Hidden Gem Highlights:

- Apartment of Anne of Austria - Medieval goldsmith work - Egyptian jewelry collection - Flemish miniatures