Louvre-Lens Museum

The Louvre-Lens may not be as vast as the Louvre in Paris, but it’s a remarkable museum in its own right. Its collection is impressive, and you can’t help but be drawn in. What makes it even more enjoyable is the lack of crowds, allowing you plenty of time to observe and fully immerse yourself in the art.

We used this as a pit stop while on a road trip, and it exceeded my expectations. The museum is free and enables you to see loads of incredible art. I loved the layout in the main room, with artefacts in chronological order. The information was really useful along with some fun activities for children/adults. The museum itself is not grand, but I think that adds to its appeal. What seems quite ordinary from the outside opens up into an airy and spacious blank canvas for the art to stand out against. I don't know if we could have spent too long here, which is why I have marked it down a star. However there seemed to be cafés and other paid exhibitions which you could delight yourself with. Free parking, free museum. Excellent stuff.

Free admission, nice collection in a quiet place. There is additional exhibition that costs extra. Audio guide available for 2 euros.

Beautiful Museum and absolutely worth a visit. We didn’t have to pre-book tickets as it was very empty. There is also a nice restaurant just outside the museum and a canteen inside serving salads, sandwiches and wine.

The Mona Lisa has become a cruel joke. One of the most beautiful paintings you'll see but everyone has their back to it to take selfies. So you are looking at them not the Mona Lisa. This painting dominates the experience. Advantage is you get to see Liberty Leading the People and my favourite the statue and mosaics from Persia with very little crowds. I used a guide to usher us in which cost 40e but saved about 3 hours queuing so well worth it.

Really enjoyed the 'time line' exhibit albeit that there was only one room. Unfortunately, all descriptions of the exhibits were only offered in french! We were very surprised at how quiet the venue was given the height of summer holidays. The car park was so empty, we even wondered if it was open. The long walk from the car park to the museum entrance was pleasant through lovely trees and gardens.

Amazing museum, an unexpected discovery. Permanent exhibition is great and free. We especially liked Egyptian pieces. We also visited the temporary exhibition afterwards, underworld, which was 11 euro but definitely worth it. You can use the online audio guide on your phone for free. Don't forget to take your headphones. It is extremely informative. Not all pieces are marked so it is a bit difficult to find out if there is audio about a piece or not, but for the rest, it is one of the best guides I saw.

This is a hidden gem in the North of France. Louvre-Lens is a beautiful museum. The main exhibition gives in one big hall an oversight of art from -3500 BC till 19th century. Very good explanations and app. Unfortunately the temperarly exhibition was not opened, but the parc around the museum is also worth a visit. Don't forget to have a lunch (3-course) in the restaurant that is part of the museum.

This museum was designed by renowned Japanese architect SANAA, and plays with the concept of inside v.s. outside. The experience begins at the train station - Lens is 1hr north from Paris - and winds through a lovely wooded park to the museum. The architect's touch is present but very subtly. There is a unassuming fence of reeds on the right, wiring for path lighting weaves back and forth across the trees, the informational placards for the area have raised markings so it's a joy to see AND feel your bearings. The museum itself has a low slung profile and beautifully reflects the natural landscape around it. At times it seems the building is hardly there as trees and clouds move across its surface. The interior is just as stunning, circular pods discovered outside in the concrete are repeated inside as pop-up library, information, and eating areas. Exhibits are displayed in chronological order so it's easy for any adult or child to glance up to see what millennia they're currently "in". Best of all, there's lockers for storing your bags if you're in transit from Paris to another city and.... it's free!! (as of June 2015)

Cool space. Very impressive and true to the sites history as mine. Perm collection is OK. A few great pieces, lots of high-end filler. It's the Louvres little brother, after all. Temp exhibit on war was outstanding. The curator did a great job capturing the essence of war-related art and it's role in our understanding of conflict, I almost missed it but you can see the storage area for priceless pieces on the lower level. That was kind of cool. The food in the cafeteria was OK. Nothing special but better than your average museum cafeteria.