Louvre-Lens

Louvre-Lens is an art museum in Lens, France, housed in a bright building with large glass surfaces that spreads across an open site. The architecture consists of several low pavilions connected by glazed corridors and surrounded by lawns and water features.

The museum opened in December 2012 on a former mining site and grew from the wish to make the Paris Louvre collections accessible outside the capital. The location symbolizes the transformation of an industrial region into a place for art and education.

The permanent gallery space consists of a continuous room without dividing walls, allowing visitors to see artworks from different periods side by side. This layout makes it possible to compare ancient sculptures, medieval objects, and Renaissance paintings in a single view.

The exhibition rooms offer wide walkways and seating areas along the gallery, making it easy to view the works at a comfortable pace. The surrounding park is suitable for a walk before or after the visit, even when weather conditions change.

The artworks come from the Paris Louvre holdings and change at regular intervals, allowing returning visitors to discover new pieces each time. This rotation makes it possible to display objects that often remain in Paris storage and are rarely shown publicly.

Location: Lens

Inception: 2010

Architects: Kazuyo Sejima

Official opening: December 4, 2012

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Fee: No

Address: Carreau de la fosse 9 delle Miniere di Lens

Website: https://louvrelens.fr

GPS coordinates: 50.43056,2.80333

Latest update: December 17, 2025 08:03