- The Louvre began as a fortress built in 1190 by King Philippe Auguste to protect Paris, which was then Europe's largest city. It was later transformed into a royal residence in the 14th century under King Charles V. - Starting in the 16th century, several kings expanded the Louvre and connected it to the newly built Tuileries Palace nearby. This created an enormous royal complex linked by galleries and passages. - Under Louis XIV in the 17th century, major construction took place to turn the Louvre into a grand Baroque palace, though this work was never fully completed. The Louvre then became a public museum after the French Revolution.