Paris' famous Louvre museum has opened a branch in the town of Lens, France called the Louvre-Lens Museum. The satellite branch opened its doors in its Northern France location on Tuesday, reported CNN.
In an inaugural ceremony France's President Francois Hollande was in attendance. CNN reported that the museum cost $196 million to build and will bring thousands of visitors to the city. "Like its counterpart in Paris, the Louvre-Lens hopes to attract hundreds of thousands of visitors, though instead of to Paris, the museum will bring visitors to a decidedly more gritty city," reported CNN.
The Louvre in Paris was the most visited museum in the world last year, reported CNN. The new museum in Lens will display approximately 200 works with the stunning design completed by Pritzker Architecture Prize winning Japanese agency Sanaa. CNN reported that Sana"positioned on the site like boats on a river that have delicately floated into a huddle," according to the Louvre's official website.a beat out 120 competitors for the project to design the new museum. The Louvre's website says it is, "positioned on the site like boats on a river that have delicately floated into a huddle."
"The inside is equally impressive, with two sprawling exhibition spaces teaming with works as diverse as ancient Cycladic sculptures, Egyptian diorite statues, 11th century Italian church mosaics and Leonardo da Vinci's restored masterpiece, 'The Virgin and Saint Anne,'" reports The Associated Press.
The futuristic aluminum and glass structure is a contrast to Lens as a city. The Associated Press reports that Lens city center is "riddled with closed shops, abandoned houses, angry residents and a boarded-up cinema."
Some locals believe the new museum to be a patronizing display. Resident Amandine Grossemy, 26, said to the AP, "Why do we need a museum and culture here? We need money and jobs. Who's da Vinci, anyway?"
Officials however, hope that the new museum can transform the gritty city and make it a travel destination.
Louvre director, Henri Loyrette said to the AP, "It's important, as Lens is a territory that has suffered from every crisis, from every war."
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
