[France] Opening of the new Islamic Galleries at the Louvre

Come 22 September, the long awaited new wing featuring the treasures from the Islamic world at the Louvre, will be opened to the public. The new Islamic galleries are housed under a giant undulating canopy set in an 18th century courtyard of the Louvre. This building is designed by architects Mario Bellini and Rudy Ricciotti. The canopy is pierced so as to allow daylight to filter into the galleries, changing the mood of the interior depending on the sun's rays. The Department of Islamic Art at the Louvre (first created in 2003) has an amazing collection of 18,000 artefacts and will be exhibiting around 3,000 works in their new galleries which occupies 3,000 sq metres over two levels. Their collection is wide ranging with objects from Spain to India, dating from the 8th to the 19th century.