30 years ago in France, in the center of Paris, at the entrance to the Louvre - the main art repository of the planet - a strange and mysterious structure appeared: a glass pyramid, which caused an ambiguous attitude among Parisians. Even before construction was completed, the glass object was fiercely debated. Some considered the pyramid, which looked ugly against the backdrop of the elegant Louvre, “a wart on a noble face,” while others defended the ambitious project. Located at the entrance to the famous art museum, the structure is surrounded by secrets, legends and speculation.
Purpose of construction
In 1981, French President François Miterrand decided to make Paris the cultural center of Europe.
The main object of attention of the head of the country was the ancient Royal Palace, which, thanks to Francois Miterrand, turned into an art museum of world scale. The president launched a project called the Grand Louvre, which involved modernizing the historical palace. The pyramid was built within its framework. It was intended to complement the look and give it a touch of modernity.
It also had a practical meaning - it expanded the entrance, thereby eliminating long queues. However, it was still not possible to completely get rid of the crowds of visitors. About 9 million people visit the museum every year. The flow of tourists does not dry out either on weekdays or on weekends.
Top 10 best
The sad history of the emergence of glass beaches is a thing of the past; now in different parts of the world, coastlines made of shiny multi-colored fragments have become tourist attractions.
Glass Beach in California, USA
The Pacific coast of the United States is famous for its excellent climate and interesting vacation spots. In 2002, the list of natural wonders of northern California was replenished with a small glass beach located in a secluded rocky cove near the resort of Fort Bragg.
Thanks to the efforts of the management of the McKerriher National Park, the coast was recognized as a “property of humanity” and became part of the reserve. Experienced travelers recommend visiting the beach at sunrise or sunset, when billions of pieces of glass turn into sparkling “jewels.”
Entrance to the beach is free; guests arriving by car will have to pay for parking. On the shore there are fountains with drinking water, changing rooms, and several cafes. Park employees closely monitor order; an attempt to remove “glass” pebbles from the beach leads to prosecution and considerable fines.
However, harsh measures do not stop souvenir lovers and the layer of shiny stones becomes thinner. On the outskirts of the city there is the world’s only “Museum of Sea Glass”, which houses a collection of 150 thousand pieces of multi-colored pebbles. Tourists will be offered crafts and told about the types and conditions under which rare specimens appear.
Although the bulk of the fragments have turned into smooth fragments, there is still a risk of injuring your feet on sharp edges. On hot sunny days, pieces of glass become hot and sunbathing on them is dangerous: you can get burns. Coordinates: N39.45219° W123.81327°/N39°27.131′ W123°48.796
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Steklyannaya Bay, Vladivostok
Glass Beach in Vladivostok ranks second in popularity among tourists. Most visitors come from cities near the Ussuri Bay, with individual travelers from neighboring regions and groups of curious guests from China.
The history of its origin is similar to its analogues: decades ago, the Ermine landfill was located nearby, where, among other waste, the remains of products from a local porcelain factory ended up. Until 2011, the bay remained an extension of the landfill; after protests from environmentalists, the landfill was closed with a concrete sarcophagus, and the shores were cleared of large parts.
The glass beach in Vladivostok attracts many tourists.
The sea turned the fragments of old dishes, tiles and bottles into a scattering of colored pebbles resembling candy. The shore sparkling in the sun, bizarre rocks made of solidified lava and relative accessibility (10 km from the city) have made the place a popular holiday destination.
Peculiarities:
- rental of a wooden house – 900 rub. per day;
- place for a tent – 200;
- a gazebo for a barbecue will cost 600-2000 rubles;
- barbecue rental – 300;
- parking space – 150 rub.
In warm weather, it is interesting to swim in the bay; the gentle slope into the water is strewn with colorful pebbles. The depth begins at 7-12 m from the shore. There is a children's playground, a small petting zoo and a place for beach volleyball. Coordinates: 43.145334, 132.057199.
Beach on the island of Kauai, Hawaii
Kauai, the oldest of Hawaii's main islands, is known for its lush vegetation, picturesque waterfalls and white coastal sand. Far from the tourist routes, in the center of the industrial zone of the Eleele area, there is a coast covered with a layer of rolled sea glass.
The Port Allen industrial zone has been in operation since the early 1900s, when a narrow gauge railway was built connecting the coast with the southern part of the island. The accumulated fragments of glass containers, car windshields and other debris over decades gradually turned into smooth green, brown, blue and transparent “treasures”.
On sunny days, the ocean coast of the port area sparkles and shimmers with many colors, resembling a huge kaleidoscope. Tourists are not deterred by the ban on swimming and the unattractive industrial nature of the territory; the number of visitors per year reaches 200 thousand.
Omura Bay Beach in Japan
The glass beach in Vladivostok, like its counterparts in California, Guantanamo Bay and the island of Kauai, was formed on the site of a waste site. And the local authorities themselves decided to cover the unnamed section of Morizono Park near the city of Omura (Nagasaki Prefecture) with processed pieces of glass.
The reason for the experiment was the uncontrolled growth of algae, which led to a deterioration of the environmental situation and the death of marine and coastal inhabitants. The thickets of vegetation that filled the bay and shores emitted an unpleasant odor and scared away local residents.
The builders removed all coastal stones and soil, covering the coast with a layer of processed glass 7-10 cm thick. The threatening growth of algae has stopped, but the restoration of the bay's ecosystem has not yet been completed, so swimming in the bay is not allowed.
Sea Glass Beach, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
The southeastern coast of Guantanamo Bay is notorious for the establishment in 2002 of a military base and a prison for dangerous prisoners. While it is prohibited to approach it, few visitors to Cuba can see the small beach located between the dilapidated pier and Girls Scout Cove.
The shore and shallow waters of the secluded bay are strewn with thousands of pieces of glass, rolled by sea waves. A local legend tells about a men's club popular among sailors, located next to the bay. The regulars had a tradition of breaking the bottles they drank right on the shore.
But the real reason for the appearance of beautiful multi-colored pebbles in the bay was the habit of people throwing garbage on the coast.
Black Bay and Sea Glass beaches, Bermuda
In the western part of Bermuda, near the Royal Navy Dockyard, there are several bays protected from storms. Natural small pebbles are mixed here with rolled green, white and transparent “sea” glass. Most brightly colored pebbles are found along the surf line. The sea here is calm and quite shallow; you can also look for shiny “treasures” under water.
The interesting underwater world and sharp, steep rocks attract diving enthusiasts.
The appearance of glass pebbles in the place is due to the work of the Naval Shipyard, founded back in 1809. Containers, fragments of dishes and broken instruments were thrown from ships. A nearby ship repair yard also disposes of waste on the coast. In 1951, the military base ceased to exist, and 20 years later the Bermuda Maritime Museum opened in its place.
With the increase in the number of tourists, part of the old shipyard was modernized, and cruise ships from all over the world arrive here. The organization responsible for the preservation of the territory provides tourists with an excursion to the glass beach. Collecting “sea glass” on the beach is prohibited, but cruise ship guests can’t resist and the colorful layer has become thinner.
Jasper Beach, Cape Fiolent, Crimea
The glass beach in Vladivostok arose due to the activities of the inhabitants of the region, but nature, without human help, is capable of creating amazing masterpieces. Located in the suburbs of Sevastopol, a secluded beach attracts tourists not only with clear water and an abundance of rocks around.
Among the small coastal stones, samples of gray-selenium and blue chalcedony, solar carnelian, striped agates and several types of quartz are often found. Lucky guests find pieces of jasper with golden inclusions of pyrite. Shiny, rolled stones are better visible in shallow water; armed with a mask and snorkel, you can collect an interesting collection of minerals.
The unusual pebbles of ornamental stones appeared due to a powerful earthquake that occurred 150-160 million years ago. Streams of lava erupted into the water, frozen into a bizarre pyramid, and the crater of the volcano split, revealing rock rich in minerals.
A pleasure boat runs regularly from Sevastopol to Jasper Beach. You can go down from above: from the observation deck of Cape Fiolent, an ancient stone staircase begins, consisting of 800 worn steps. It winds past the St. George's Monastery, founded in 891 by Greek sailors.
The beach is equipped with canopies, changing cabins, and sun loungers for rent. There is a rescue post and medical workers are on duty. Coordinates: 44° 30′ 5.10″ N 33° 29′ 39.17″ E
Seaham Hall Beach, UK
On the North Sea coast, in County Durham, is the small port of Seaham. The town with a population of 22 thousand people has become a popular tourist destination, the interest in which is only increasing among sea glass collectors. Until 1921, the town was home to Britain's largest glassware factory, Lohnderry Bottleworks.
Every evening for decades, waste from hand-blown dishes and bottles was dumped into the sea. But the main part of the fragments was added by the wreck of the ship “S. S. Oakwell", transporting the plant's products to a warehouse in Rotherhithe in 1917. The ship, hit by a German mine, sank, its fragile cargo broken.
Among the colorful pebbles on the Seaham shore there are fragments preserved that are over 100 years old.
This is a rare glass beach where you are allowed to collect colored “treasures”. Enthusiasts are also attracted by the uniqueness of the samples: in the surf strip there are fragments of orange, blue, pink, and even mixed shades. Local craftsmen create jewelry and souvenirs from the found “sea glass”.
Playa dos Cristais beach, Spain
The idyllic spot on the coast of the northern Spanish province of Laxe was previously visited only by locals, and then only to get rid of household rubbish. The rocky coastline of the Costa da Morte was used as a landfill until 1984. Through the efforts of local authorities and environmentalists, the Galician coast was cleared of large fragments and a ban on garbage disposal was introduced.
A series of ebbs and flows refined the pieces of glass and porcelain, turning them into smooth colored pebbles. They are found along the entire coast, but most of all the “jewels” are on the shore of the Playa dos Cristais bay, sheltered from storms and currents by steep cliffs.
Gradually, the place became popular not only among collectors; people come here to admire the sunset and meditate. Multi-colored stones sparkling in the surf, steep cliffs and clear turquoise water attract photographers hunting for beautiful views.
In the eastern part there is a small pier where boats with tourists from other cities dock. The authorities are trying to limit the export of glass “souvenirs”, but have not achieved much success.
Cofi Beach, Vieques Island, Puerto Rico
A glass beach in Vladivostok appeared on the site of a large-scale landfill, but picturesque shores of fragments are not always formed next to waste sites. The small, secluded island of Vieques has never had a garbage disposal, but between red-brown rocks there is a small bay dotted with polished glass.
There is a theory that pieces of “sea glass” began to appear on the secluded beach when in the 18th-19th centuries. The bay served as a secret refuge for pirates and smugglers. But even formidable rum aficionados could not drink enough bottles to create a layer of glass 5-7 cm thick.
Most likely, sea waves brought the remains of broken garbage from a neighboring island, on the shore of which there was a landfill for a long time. From a distance, Cofi Beach looks like your average tropical pebble getaway, but a closer look reveals thousands of polished pieces glistening in the white foam of the surf. A local curiosity is the largest glass beach in the world.
History of creation
In 1981, the mayor's office of the French capital announced a competition among architects who would take part in the Grand Louvre project. A huge number of participants submitted their applications, offering their options, both in traditional and completely original and innovative styles.
The architect BeiYuming (IeohMingPei) won the competition. This talented architect of Chinese origin proposed a design for a glass building that was quite bold at that time, which was successfully implemented.
Like the construction of the Eiffel Tower, the architectural style of the future building caused discontent and a huge amount of controversy among the residents of the capital. They believed that this would only spoil the appearance of one of the most grandiose buildings of the Renaissance. The controversy surrounding it became widespread and divided the residents of Paris into right and left.
Despite numerous discontent among the townspeople, the structure was still erected. Construction began in 1985. The opening of the facility took place in the spring of 1989. It is dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the start of the Great French Revolution.
How to get to the pyramid
The museum is located in the central part of the French capital, on Rivoli Street. You can get here by several means of transport:
- By metro, get to the Palais Royal Musee du Louvre station, which is the intersection of the seventh and first metro lines. Some tourists get off at Louvre Rivoli station (line 1);
- By bus: you need routes 95, 21,24, 68-69, 81 and others. The stop is located right next to the pyramid.
- On foot if tourists are close to Rivoli and the Louvre.
Address: 75001 Paris, France
Official site
Main characteristics
It is located above the underground hall, on the territory of which there are ticket offices, information desks, a cafe and entrances to the 3 main wings of the museum. Thanks to its design, enough light penetrates into the room, allowing you to avoid the use of artificial lighting during the day. Around it there are 3 small ones that act as illumination.
Main characteristics of the object:
- Height: 21.6 m.
- Weight: about 180 t.
- Total area of the multifaceted base: 1000 sq. m.
- Length of the sides of the base: 35 m each.
- Angle of edges: 52º.
- Construction: 603 diamond-shaped and 70 triangular segments.
- Segment thickness: 0.21 cm.
- Materials used: glass, aluminum and steel.
You can get to the attraction by metro lines 1 and 7. Get off at the PalaisRoyal-MuséeduLouvre station.
Features of the structure
A new entrance to the Louvre was erected in the museum's courtyard. The pyramid is made of glass and metal, surrounded on different sides by smaller pyramids. The architectural complex also includes another similar structure, called La Pyramide Inversee (serves as a skylight that runs above the underground gallery in front of the Louvre). During daylight hours, three small pyramids illuminate the galleries leading to the numerous halls of the museum.
The architect managed to perfectly implement the principles of high-tech, which calls for the use of a minimum number of details with maximum functionality of each element.
Along the inner perimeter, the glass pyramid is surrounded by light bulbs, making the structure look very mysterious and mystical at night.
The technical characteristics of the pyramid are amazing:
- Built from glass blocks;
- The height of the structure reaches 21.6 m;
- The length of each side of the base of the pyramid is 35 m;
- The glass slabs that make up the structure have different shapes. 70 blocks are triangular, and 603 are huge rhombuses. This form of blocks was not chosen by chance. The building turned out to be resistant and durable to the forces of nature and underground processes. The pyramid completely repeats the shape of the famous Egyptian pyramid of Cheops;
- The blocks are completely transparent, although Pei wanted them to be foggy;
- The thickness of the glass is 2.1 cm;
- The angle of inclination of each face is 52 degrees;
- The weight of the structure is 180 tons;
- At the base of the structure lies a huge polyhedron, the area of which is one thousand square meters;
- During construction, which lasted from 1985 to 1989, 105 tons of aluminum chassis and 95 tons of steel were used.
The glass pyramid of the Louvre began its work in March 1989, receiving its first visitors.
Yong Ming Pei, in implementing his project, demonstrated not only an excellent knowledge of the functionalist style, but also a commitment to traditional Chinese culture and beliefs. On all sides, the above-ground building of the structure is surrounded by triangular pools from which fountains gush. This composition was intended not only to revive the architectural style, but also to combine the element of air (symbolized by the dome of the pyramid) with the element of water (fountains).
In addition, in order to erect a building so simple in appearance, but complex in design, the architect used the services of engineers, technologists, programmers, biologists, meteorologists, physicists, etc. So it was necessary for the glass of the pyramid to be resistant to the influence of time. In particular, it is known that this material tends to turn yellow. To prevent this from happening, special glass manufacturing technologies were used.
The underground and above-ground worlds are represented in the structure by earth and sky. They are connected to each other by a spiral staircase. Going down it, each visitor finds himself in a small cozy Napoleon hall. Already being inside, there is a desire to raise your head up to look at the sky.
The floor and walls of the interior are covered with white Burgundy stone. There is also a beautiful mosaic on the ceiling, which symbolizes the blue sky, slightly obscured by clouds. In the hall there is a cafe, a cloakroom, and a modern conference room.
Legends and interesting facts
Among particularly original people and fans of world conspiracy theories, there is an assumption that the structure is the creation of the devil himself. According to their calculations, the number of inserts is 666. Dan Brown’s famous work “The Da Vinci Code” added fuel to the fire, where the author depicted it as a ritual temple of the mysterious Illuminati. However, in official sources the number of inserts remains equal to 673.
Some interesting facts:
- It is the 3rd most popular cultural site among tourists. It is surpassed only by the legendary creation of Leonardo da Vinci “Mona Lisa” and the ancient Greek sculpture of the Venus de Milo.
- The author, Bei Yuming, wanted the building to be built in the “Coca-Cola bottle” style. Initially, he wanted the glass segments to be slightly darkened. However, this would significantly worsen the lighting of the underground hall.
- The passage to the Louvre is the beginning of the Triumphal Route - the historical axis of Paris, which has a length of 9 km. This is one of the most ambitious projects of Francois Miterrand, which was implemented at the end of the 20th century.
- In 1793, revolutionaries from the French Masonic lodge attempted to build a pyramidal structure made of glass on this site.
- It is often associated with the activities of the Freemasons, the Illuminati and even aliens. However, there is no evidence of a connection with these “organizations”.
- This is not the only entrance to the Louvre territory. You can get there without queues from Rivoli Street or directly from the metro, from the side leading to the Carousel.
- In addition to the architect himself, a team of physicists, meteorologists, technologists, biologists and programmers worked on the project.
- Bei Yuming used the principles of Feng Shui in his work. It is surrounded on 3 sides by fountains. With this layout, the architect sought to harmoniously combine the two main elements - air and water.
Conspiracy theory around the Louvre
The construction of the pyramid is shrouded in myths and legends. It is said that the number of glass parts of the pyramid is 666 pieces. This number is known to be considered satanic. The figure comes from documents dating back to the 1980s, when construction planning was still ongoing. At that time, some brochures incorrectly stated this number, creating the myth that the pyramid was diabolical and would lead to the Apocalypse. This belief was further developed in the novel The Da Vinci Code. However, it can be mathematically proven that the number of glass elements is 673.
Architectural style
Built in Art Nouveau style. Bei Yuming managed to realize his idea - to use as few parts as possible, while endowing each component of his creation with maximum functionality. Thanks to the use of triangular and diamond-shaped blocks during the construction process, the structure became resistant to the passage of time and various manifestations of the environment.
The main source of inspiration for the creator of the work of art was the Egyptian pyramid of Cheops. The interior of the lobby was decorated with snow-white Burgundy stone. The ceiling was decorated with an elaborate mosaic, symbolizing the sky, slightly overcast with clouds.
The building is given a special mystery and a certain mystical appearance at night by the skillful illumination that Claude Engle worked on. Along the internal perimeter he installed halogen lamps, which were later replaced with less power-consuming metal halide lamps. This “cool lighting” gave the building a modern look.
Glass pyramid of the Louvre in Paris
The glass pyramid of the Louvre is as much a hallmark of Paris and France as the Eiffel Tower, the Seine embankment, the Champs Elysees and Versailles. Even at the construction stage, the building became the subject of heated debate and public discontent.
Supporters of the project, authored by American-born Chinese Yong Ming Pei, said that the glass building would only complement the architecture of the famous museum, bringing modernity to its appearance. Their opponents objected, emphasizing that the Art Nouveau style in which the pyramid was going to be built would spoil the aesthetic appearance of the Louvre. And this despite the fact that numerous museum buildings were erected in different historical eras, and therefore had different stylistic design.
Disputes in society, which were hotly discussed in the media, did not become an obstacle to the construction of the glass pyramid. In 1989, the building was put into operation.
Inverted pyramid
The lower part is an inverted pyramid that adorns the lobby. Tourists paid attention to it after the release of Dan Brown's sensational bestseller, one of the main settings of which was the Parisian museum.
In the author’s interpretation, it was under the inverted part that the tomb of Mary Magdalene was located. She also pointed to the place where the mythical Holy Grail was kept. This theory was never confirmed, which did not stop crowds of “pilgrims” and fans of the talented science fiction writer from coming to the Louvre.
The main reason for the legends and fantastic assumptions was that the inverted pyramid is a symbol of the Freemasons, which, by the way, includes Francois Miterrand. In the architect’s idea, it simply symbolized the earth and the underground world, and the above-ground part acted as a symbol of the sky. Between these 2 parts a beautiful spiral staircase was made, along which visitors descend into the small but cozy Napoleon hall.
It has become one of the symbols of Paris. The geometric figure reaching twenty and a half meters in height is equipped with a spiral staircase, an escalator and even an elevator.
The author and his idea
The architect of the Pyramid is Ieoh Ming Pei, a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a master's degree from Harvard. He is also the author of many other ambitious projects: the John Hancock Tower and the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston, the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong, and the Deutsches Museum in Berlin. His latest achievement: the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha (Qatar).
During the construction of the Louvre pyramid, a problem arose: it was not so easy to produce smooth, transparent white plates. The architect was asked to make the edges with a green tint. But then this would violate transparency, and this was not acceptable. According to Pei, the pyramid should look like a Coca-Cola bottle. And in general, he achieved his goal.
Pyramid in photographs
There are many images of the glass figure from different angles. A unique photo will be taken from the balcony of the Louvre, located on the second floor. But the most incredible photo is of the disappeared landmark. This masterpiece was invented and brought to life by street artist and graffiti artist JR. The edges of the figure were pasted over with a life-size image of the building. A photograph taken at the right angle displays the facade of the museum, as if in the absence of a polyhedron.
Day and night
In the daytime, the main entrance to the Louvre looks very unusual against the background of the palace. The overall picture contains notes of modernity and the grandeur of the past. The almost transparent geometric figure, surrounded by fountains, serves not only as the main entrance, but also as a means of illuminating the lobby.
In the dark, polyhedra look incredible; something mysterious appears in their outline, elusive to the human eye. This effect is created by special lighting installed around the perimeter.
comparison table
Pieces of broken glass processed by the sea are found on the shores of all continents of the planet. The fragments are carried by waves until they fall into deep bays protected by rocky terrain. Wave after wave, along with pebbles, brings colored “treasures” to the shore, creating the phenomenon of a “glass” kaleidoscope beach.
| Beach | Location | Peculiarities | Infrastructure | Availability |
| Glass Beach | California, USA | Ban on the export of glass pebbles | Equipped for recreation: parking, cafe, drinking water | 8 km from the city |
| glass | Vladivostok, Russia | Layer of stones 10-12 cm | Recreation area, camping, parking | 10 km from Vladivostok |
| Untitled | Hawaii | Industrial zone of the city | Not equipped | In the city |
| Untitled | Omuro Bay, Japan | The shore is covered with glass at the initiative of local authorities | Not equipped, swimming prohibited | 6 km |
| Sea Glass | Guantanamo Bay, Cuba | Closed area of a military base | Not equipped | 1 km |
| Black Bay | Bermuda | On the shore of a former military base | Minimum | Sea excursions available |
| Seaham Hall Beach | UK, County Durham | Rare examples of “sea glass” | Suitable for walks and photo shoots | In the city |
| Cofi beach | Puerto Rico | A large layer of rolled stones | Popular holiday destination | Secluded Island |
| Playa dos Cristais | Spain | Ban on the export of pebbles | Equipped with a pier for boats | 16 km |
| Jasper Beach | Russia, Sevastopol | Rolled fragments of ornamental stones | Equipped with: awnings, umbrellas, boat dock | By boat or downhill |
The consequences of an unreasonable attitude towards nature have turned into amazing glass beaches in Vladivostok, Puerto Rico, Spain and the UK. Tourists come to enjoy the unusual landscape and smuggle away some of the brightly colored “sea glass” created from storm debris.
Article design: Oleg Lozinsky
It harms wildlife
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“Every stone in the stream has life. Everything from aquatic plants to microorganisms are attached to them. The rocks also provide habitat for crustaceans. In the crevices, fish spawn eggs, which become fry.”
