The Louvre is one of the four major museums in the world. It was built in 1204 as the castle of the Royal Palace of Philip August II. Known for its rich collection of classical paintings and sculptures, the palace is one of the most precious buildings of the French Renaissance. Its overall building is "U" shaped and covers an area of 24 hectares with a building area of 4.8 hectares. The Louvre is divided into six parts: the Greek and Roman Art Museum, the Egyptian Art Museum, the Oriental Art Museum, the Painting Gallery, the Sculpture Hall and the Art Deco Museum. On August 10, 1793, the Louvre Art Museum was officially opened to the public and became a museum.