The Louvre, centrally located in Paris on the Seine, has existed as a castle and palace since the late 12th century. Over the centuries, architecturally, it has grown larger and larger. For centuries it was the palace of the French kings, from Charles V to the Sun King Louis XIV. At some point, however, the latter established his palace in Versailles outside Paris. The Louvre was given other functions from then on. In 1793, among other things, it began to serve as a museum for the first time, making it also one of the oldest museums in the world. The museum's collection was acquired by the aforementioned kings as well as Queen Maria de' Medici, Cardinal Richelieu and Napoleon Bonaparte.