No "Miraculous Solution" to Secure the Louvre, Said Its President at the AFP
Christophe Leribault said the museum needs a major overhaul and an 83 million euro security plan after a heist exposed camera gaps and aging infrastructure.
- On Wednesday, Louvre director Christophe Leribault warned the museum could eventually close without major repairs, stating it must be "repaired, updated and transformed" to remain competitive and secure.
- Following an October 19, 2025, heist of French Crown Jewels worth $100 million, the museum launched an €83 million security masterplan addressing surveillance gaps and perimeter protection.
- The government-backed "Louvre New Renaissance" project, estimated at around €1 billion, faces labor opposition; CGT union representative Christian Galani argues it prioritizes "grandiose" architectural changes over security priorities.
- To bridge funding gaps, the museum raised €1.6 million at a 2026 spring gala and launched an €800,000 appeal; Leribault maintains that major public investment is necessary after next year's national elections.
- Structural decay—including leaking pipes and badly insulated galleries—complicates the Louvre's operational future as experts warn surface-level fixes cannot prevent the institution from falling behind competitors.
60 Articles
60 Articles
THE director of the Louvre is warning that the museum is facing closure due to dilapidation and overcrowding. He is proposing a billion-euro renovation project to address security flaws and modernize infrastructure.
The most visited museum in the world "will eventually have to close its doors for the public . . . . . if the French state does not intervene to finance a major renovation, said Luvre director Christophe Leribault on Wednesday for Le Figaro...
The Louvre will have to "close its doors to the public" if a major renovation and modernization plan is not implemented, says its president Christophe Leribault, a year after the burglary that has destabilized the most visited museum in the world. ...
Christophe Leribault, director of the Louvre Museum in the French capital, Paris, said that if the museum is not repaired or transformed, it will have to close its doors to the public.
One year after the spectacular burglary of the Louvre, his new director entrusted himself to Figaro on the progress of the security work and on the indispensable modernization of the most visited museum in the world.
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