Key facts
- The Louvre museum could be forced to close if it does not undergo a major overhaul.
- Director Christophe Leribault warned that without public funding, the museum risks falling behind and closing.
- The museum is seeking private funding but requires significant public investment.
- A €83 million security masterplan is underway, including an upgraded camera network.
- The museum's problems include old plumbing, poorly insulated galleries, and cramped public areas.
- The "Louvre – New Renaissance" project is estimated to cost €700–800 million over ten years.
The Louvre museum faces the potential threat of closure if significant public funding is not allocated for a comprehensive overhaul, according to its director, Christophe Leribault. Leribault warned that without repairs, updates, and transformation, the world's most-visited museum risks becoming outdated and inaccessible to the public.
Leribault, who took over as director in February, stated that while the museum will seek private funding, a substantial injection of public money is necessary and must be approved by France's next government following national elections next year. He emphasized that the issues are interconnected, with security upgrades requiring work on the historic building and its infrastructure, and that there is no simple, superficial solution.
The museum's problems include aging plumbing, poorly insulated galleries, and cramped public spaces. A leaked memo from Leribault's predecessor, Laurence des Cars, described some areas as "no longer watertight" and visiting the Louvre as a "physical ordeal." A burst heating pipe in February 2025 damaged a ceiling painted in 1819.
These necessary improvements have become a political issue, with President Emmanuel Macron advocating for the "Louvre – New Renaissance" project, which includes a new entrance and is estimated to cost between €700 million and €800 million over ten years. This project is partly to be funded by a 45% increase in ticket prices for most non-European visitors. However, trade unions have criticized Macron and des Cars for prioritizing architectural overhauls over more modest visitor experience improvements.
The museum's security has also been a concern, particularly after a heist in October 2025 where a four-man gang stole eight pieces of the French Crown Jewels, valued at an estimated €88 million, from the Apollo Gallery. A Senate inquiry later revealed significant security lapses, including a non-functioning camera at the point of entry. An €83 million security masterplan is currently in progress, involving measures such as a new head of security, an upgraded camera network, and enhanced surveillance.