France's Louvre museum 'running out of steam', new director says
Summary
The Louvre museum in Paris is facing difficulties in raising money to fix its old and worn-out buildings and equipment. Its new director, Christophe Leribault, said the museum is dealing with many problems, including a recent theft of valuable jewellery and ticket fraud.Key Facts
- The Louvre is the world’s largest and most visited museum, with about nine million visitors each year.
- It has an ageing infrastructure that needs urgent repairs and upgrades.
- The museum experienced a $100 million theft of imperial jewellery in broad daylight in October 2025.
- Other recent issues include a major ticket fraud scheme costing the museum around €10 million, water leaks, and repeated staff strikes.
- Christophe Leribault became the new director in February 2026, after the previous director resigned following the jewellery theft.
- French President Emmanuel Macron announced a renovation plan for the Louvre, including a new entrance and a special area for the Mona Lisa painting.
- The renovation project’s cost estimates vary from €700-800 million to €1.15 billion as stated by the French Court of Auditors.
- The Mona Lisa attracts about 20,000 visitors a day and will have a separate ticket for entry once the renovation is complete.
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