No "Miraculous Solution" to Secure the Louvre, Said Its President at the AFP
Christophe Leribault says lasting fixes must come with a broader renovation as the museum advances an €83 million security plan and seeks private funding.
- On Wednesday, Louvre President Christophe Leribault warned that the museum could close unless lawmakers approve a major renovation, stating it must be "repaired, updated and transformed" to survive.
- This warning follows the October 19, 2025, heist of French crown jewels worth an estimated $100 million, which exposed critical infrastructure vulnerabilities and prompted Leribault's appointment in February 2026.
- The museum is implementing an €83 million security masterplan, which includes upgraded surveillance, perimeter protections, and a dedicated head of security, with Leribault describing the work as "moving forward at speed."
- To support these efforts, Leribault aims to raise €330 million from private sources, recently launching a public appeal for €800,000 to renovate the Sphinx Courtyard following €1.6 million in gala proceeds.
- Securing the estimated €1 billion overhaul requires public funding approval after next year's elections, though CGT union representative Christian Galani argues the museum should prioritize modest changes over the "Louvre New Renaissance" project.
54 Articles
54 Articles
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.
Louvre could be forced to close without major overhaul, director warns
A year after thieves made off with €88 million of crown jewels that have never been found, the new man in charge says leaking pipes and crumbling galleries mean security fixes alone won’t save the Paris landmark.
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