Louvre director warns museum could close without major renovations

Christophe Leribault, director of the Louvre Museum in Paris, France, has warned that the museum will have to close its doors to the public if it is not repaired and transformed.

In an exclusive interview with French newspaper Le Figaro, Leribault discussed the current state of the world-famous Paris landmark, CE Report quotes Anadolu Agency.

Leribault, who took over the museum's management on February 25, said urgent construction work was underway to improve the building's security. He added that new security cameras and protective measures were being introduced and that renovations were being carried out on the railings surrounding the museum.

Leribault said that the other jewels in the gallery where a robbery took place last year had been removed until suitable new display cases could be selected. He added that, as a precaution against the growing number of robberies at museums across Europe, some other valuable items exhibited at the Louvre had also been moved to a secure location.

Pointing to increasing risks related to climate change and cybersecurity, Leribault noted that the number of visitors fell by 8% during the summer because of extreme heat.

Leribault stressed that the museum's security was the top priority, highlighting the deteriorating condition of its equipment, infrastructure and building.

"The new government will have to authorize renovation work"

Leribault said repair work had begun on the museum's escalators, lighting systems, ceilings and air conditioning. He added that the possibility of a reasonable increase in admission fees had not been ruled out.

"The museum is in very poor condition and is also overcrowded," he said, pointing out that the Louvre could no longer accommodate all 9 million visitors through its main entrance at the pyramid.

Leribault argued that a comprehensive renovation plan, titled "The Louvre's New Renaissance," was necessary and said the transformation could take up to 15 years.

He said the government that takes office after France's 2027 presidential election would have to authorize the renovation project.

"The next government must keep this in mind: if the Louvre is not repaired, upgraded and transformed, it will quickly lose its prestige and will eventually have to close its doors to the public. That would be a disaster," he said.

Jewels were stolen

The world-famous Louvre Museum, which houses around 35,000 works of art, was robbed on October 19, 2025. The robbery, which made international headlines, was carried out by four people and lasted seven minutes. Eight historically significant pieces of jewelry were stolen.

The suspects accused of stealing the jewels from the Louvre were arrested one after another approximately two weeks after the robbery, but the historical artifacts have not been recovered.

Photo: Pexels (Free Stock Photos)