Louvre closed after robbery, French culture minister says | Paris
The world’s most visited museum, the Louvre in Paris, suddenly closed after the French culture minister said there was a robbery.
“There was a robbery at the opening of the Louvre Museum this morning,” Rachida Dati wrote on social media. used the French word braquage, this could mean robbery or burglary.
He added: “No injuries have been reported. I am in the area with museum staff and police.”
A member of his team told Agence France-Presse that at least one person had broken into the museum but did not add anything about a possible theft.
The Louvre said it was closed for the day “for exceptional reasons”, without giving further details about what was stolen.
One of the largest art centers on the planet, the Louvre attracts more than 8 million visitors annually. His works range from classical sculptures to Leonardo da Vinci’s 16th-century masterpiece Mona Lisa and the world’s most famous portrait.
Earlier this year, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a major renovation of the museum after its director warned that visiting the overcrowded building had become a “physical ordeal”.
The Louvre’s director, Laurence des Cars, said in a memo to the culture ministry that was leaked to the media in January that the area beneath the museum’s glass pyramid entrance was not properly insulated from cold or heat, tended to increase noise and was uncomfortable for both the public and staff.
Des Cars also raised the alarm about water leaks, malfunctioning infrastructure and temperature fluctuations that jeopardize the preservation of works of art. He said visitors faced overcrowding and substandard facilities.
