The world's most-visited museum, the Louvre in Paris, was forced to shut its doors to the public on Monday. The closure came as staff members went on strike, marking the latest disruption at the iconic institution.
Tourists Turned Away, Tickets Refunded
"Due to public strikes, the Musee du Louvre is closed today," read a stark message on the museum's official website. The announcement left countless tourists and art enthusiasts disappointed, with the museum assuring that all pre-booked entry tickets would be automatically reimbursed. This is not an isolated incident; the Louvre was closed for an entire day last month and has operated with partial closures on several other recent days.
Under Pressure: The Aftermath of a Daring Heist
The strike action comes nearly three months after a shocking and embarrassing daylight robbery that has put immense pressure on the Louvre's management. On October 19, two intruders executed a brazen theft, making off with crown jewels valued at over $100 million. The thieves used a truck-mounted extendable platform to reach a gallery, sliced through a glass door with disk-cutters in front of startled visitors, and stole eight priceless items. Questions continue to swirl about whether the heist was preventable and how the security breach occurred.
Beyond the robbery, the striking staff are calling for more recruitment and better maintenance of the vast former royal palace. Their concerns are underscored by two other recent incidents. In November, a water leak damaged hundreds of books and manuscripts in the Egyptian department. Earlier, in October, a gallery housing ancient Greek ceramics had to be closed because ceiling beams above it risked collapsing. The museum's chief architect, Francois Chatillon, has previously described the building as "not in a good state."
A Call for Change and Security
The recurring strikes highlight deep-seated issues within the Louvre. Staff are leveraging the public and media attention from the high-profile heist to push for long-term solutions regarding staffing levels and the upkeep of the historic building. The combination of security failures and infrastructure problems presents a significant challenge for the museum's bosses as they work to restore public confidence and ensure the safety of its priceless collections.
