In a letter to French Culture Minister Rima Abdul Malak, revealed by the newspaper Le Parisien, Louvre Museum director Laurence des Cars warns that the museum's facilities are in a dire state, with ongoing decay and a "worrying level of obsolescence of the equipment," according to Le Figaro. Des Cars' letter mentioned problems such as water leaks and "worrying temperature fluctuations that threaten the preservation of the artworks," with some galleries facing variations that would endanger the artworks, and some areas that "are no longer waterproof," reported Le Figaro.
The Louvre Museum, designed to accommodate 4 million visitors annually, recorded a record 10.2 million visitors in 2018 and welcomed 8.7 million visitors last year. The enormous popularity is causing a "physical burden" on the historic building, leading to infrastructure problems, including outdated technical facilities and damage from water infiltration, as reported by Le Figaro.
To prevent overcrowding, des Cars, who was appointed in 2021, imposed a limit of 30,000 visitors per day, according to Fakt. However, the challenges persisted. "Visiting the Louvre has now become a 'trial' for tourists, especially in the Salle des États where it is sometimes impossible to move," des Cars stated.
The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci remains the most popular attraction at the Louvre, with 20,000 visitors coming to see it each day, according to France Info. This concentration contributes to congestion and challenges in managing the flow of people. Tourists have long complained about long queues, particularly to see the Mona Lisa. On social media, visitors regularly complain about the overcrowded room where the painting is displayed.
All visitors pass through the pyramid entrance designed by architect I.M. Pei, which has become dysfunctional due to high temperatures inside during the summer. To alleviate overcrowding, des Cars advocated for a second entrance to relieve the overloaded main entrance under the pyramid, proposing a new entrance on the side of the Saint-Germain l'Auxerrois church, according to Le Figaro. "In addition to a radical renovation, the construction of a new wing for the Mona Lisa was also being considered," reported News 247.
According to Stern, the sanitary facilities at the Louvre are inadequate and do not meet international standards. Some works of art are difficult to locate due to insufficient signage, and des Cars noted that the museum's signage requires a complete redesign.
According to Le Figaro, the necessary investments for the modernization of the Louvre are estimated at least 100 million euros, with additional costs for restoring the walls, pyramid, and escalators totaling about 500 million euros. Additionally, around 400 million euros are needed for a new entrance and a specific room to present the Mona Lisa. "This amount may cause headaches for President Macron's government, which is facing difficulties in approving the budget for 2025," reported News 247.
Des Cars called for a fundamental modernization of the Louvre, stating that "the status quo is not tenable."
"We must give a future to the Louvre by aiming high," she stated.
The Louvre Palace was built in the late 12th century on the site of a castle constructed by King Philip II and served as the official residence of the kings of France until Louis XIV abandoned it to settle in Versailles. The Louvre was converted into a museum for the royal collection of artworks in 1793, more than two centuries after it was used as a royal palace.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq