Paris (EFE).- France is questioning the security of the Louvre Museum after a spectacular heist of priceless historical jewels, as government officials and cultural authorities face mounting criticism over longstanding security failures.
For the second consecutive day the Louvre remained closed on Monday, leaving thousands of visitors stranded outside its iconic glass pyramid.
The closure was announced at the last minute, with no clear explanation from museum officials.
“It’s a tremendous disappointment,” said Chilean tourist Michel Sánchez, one of many who expressed frustration over the lack of communication and poor management. “They should have warned us in advance.”
The decision came after the theft of eight royal jewels from the museum’s Apollo Gallery on Sunday.
The incident has triggered an internal review and a broader debate on the vulnerability of France’s most visited cultural institution.
Ministers address security “negligence”
Interior Minister Laurent Núñez and Culture Minister Rachida Dati held an emergency meeting with law enforcement and museum officials to assess the situation.
Following the meeting, the government ordered regional prefects across France to evaluate whether additional measures were needed at other museums and cultural sites.
“The issue of security has been neglected for forty years,” Dati said, indirectly blaming previous administrations.
A leaked report by France’s Court of Auditors, originally scheduled for release later this year, criticized the Louvre’s management for allocating an insufficient portion of its 323 million euros operating budget to security.
According to the report, only 138 cameras have been installed in the museum’s galleries over the past five years, covering roughly one-third of the exhibition spaces.
Dati noted that since 2022, multiple security audits have been conducted, and updates are underway.
She added that 160 million euros of the 800 million euros renovation plan announced by French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this year is specifically dedicated to improving safety systems.
However, the minister also emphasized that the Louvre “was never designed for today’s volume of visitors,” 8.7 million in 2024, making it the world’s most visited museum, nor for “the new forms of criminal activity” it now faces.
“We failed,” admits Justice Minister
The four-member gang responsible for the theft acted swiftly, stealing eight French crown jewels and accidentally leaving behind a ninth piece, the Empress Eugénie’s crown.
The thieves reportedly used a lift to access a balcony, cut through a glass door with a circular saw, and shattered two display cases in just seven minutes before escaping on two high-powered scooters along the Seine.
Despite the simplicity of their tools, their speed and precision left authorities alarmed. Museum employees, following safety protocols, did not intervene, and police arrived too late.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, who previously headed the Interior Ministry, admitted grave failings.
“What is certain is that we failed,” he said. “The fact that criminals could place a lift in front of the Louvre, climb to the first floor, and steal jewels of incalculable value gives a deplorable image of France.” EFE
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