The world-renowned Louvre Museum in Paris has temporarily closed its Campana Gallery, which houses an extensive collection of ancient Greek ceramics, after structural engineers discovered serious weaknesses in the building's support system. The closure affects nine rooms dedicated to Greek antiquities and comes as a precautionary measure following a technical assessment that raised red flags about the structural integrity of the museum's Sully Wing.
A comprehensive technical report submitted in mid-November identified significant fragility issues with the beams that support the second floor of the Sully Wing, located in the museum's southern section. The Campana Gallery, situated directly below on the first floor of the same wing, was deemed at risk due to these structural vulnerabilities. Museum officials have announced that the gallery will remain closed to the public "until further notice," though they have assured that the valuable artworks will not be relocated from their current positions.
The closure has immediate operational impacts on the museum's staff, with 65 employees who were based in the affected gallery space being relocated to other areas within the institution. A museum spokesperson confirmed that while the artworks will remain in place, public access to this significant collection of ancient Greek ceramics is suspended indefinitely as safety assessments and potential repairs are evaluated.
This structural issue comes at a critical time for the Louvre, which is in the midst of an ambitious renovation project known as the "New Renaissance" initiative. Announced in January by French President Emmanuel Macron, this comprehensive modernization plan specifically prioritizes the restoration, technical upgrades, and revitalization of the Sully quadrangle where the structural problems have been identified. The timing of these structural concerns aligns with the museum's broader infrastructure challenges that the renovation project aims to address.
As part of the New Renaissance project, the Louvre plans to create a new visitor entrance beneath the museum's eastern-facing Perrault Colonnade by 2031. This addition is designed to alleviate the persistent problems of long queues and overcrowding that have plagued the world's most visited museum. The structural issues in the Sully Wing underscore the urgent need for these comprehensive infrastructure improvements.
However, the museum's ambitious renovation plans have come under scrutiny from France's national audit institution, the Cour des Comptes. A recent report from this oversight body highlighted significant management issues at the Louvre, particularly regarding security infrastructure deployment. The audit was published following a brazen heist in October during which French crown jewels were stolen from the museum, exposing serious gaps in the institution's security systems.
The financial scope of the New Renaissance project has grown substantially, now carrying an estimated total cost of 1.15 billion euros. This includes 481 million euros allocated over the next decade specifically for the first two phases of the renovation master plan. The Cour des Comptes report noted that even this substantial sum represents "a low estimate considering the museum's need for modernization," highlighting the extensive work required to bring the centuries-old palace up to contemporary standards.
Cost overruns have become a significant concern for the project's financial viability. The new entrance project and associated spaces, which the audit report describes as carrying "significant risks of cost overruns due to its complexity," has already seen its budget increase dramatically. Initially estimated at 450 million euros, the cost projection was revised upward to 667 million euros by June, representing a nearly 50% increase from the original estimate.
The audit institution has recommended that the museum reassess its priorities given these budgetary challenges. "Faced with the budgetary impasse it is experiencing, the museum must prioritize its projects, focusing on investments crucial to its future, particularly the upgrading of technical infrastructure, including security and safety, and the restoration of the palace," the report states. In response to these criticisms, Louvre management defended their approach, describing the audit report as "unbalanced."
The affected Campana Gallery holds particular historical significance, named after the Marquis Giampietro Campana, whom the Louvre's website describes as a "very colorful" collector. Campana began his collecting career in his twenties, initially gathering artifacts from archaeological excavations conducted on his family's property in Frascati, just outside Rome. His passion for antiquities grew into a renowned collection that gained fame throughout Europe, and he later expanded his holdings to include Italian paintings acquired from the collection of French Cardinal Joseph Fesch. The gallery's closure means that this historically significant collection, representing decades of careful curation and cultural preservation, is temporarily inaccessible to the millions of visitors who come to the Louvre annually to experience these ancient treasures.
