The Louvre Museum announced Monday that it will close one of its galleries to the public as a precautionary measure after a technical audit revealed significant structural vulnerabilities in certain support beams of the building. The closure comes less than a month after a spectacular heist that saw thieves steal eight French crown jewels valued at approximately 88 million euros from the world's most visited museum.
The Campana Gallery, which houses nine rooms dedicated to ancient Greek ceramics, will remain closed while investigations are conducted into what officials describe as the "particular fragility" of certain beams supporting the second-floor sections of the south wing of the Sully quadrangle, which surrounds the Louvre's square courtyard. The museum emphasized that this closure is being implemented as a safety precaution while comprehensive structural assessments are carried out.
In addition to closing the public gallery, the Louvre announced that all office spaces on the second floor of the affected south wing, which are used by museum staff, will be evacuated over the next three days. This decision was made based on the findings of a technical engineering report that was delivered to the museum on Friday, prompting immediate action from museum administrators.
The structural concerns are particularly significant because the Campana Gallery is located in the same south wing of the Louvre where a criminal team successfully broke in on October 19, stealing the valuable crown jewels. The stolen jewelry, which represents some of France's most precious historical artifacts, remains missing despite ongoing investigations by French authorities.
Museum officials stated that they have "immediately launched a comprehensive investigation campaign to determine the causes of these recent developments and carry out the necessary repairs as soon as possible." The museum is working with structural engineers and technical experts to assess the full extent of the building's safety issues and develop a remediation plan.
The timing of these structural problems has intensified scrutiny of the Louvre's overall security and maintenance conditions. In January 2025, Louvre President Laurence des Cars had already alerted the Ministry of Culture about the deteriorating state of the Parisian museum, specifically mentioning "the multiplication of breakdowns in spaces that are sometimes severely degraded." This warning highlighted ongoing infrastructure challenges that have been developing over time.
Following des Cars' alert about the museum's condition, President Emmanuel Macron announced the launch of an extensive renovation and modernization project for the Louvre, with particular focus on the Sully quadrangle. Initially, the French president's office estimated the cost of these necessary improvements at approximately 800 million euros, representing one of the largest cultural infrastructure investments in recent French history.
However, the projected costs have escalated dramatically according to recent government oversight. A recent report from the Court of Accounts, France's national audit office, has significantly revised the renovation estimates upward, now projecting costs of at least 1.15 billion euros. This substantial increase reflects the more extensive nature of the required repairs and modernization work than initially anticipated.
The security and structural challenges facing the Louvre have drawn significant political attention. After being questioned by senators following the October 19 heist, Laurence des Cars is scheduled to appear before the National Assembly's cultural affairs committee on Wednesday morning. Lawmakers are expected to press her for detailed explanations about both the security failures that enabled the theft and the building maintenance issues that have led to the current gallery closure.
The combination of the major art theft and now structural safety concerns has raised serious questions about the management and preservation of one of the world's most important cultural institutions. The Louvre, which typically welcomes millions of visitors annually, faces the challenge of maintaining public access while addressing critical infrastructure needs and security vulnerabilities that have been exposed by recent events.
