The Louvre Museum, the world’s most visited cultural landmark, has extended its strike, yet the iconic Parisian institution opened a restricted “masterpiece route” on Wednesday to let visitors see a handful of its treasures.
Partial Opening During the Walkout
The museum announced that visitors could still experience a curated path that includes Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” and the Venus de Milo. On social media, the museum posted, “Due to a strike, some rooms in the Louvre Museum are … closed,” adding, “We apologize for any inconvenience.” The move allowed the Louvre to remain partially accessible while its staff continued their protest.
Union Demands and Historical Context
Workers are striking over chronic under-staffing, building deterioration, and recent management decisions. These issues were sharpened by a brazen crown jewels heist in October that exposed serious security lapses. The strike decision was made during a morning general assembly after workers had adopted the walkout unanimously earlier in the week. The museum had already been closed on Tuesday for its regular weekly day off.
The union’s grievances include:
- Under-staffing: Insufficient personnel to manage the museum’s daily operations.
- Building deterioration: Structural issues that threaten the safety and preservation of artworks.
- Management decisions: Policies that staff feel undermine museum standards.
These demands are compounded by the October robbery, which highlighted gaps in the museum’s security system.
Government Response and Funding Concerns
On Monday, Culture Ministry officials held crisis talks with unions and proposed several measures: canceling a planned $6.7 million cut in 2026 funding, opening new recruitment for gallery guards and visitor services, and increasing staff compensation. Union officials said the proposed measures fell short of addressing the root causes of the strike.
The Ministry’s proposal aimed to stabilize the museum’s finances and improve security staffing. However, the unions insisted that deeper reforms were necessary to prevent future incidents.
Leadership Scrutiny
Louvre President Laurence des Cars was scheduled to appear before the Senate’s culture committee on Wednesday as lawmakers probe the museum’s security failures. Des Cars has acknowledged an “institutional failure” following the heist but has faced renewed scrutiny after admitting she only learned of a critical 2019 security audit after the robbery. France’s Court of Auditors and a separate administrative inquiry have criticized delays in implementing a long-promised security overhaul.
Des Cars’ admission that she was unaware of the audit until after the robbery has intensified calls for accountability. The Senate’s culture committee is expected to question her about the museum’s preparedness and oversight.
Security Overhaul and External Oversight
The Culture Ministry announced emergency anti-intrusion measures last month and assigned Philippe Jost, who oversaw the Notre-Dame restoration, to help reorganize the museum. The appointment was widely seen as a sign of mounting pressure on Louvre leadership to address security shortcomings.
Jost’s role involves coordinating with security experts, reviewing existing protocols, and ensuring that the museum’s protective systems meet contemporary standards. The Ministry’s intervention underscores the severity of the security breach and the urgency of restoring public confidence.
Key Takeaways
- The Louvre strike continues, but a limited “masterpiece route” remains open for visitors.
- Union protests focus on understaffing, building decay, management decisions, and security lapses highlighted by the October robbery.
- The Culture Ministry proposed canceling a $6.7 million funding cut and boosting staff recruitment and pay, but unions say this is insufficient.
- President Laurence des Cars faces Senate scrutiny over her delayed knowledge of a 2019 security audit and the museum’s institutional failures.
- Philippe Jost has been tasked with reorganizing the Louvre’s security, reflecting heightened governmental pressure.
The strike’s persistence, coupled with the museum’s partial opening, illustrates the complex balance between maintaining public access to cultural heritage and ensuring the safety and proper management of one of the world’s most treasured institutions.
Closing
As the Louvre navigates these challenges, the outcome of the Senate hearings and the effectiveness of the Ministry’s security reforms will likely shape the future of the museum’s operations and its relationship with both staff and visitors. The world watches closely as Paris’s cultural icon strives to reconcile tradition with modern demands.
