Paris, February 5, 2025 – The Louvre Museum is set for a significant transformation following President Emmanuel Macron’s recent announcement of a new entrance at the Perrault colonnade and the relocation of the Mona Lisa.
The changes aim to modernize the world-famous museum and address growing concerns about congestion and structural deterioration.
Laurence des Cars, who has led the Louvre since 2021, spoke with Le Monde about the urgency of these renovations, acknowledging that the museum’s infrastructure has been under increasing strain.
“The Louvre is part of the country’s long history, just like Notre-Dame Cathedral. When I arrived, I didn’t fully measure the building’s condition,” she said.
The planned redevelopment, set for completion by 2031, comes in response to longstanding concerns about the museum’s aging facilities.
The Pyramid entrance, introduced as part of the Grand Louvre project in the 1980s, was designed to accommodate a fraction of the 8 million annual visitors the museum now receives.
Des Cars noted that the escalators beneath the Pyramid had reached the end of their functional lifespan, necessitating urgent repairs. “For the past two years, we’ve been replacing all the escalators under the Pyramid. It was a huge project,” she explained.
Beyond the logistics of visitor flow, the Louvre is also dealing with structural challenges. Des Cars highlighted that sections of the building that were not part of the Grand Louvre project are suffering increasing damage. “Every week there is all kinds of new damage. The building is suffering everywhere,” she said.
The new entrance at the Perrault colonnade is expected to relieve pressure on the Pyramid and provide a more efficient experience for visitors.
In parallel, relocating the Mona Lisa to a dedicated space beneath the Cour Carrée is seen as a way to manage crowds more effectively. The painting, currently displayed in the Salle des États, draws massive crowds daily, often creating bottlenecks in the museum’s layout.
Macron’s decision to support the redevelopment aligns with broader efforts to modernize France’s cultural institutions while preserving their historical integrity.
However, some critics argue that moving the Mona Lisa could alter the visitor experience, while others worry about the project’s timeline and funding.
Des Cars acknowledged that the state’s involvement was crucial for a project of this magnitude. “For a major project like the one we’ve announced, scheduled for completion by 2031, it’s only natural that the impetus should come from the state,” she stated.
As the Louvre embarks on this ambitious renovation, its leadership faces the challenge of balancing modernization with conservation.
With visitor numbers rebounding post-pandemic and expectations for smoother accessibility rising, the museum is set to undergo its most significant transformation in decades.
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