PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Tuesday an ambitious plan to upgrade the Louvre Museum, including the creation of a new grand entrance and the relocation of the world-famous Mona Lisa.
Speaking in front of Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, Macron emphasized the need to address the museum’s overwhelming congestion and ensure better preservation of its priceless artefacts.
The Louvre, originally designed to accommodate a maximum of four million visitors annually, now sees nearly nine million people pass through its doors each year.
The existing Pyramid entrance, inaugurated in 1989 and designed by Chinese-American architect Ieoh Ming Pei, has been criticized for failing to meet the needs of the growing number of visitors.
Macron stated that the new entrance would help alleviate overcrowding and enhance the visitor experience.
“The Louvre is a symbol of France, a source of national pride,” an aide to Macron told AFP. “It would be wrong to ignore the risks affecting the museum today.”
Mona Lisa to Get a Dedicated Exhibition Space
As part of the renovation, the Mona Lisa will be moved to a new exhibition space where it will be “independently accessible compared to the rest of the museum,” Macron said.
The relocated painting will have its own dedicated access pass, which could ease the long queues that often build up around the masterpiece.
Tourists have frequently complained about the overcrowded conditions when attempting to view the Mona Lisa, which is currently displayed in the Louvre’s largest room, the Salle des États.
Macron’s plan aligns with Louvre director Laurence des Cars’ previous calls for the painting to have a dedicated space to enhance visitor experience.
Museum’s Structural Concerns Raised
The announcement follows concerns raised by des Cars about the deteriorating conditions within the museum.
In a recent memo to Culture Minister Rachida Dati, she warned about widespread damage, significant temperature fluctuations, and leaks that threaten the preservation of artwork.
Even the Louvre’s iconic glass pyramid has faced criticism for its poor climate control. On hot days, the structure acts as a greenhouse, making the entrance area uncomfortably warm and noisy.
Des Cars highlighted these issues, arguing that the Louvre requires a major overhaul despite the French government’s budget constraints and the upcoming closure of the Pompidou Centre for renovations.
A total of 8.7 million visitors explored the museum’s famed galleries in 2023, far exceeding its original design capacity.
Since taking over as Louvre director in 2021, des Cars has implemented measures to control visitor numbers, including a daily cap of 30,000 people and extended opening hours.
She has also proposed adding a secondary main entrance to improve the flow of visitors throughout the museum.
Self-Funded Renovations
Macron assured that the planned renovations would be financed entirely using the Louvre’s own resources, without requiring government funding. However, the cost of such an ambitious overhaul remains unknown.
The Louvre, once the seat of French kings before Louis XIV moved the royal court to Versailles in the 1600s, remains the most-visited museum in the world.
Home to renowned artworks like the Venus de Milo and da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the institution continues to struggle with managing its ever-growing number of visitors while preserving its priceless collections.
With the upcoming changes, museum officials hope to create a more sustainable and enjoyable experience for future visitors while safeguarding one of France’s most treasured cultural landmarks.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members
