The Louvre, the world’s most-visited museum, has requested urgent help from the French government to restore and renovate its aging exhibition halls and protect its artworks. In a letter to Culture Minister Rachida Dati, Louvre President Laurence des Cars warned that the centuries-old building is in a dire state, citing problems with water leaks and “worrying temperature swings which endanger the conservation of works of art.”
The museum’s issues are not limited to its aging infrastructure. The Louvre’s increasingly large crowds, which reached a record 10.2 million visitors in 2018, have made the museum’s spaces inadequate, with visitors experiencing difficulties in finding artworks, taking breaks, and using sanitary facilities. To mitigate overcrowding, the Louvre has limited the daily visitor capacity to 30,000.
The renovation project is expected to cost around €500 million, which could be a challenge for the French government to fund. However, talks are underway between President Emmanuel Macron’s office, the culture ministry, and the Louvre to address the issue. The Louvre is also considering a top-to-bottom renovation, as well as a new wing for the “Mona Lisa” and a new entrance on the eastern end of the museum to relieve congestion at the Pyramid entrance.
With its history dating back to the 12th century, the Louvre Palace was previously the official residence of the kings of France until it was abandoned for Versailles. It has since become a museum for the royal art collection in 1793, and last year it welcomed 8.7 million visitors. The Louvre’s president has appealed to the government to address the museum’s pressing issues, ensuring the conservation of its vast collection of works of art for future generations.
