For over three years, SUD Culture and its staff have been warning about the deteriorating state of the Louvre Museum, including its building, equipment, elevators, and escalators. In a leaked memo, President Laurence des Cars warned that visiting the Louvre has become a “physical ordeal,” with long lines and limited space for visitors to take a break. The museum’s popularity, particularly for Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa,” has become a major issue, with nearly 66% of visitors flocking to see the painting.
Des Cars argued that the presentation of the art needs to be questioned, as the public is not given the means to understand the work and the artist, which is not in line with the museum’s public service mission. The controversy has even led to calls for the “Mona Lisa” to be returned to Milan, where da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” is housed.
French Culture Minister Rima Judoka Dati is working on a project to help finance the necessary work to revamp the museum, which is expected to be implemented in January 2026. As part of the plan, the Louvre could charge non-E.U. visitors higher prices under a “differentiated tariff policy.”
