French President Emmanuel Macron Visits Louvre Museum Amid Concerns Over State of World’s Most-Visited Museum
French President Emmanuel Macron returned to the Louvre Museum on Tuesday to address concerns over the state of the world’s most-visited museum, following a leaked memo that highlighted the dire conditions. The memo, sent by the Louvre’s director Laurence des Cars to Culture Minister Rachida Dati, detailed substandard conditions such as leaks, overcrowding, and temperature variations that threaten the conservation of artworks.
Speaking in the room where the famous “Mona Lisa” is displayed, Macron announced plans to renovate and expand the museum, including building a new entrance near the River Seine and creating underground rooms. The cost of the project is estimated to run into hundreds of millions of euros, which could be financed by increasing prices for visitors from outside the European Union or by attracting more visitors, with a goal of reaching 12 million visitors per year.
The concerns over the Louvre’s condition are not new, with Louvre employees expressing similar worries over flooding, lighting, and safety issues that put the artworks at risk. The museum’s workers’ union, SUD Culture, has criticized the state of disrepair, citing the unprecedented cancellation of an exhibition in 2023.
Macron’s visit to the Louvre aimed to address these concerns and present a plan for the museum’s future. While the details of the plan remain unclear, it is evident that the French government is taking steps to address the issues plaguing the world-renowned museum.
