Louvre Workers Vote to Prolong Strike as Museum Partially Reopens
Paris (AP) — Staff at the Louvre have voted to extend their strike, further disrupting operations at the world’s most visited museum, even as parts of the venue reopened on Wednesday to showcase its standout pieces like the Mona Lisa and other highlights.
The Louvre announced that visitors began entering the building and could follow a limited “masterpiece route” that features Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. The museum posted on social media that, because of the strike, some rooms remain closed and apologized for the inconvenience.
Union members are speaking out against ongoing understaffing, aging facilities, and recent management decisions—issues that have been amplified by the high-profile daytime jewel heist in October.
The strike decision came after a morning general assembly, following a unanimous vote to walk out earlier in the week. The museum had been closed on Tuesday, its regular non-public day, prior to the reopening.
The dispute has been intensified by fallout from the crown jewels theft, which exposed significant security gaps at the museum.
Culture Ministry officials held crisis talks with unions on Monday and floated measures including canceling a planned 6.7 million euro funding cut for 2026, recruiting more gallery guards and visitor assistants, and boosting staff pay. But union leaders said these steps do not go far enough.
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Louvre President Laurence des Cars was scheduled to testify before the Senate culture committee later on Wednesday as lawmakers examine security failures at the site.
Des Cars has acknowledged an “institutional failure” in the wake of the heist, yet she faced renewed scrutiny after admitting she learned of a critical 2019 security audit only after the robbery. France’s Court of Auditors and another administrative inquiry have criticized delays in implementing a long-promised security overhaul.
In response to the crisis, the Culture Ministry announced emergency anti-intrusion measures last month and appointed Philippe Jost—famed for his leadership on the Notre Dame restoration—to help reorganize the museum. The move is viewed by many as a signal of mounting pressure on Louvre leadership.
And this is the part most people miss: the underlying issues extend beyond a single incident. Persistent understaffing, aging infrastructure, and governance decisions collectively shape the museum’s day-to-day resilience, guest experience, and security posture—areas that, if addressed, could prevent future disruptions and restore public confidence.
What do you think should be the top priority to stabilize the Louvre—more staff, faster security upgrades, or decisive managerial reforms? Share your views in the comments.
