The Louvre, the world's most visted museum, is suffering structural damage that threatens its future as a global cultural treasure, according to a confidential memo revealed by French newspaper Le Parisien, which cited leaks, overcrowding and inadequate facilities.
In a private memo sent to Culture Minister Rachida Dati on 13 January, Louvre director Laurence des Cars warned of "the severe reality of our overstressed buildings", with many areas reaching "a worrying level of obsolescence".
The museum was originally designed to receive 4 million annual visitors but now handles more than double that number, recording 8.7 million guests in 2024. This surge has left the historic building struggling under unprecedented strain.
"The visitor has no space to take a break. Accessing the artworks takes time and is not always straightforward," des Cars wrote. She also described the museum's food options and restroom facilities as "falling well below international standards".
Maintenance issues
The report outlined major maintenance issues, with des Cars pointing to "a proliferation of damage" across museum spaces, some of which are "no longer watertight". She warned that "concerning temperature variations" now pose a threat to the preservation of priceless artworks.
Even the Louvre's iconic glass pyramid, unveiled in 1989 as part of François Mitterrand's Grand Louvre project, comes in for criticism.
Des Cars described it as "structurally outdated", adding that its greenhouse effect and the fact that it amplifies noise "renders this space very inhospitable for the public who pass through and the staff who work there".
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Financial strain
With state finances under pressure, museum budgets have shrunk in recent years.
Des Cars has not specified costs for the Louvre’s proposed overhaul, but acknowledged the scale of the investment required. The Pompidou Centre, another landmark museum in Paris, is set to undergo a €262 million, five-year renovation.
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To alleviate overcrowding, des Cars proposed creating a second entrance at the eastern end of the Louvre Palace near the Cour Carrée, facing Saint-Germain-l’Auxerrois church.
She described this underused area as “majestic but neglected” and highlighted recent urban improvements, including the rehabilitation of department store La Samaritaine and the upcoming opening of the Cartier Foundation, as reasons to revitalise the zone.
The museum is also reconsidering the display of the Mona Lisa. Des Cars has suggested dedicating a gallery solely to Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece, which often draws large crowds and long queues.
Government response
A source close to President Emmanuel Macron told Le Parisien: "Discussions are taking place between the presidency, the Ministry of Culture and the Louvre, and the head of state intends to address this issue soon."
Macron, whose 2017 election victory was celebrated in front of the Louvre’s pyramid, is expected to weigh in on the matter.
"[We] can no longer accept the status quo," des Cars concluded, urging "a new momentum" to secure the museum’s future.
