The Louvre Museum was forced to close to thousands of visitors on Monday after staff launched a strike to protest working conditions, compounding challenges at the Paris landmark just weeks after a high-profile robbery.
Museum workers are demanding additional staff and urgent measures to address overcrowding at the world’s most visited museum, as France prepares for the busy Christmas holiday season.
“We are closed. Come back in a few hours,” a security agent told visitors on Monday morning, according to an AFP journalist.
Unions representing staff said about 400 employees voted unanimously at a general assembly to continue the strike. The CGT and CFDT unions noted that participation extended beyond front-line workers to include curators, scientists, collections managers and workshop staff.
The strike comes nearly two months after the Louvre was hit by a daylight robbery in which crown jewels valued at about $102 million were stolen, drawing intense public scrutiny to security and management at the institution.
Tourists expressed frustration over the closure. “I’m very disappointed because the Louvre was the main reason for our visit to Paris,” said Minsoo Kim, a 37-year-old visitor from Seoul. Others said they sympathised with staff but regretted the timing.
Union representatives said staff grievances reflect deeper structural problems, including chronic understaffing, overcrowding and deteriorating infrastructure. Reception and security workers complain of managing visitor numbers far beyond the museum’s intended capacity, while curators and documentarians have raised concerns about water leaks, structural issues and gallery closures.
“The building is not in a good state,” chief Louvre architect François Chatillon told lawmakers during a parliamentary hearing last month.
Louvre president Laurence des Cars had earlier warned the government of worsening conditions in a memo highlighting leaks, overheating and a declining visitor experience. In response, President Emmanuel Macron announced a major renovation plan estimated at between €700 million and €800 million.
Meanwhile, questions persist over security lapses exposed by the October 19 robbery. Investigators found that key surveillance systems were not fully operational and that vulnerabilities long identified in internal audits were not adequately addressed.
The strike underscores mounting pressure on the Louvre’s management as the museum grapples with labour unrest, security concerns and the challenges of mass tourism.
