French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a renovation and exhibition plan for the Louvre Museum. Announced during a press conference held in the Salle des États under the gaze of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, Macron described the initiative as a "colossal project" that will lead to a museum that is "rethought, enlarged, the epicenter of the history of art for our country and beyond," according to Le Point.
The renovation project, dubbed "New Renaissance of the Louvre," includes the creation of a new grand entrance at the Colonnade of Perrault on the museum's eastern facade. This addition aims to alleviate congestion at the current glass pyramid entrance, which was inaugurated in 1988 and designed to accommodate four million visitors annually but now receives nearly nine million. "This entrance, vast and efficient, will rebalance the museum, give it back to Parisians," Macron stated, as reported by L'Obs.
One of the key elements of the plan is the relocation of the Mona Lisa to a dedicated exhibition space beneath the Cour Carrée. The new gallery will be accessible independently from the rest of the museum and will require a special ticket. The move seeks to address current overcrowding and long queues, allowing visitors to enjoy the iconic painting in a "more peaceful manner." The Mona Lisa attracts approximately 30,000 visitors daily, and the separate access is expected to enhance the viewing experience while preserving the tranquility of other galleries.
To support funding for the renovations, Macron announced a pricing policy that will increase ticket prices for visitors from non-European Union countries, set to take effect on January 1, 2026. "The financing for the Louvre's renovation will come entirely from the museum's own resources, including ticket sales, sponsorship, and financing from the Louvre Abu Dhabi, ensuring it will not weigh on the taxpayer," Macron stated, according to Clarín.
The total cost of the renovation works is estimated to be around €700 to €800 million over ten years. An Élysée official assured that only a "very minor part" of the funding would come from the French state. An international architecture competition will be held for the design of the new entrance, with the goal of inaugurating it "by 2031 at the latest," as per La Croix.
The need for renovation has become increasingly urgent. Concerns about the Louvre's aging infrastructure were raised by Laurence des Cars, the museum's president-director since 2021. In a letter addressed to the Minister of Culture, des Cars highlighted "the multiplication of malfunctions, risks to the conservation of works, and the necessary adaptation to the challenges of climate change," according to L'Obs. She cited issues such as "worrying temperature fluctuations," water damage, and outdated technical equipment that threaten the condition of the artworks.
"The conditions of circulation and security do not allow visiting this establishment in the best way it needs," Macron acknowledged. He emphasized that the project aims to "restore the balance in the way of visiting" the museum and to make it more accessible to the public. The plan also includes addressing the lack of sanitary facilities and improving visitor comfort, as the pyramid entrance often leads to long queues and overcrowding.
Macron set the objective of gradually increasing the number of visitors to the Louvre to 12 million per year by 2031, compared to nearly nine million expected in 2024.
"This museum is a part of the national narrative, but it is also a part of the message that France wants to deliver to the world," Macron asserted.
The Louvre's planned renovation comes after the restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral and the creation of the International City of the French Language at the Château de Villers-Cotterêts. Macron views these projects as part of a broader effort to protect and promote France's cultural legacy.
The works will be carried out in parallel with the museum's ongoing activities to avoid closure and are expected to be completed by 2031 at the latest. Macron stressed that the project is "realistic and financed," viewing it as "a new stage for the life of the nation," as reported by Le Point.
This article was written in collaboration with generative AI company Alchemiq