In the wake of a daring daylight heist that exposed significant security vulnerabilities, the renowned Louvre museum has taken a crucial step to safeguard its most precious possessions. A secret police escort was recently observed overseeing the transfer of several remaining significant jewels to the Bank of France, a move that significantly enhances their protection.
These invaluable items will now be housed in the Bank’s deepest and most secure vault, situated 26 meters (approximately 85 feet) beneath the ground floor of its magnificent Parisian headquarters. This state-of-the-art facility, known as “Souterraine,” is also the repository for 90% of France’s gold reserves and holds national treasures such as Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks. The estimated value of the contents within this vault reaches a staggering €600 million (£520 million).
The vault’s design is renowned for its resilience, engineered to withstand all forms of attack, according to the bank’s own descriptions. Its primary access is protected by a formidable 50cm-thick, seven-tonne door, reinforced with steel for maximum security. This is further secured by a 35-tonne rotating concrete turret, which the bank asserts makes forced entry virtually impossible.
The decision to move the jewels follows a shocking incident last Sunday where masked thieves gained access to the Louvre’s Gallery of Apollo. Using an angle grinder, they breached a reinforced window, enabling them to swiftly seize items such as a necklace belonging to Empress Marie-Louise, wife of Napoleon, and a diadem of Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III. These stolen pieces alone are valued at €88 million (£77 million). The thieves reportedly utilized a mechanical ladder, mounted on a lorry, to reach a first-floor balcony, facilitating their entry into the gallery.
The Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nuñez, has expressed strong confidence in the apprehension of the culprits. While government officials initially maintained that museum security had functioned adequately during the incident, the Louvre’s director, Laurence des Cars, has publicly acknowledged the museum’s aging infrastructure and highlighted specific security lapses. She revealed to French lawmakers that the only security camera overlooking the breach point was unfortunately misaligned, facing the wrong direction at the critical moment.