On Wednesday, the Louvre Museum in Paris welcomed visitors again, marking its first reopening since a bold daylight robbery over the weekend. French authorities are now facing increasing pressure to explain the security failures at the world-renowned cultural landmark.
However, the Apollo Gallery, located on the second floor and home to France’s crown jewels, remained shut to the public, as it was the specific target of Sunday’s heist.
Investigators confirm that the thieves utilized an electric ladder and power tools to force their way into the gallery. A staggering eight pieces of royal jewelry, collectively valued at over $100 million, were stolen.
More than 100 investigators are diligently working to apprehend those responsible. Art crime experts fear the stolen jewels might be dismantled, with their precious stones and metals potentially sold off on the illicit black market.
Originally a royal palace, the Louvre was transformed into a museum following the French Revolution. Today, this vast complex showcases over 30,000 of its 500,000 artworks across more than 400 rooms, making it the most visited museum globally. On Wednesday, a steady stream of visitors entered under its famous glass pyramid.
Carole Chevallier, a 42-year-old artist who has spent months reproducing a 17th-century Flemish painting by Jacob van Ruisdael, expressed her deep connection to the institution. “It’s my home,” she said, noting her visits for the past 15 to 20 years, ever since her days as an art student.
As she waited in line, Chevallier pondered the future: “I’m waiting to see how the museum will adapt its security and if there will be any impact on artistic work here.”
Laurence des Cars, the Louvre’s president-director, is scheduled to face intense questioning from French senators later on Wednesday regarding the heist. Appointed by President Emmanuel Macron in 2021, Ms. des Cars made history as the museum’s first woman to hold the position.
The robbery has brought renewed scrutiny to issues like insufficient surveillance cameras, alarm system efficacy, and the durability of the museum’s display cases, all of which Ms. des Cars has yet to publicly address.
Additional reporting provided by Ségolène Le Stradic.