Louvre security concerns sidelined for prestige projects, parliamentary report finds

Lead

A French parliamentary report set to be presented Thursday alleges that security concerns at the Louvre were repeatedly sidelined in favor of prestige projects and rising visitor numbers, according to RFI. The report, compiled by Green MP Alexis Corbière following a parliamentary inquiry, calls for sweeping reforms in France's museum sector.

The inquiry was launched after a spectacular burglary at the Louvre on 19 October last year, when royal jewels worth an estimated €88 million were stolen in broad daylight, as reported by RFI. The theft exposed major security shortcomings at the museum, which attracts around 9 million visitors a year.

Coverage comparison

Coverage of the Louvre's situation has largely split between two angles. Several reports, including from France 24, have focused on the announcement of the 'Louvre-New Renaissance' overhaul project, detailing its architectural plans, cost estimates, and intended improvements. These reports have treated the project as a major cultural initiative without exploring the security concerns that preceded it.

In contrast, RFI's reporting has centered on the parliamentary report and its criticism of the Louvre's management and the Ministry of Culture, framing the overhaul project against a backdrop of security failures. The report itself, according to RFI, argues that "safety and security issues" were "pushed into the background, behind objectives of prestige and influence, which were treated as priorities."

Key claims

The parliamentary report alleges that security concerns at the Louvre were repeatedly sidelined in favor of prestige projects and rising visitor numbers. According to RFI, the report says warnings about outdated security systems had been raised in previous audits, including a 2017 review and another conducted by jeweller Van Cleef & Arpels in 2019, yet implementation of the Louvre's security equipment master plan fell more than two years behind schedule.

The report also criticizes the Ministry of Culture for failing to exercise proper oversight of management decisions at the Louvre and other museums, as reported by RFI. It proposes replacing the current appointment system for museum directors—who are chosen by presidential decree from the Elysée Palace—with a more transparent process.

Meanwhile, the 'Louvre-New Renaissance' overhaul project, announced last year as a signature initiative of President Emmanuel Macron, will include a new space for the Mona Lisa and a new museum entrance, according to multiple reports. The project has been entrusted to STUDIOS Architecture Paris and Selldorf Architects, along with a French landscape and urban planning agency. The culture ministry said the winning proposal was selected for "the quality of its architectural approach and its integration in terms of heritage, urban, and landscape considerations," as well as security concerns.

Cost estimates for the project vary significantly. Macron's aides have said the project is expected to cost between €700 million and €800 million, but the French Court of Auditors has put the price tag at €1.15 billion, as reported by France 24. The project aims to increase annual attendance from the current 9 million visitors to up to 15 million, according to a single report.

The current entrance to the Louvre, a glass-and-metal pyramid inaugurated in 1988, was designed for just 4 million visitors a year, according to France 24. It now accommodates around 9 million visitors annually, causing congestion issues.

Perspectives

Proponents of the Louvre overhaul, including the French government and the museum's leadership, view the 'Louvre-New Renaissance' project as a necessary modernization that will improve visitor experience and address overcrowding. The culture ministry has emphasized the architectural quality and security considerations of the selected proposal.

Critics, including members of the parliamentary inquiry, argue that the museum's priorities have been misplaced. The report's author, Green MP Alexis Corbière, contends that security and safety were "pushed into the background" in favor of prestige and influence. The inquiry committee, chaired by conservative MP Alexandre Portier, conducted around 20 hearings and round-table discussions, interviewing more than 100 people, according to RFI.

Earlier criticism from the French Court of Auditors and an administrative inquiry published in late 2025 had already raised concerns about the Louvre's management and security, as noted in the parliamentary report.