Macron’s Urgent Visit to Louvre as Museum Faces Structural Crisis

As the Louvre struggles with a surge in visitors and deteriorating conditions, President Macron’s upcoming visit signals the potential for renewed investment as concerns for the museum’s future intensify.

With over 30,000 visitors daily, the Louvre stands as the world’s most frequented museum, yet its president, Laurence des Cars, has voiced serious concerns regarding its crumbling infrastructure. In a leaked correspondence to the government, she described various challenges including power outages, flooding, and a troubling inability of the iconic glass pyramid to handle the influx of visitors – once designed for four million but now eclipsed by double that number.

President Macron is set to visit the museum on Tuesday, amid speculation surrounding a potential investment announcement, although his capacity to enact fiscal changes has been diminished following his parliamentary setbacks six months ago. With fiscal policy hindering substantial funding amid upcoming budget disputes, the need for immediate action is pressing.

Christian Galani from the Louvre employees’ union highlights the museum's decline, citing persistent issues such as flaking paint, floods in exhibition spaces, and a lack of timely payments for contractors. Such conditions became particularly evident when a new exhibition had to be relocated just days after launching due to flooding.

Extreme temperature fluctuations also pose significant challenges, with conditions ranging from 10C in the winter to 30C in summer, threatening both visitor comfort and art preservation.

Des Cars also pointed to the pressing need for improved visitor amenities, stating that the presentation of the Mona Lisa—attracting around 75% of the museum’s attendance—does not allow enough time for appreciation. Visitors receive a mere 50 seconds to experience the famous artwork due to overcrowding.

Considering solutions, museum management is exploring the possibility of establishing a new entrance beneath the eastern colonnades of the palace, utilizing existing space to alleviate congestion and possibly relocate the Mona Lisa. Alternative solutions include charging additional fees for accessing the prized painting.

The Louvre has previously received government support, with a €96 million subsidy in 2024 and total receipts of €161 million generated from ticket sales and events in 2023. However, with further state funding deemed unlikely, the museum is increasingly turning to corporate donors akin to those who contributed to the Notre Dame restoration efforts. Meanwhile, Culture Minister Rachida Dati also suggests that entrance fees for guests from outside the EU could be raised as another potential remedy for the museum's financial woes.