**The Louvre will undergo a significant overhaul, including relocating the Mona Lisa to better manage visitor crowds and enhance the viewing experience. This change, part of President Macron's New Renaissance initiative, aims to address the museum's infrastructure challenges and increase accessibility.**
**Louvre's Major Renovation Set to Relocate Iconic Mona Lisa**
**Louvre's Major Renovation Set to Relocate Iconic Mona Lisa**
**French President Macron Launches Ambitious Plan to Revamp the Louvre Museum**
In a groundbreaking announcement, French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled plans for a major renovation of the iconic Louvre Museum in Paris, which will include relocating Leonardo da Vinci's renowned Mona Lisa painting. The move is part of a broader initiative, dubbed the New Renaissance, aimed at revitalizing the world's most visited museum by 2031.
Standing before the celebrated artwork, Macron addressed a gathering of dignitaries, emphasizing the necessity of the move as a response to ongoing concerns about overcrowding and deteriorating infrastructure. The Louvre currently attracts over 30,000 visitors daily and more than nine million annually. These figures have raised alarm bells, particularly from the museum's director, Laurence des Cars, who warned that the museum's glass pyramid was "structurally unable to cope" with such numbers.
As the renovations unfold, visitors will face a new fee structure set to take effect in January, impacting non-European Union tourists, who will pay higher ticket prices. The changes aim to fund the extensive overhaul, which is estimated to cost several hundred million euros but will not require taxpayer dollars. Instead, the funds will be generated through ticket sales, donations, and a sponsorship deal with the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Macron's plan also encompasses an international design competition for a new entrance, which is expected to ease the congestion currently experienced at the museum. The redesign will involve transforming the eastern facade into a more inviting space that aligns with city efforts to establish a tree-filled green zone. This plan not only aims to enhance the visitor experience but also intends to reconnect the museum with the local Parisian community.
Addressing the need for improved presentation of the Mona Lisa, Macron noted that relocating the painting would provide a better opportunity to exhibit other masterpieces that are often overlooked. Moreover, significant upgrades to visitor facilities, such as restrooms and restaurants, are set to accompany these renovations.
This ambitious project is seen as a chance for Macron to solidify his legacy, following his celebrated leadership in the reconstruction of Notre-Dame cathedral.
Standing before the celebrated artwork, Macron addressed a gathering of dignitaries, emphasizing the necessity of the move as a response to ongoing concerns about overcrowding and deteriorating infrastructure. The Louvre currently attracts over 30,000 visitors daily and more than nine million annually. These figures have raised alarm bells, particularly from the museum's director, Laurence des Cars, who warned that the museum's glass pyramid was "structurally unable to cope" with such numbers.
As the renovations unfold, visitors will face a new fee structure set to take effect in January, impacting non-European Union tourists, who will pay higher ticket prices. The changes aim to fund the extensive overhaul, which is estimated to cost several hundred million euros but will not require taxpayer dollars. Instead, the funds will be generated through ticket sales, donations, and a sponsorship deal with the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Macron's plan also encompasses an international design competition for a new entrance, which is expected to ease the congestion currently experienced at the museum. The redesign will involve transforming the eastern facade into a more inviting space that aligns with city efforts to establish a tree-filled green zone. This plan not only aims to enhance the visitor experience but also intends to reconnect the museum with the local Parisian community.
Addressing the need for improved presentation of the Mona Lisa, Macron noted that relocating the painting would provide a better opportunity to exhibit other masterpieces that are often overlooked. Moreover, significant upgrades to visitor facilities, such as restrooms and restaurants, are set to accompany these renovations.
This ambitious project is seen as a chance for Macron to solidify his legacy, following his celebrated leadership in the reconstruction of Notre-Dame cathedral.
