The Bayeux Tapestry, which documents the Norman invasion of England in 1066, will be closed to the public in France from Monday as opposition mounts ahead of its move to London.
The next time it will be possible to see the nearly 1,000-year-old work of art should be when it goes on display at the British Museum in September next year.
However, the French art world is fiercely opposed to the project, with experts fearing the 70m-long (230ft) masterpiece is in far too delicate a state to be transported across the Channel.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the loan when they met in London in July.
The last few weeks have seen a big rise in visitor numbers at the Bayeux Museum ahead of its closure from 1 September.
A new display area is being built for the tapestry, which will take at least two years.
The closure – long planned – is what gave Macron the opportunity to perform his act of cultural diplomacy, committing France to loaning the tapestry to the British Museum for a year from next September.
But that promise has triggered an outcry from many in the French art world.
A petition – which describes the loan as a cultural crime – has drawn 60,000 signatures. Opponents resent the perceived high-handedness of Macron's decision, feeling it bypassed the advice of specialists who warn vibrations during transportation could cause irreparable damage.
On August 22, a French official overseeing the loan defended the move, stating that the artefact was not too fragile to transport, citing a study that provided recommendations for handling and transport. However, concerns remain about the tapestry being too fragile for long-distance travel.
The embroidery will be displayed in London from next autumn until July 2027, in exchange for treasures that will be sent to museums in Normandy.
The Bayeux Tapestry, created in the 11th century, charts a contested time in Anglo-French relations. Despite some sections being missing, it provides a rich narrative of medieval life through its 58 scenes and 626 characters, detailing military traditions and daily customs.
