The Louvre Museum in Paris, the world’s most visited cultural institution, was forced to close temporarily on Sunday after a robbery in which masked men made off with jewelry, French authorities said.
Three men armed with small chainsaws allegedly entered the museum shortly after opening hours and used a freight elevator to enter the Apollo Gallery, which houses the French Crown Jewels. They stole nine pieces of jewelry from the “Napoleon and the Empress” collection, Le Parisien reported. One stolen jewel was later found outside the museum.
French Culture Minister Rachida Dati confirmed the incident, saying on X (formerly Twitter): “There was a robbery this morning at the opening of the Louvre museum… No injuries are reported. I am on the ground with the museum and the police.”
While the exact value of the stolen items is still being assessed, the incident highlights the growing problem of securing cultural treasures at important sites. The museum cited “exceptional reasons” for its closure, but gave no further details.
The Louvre, home to the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, has historically faced attempts at theft and vandalism. But Sunday’s incident represents one of the few major breaches in recent years, raising questions about security protocols at institutions that attract millions of visitors each year.
The seat of the French kings until Louis XIV. did not leave the late 16th century in Versailles, the Louvre is regularly listed as the world’s most visited museum, Reuters reported.
Last year, the exhibition center welcomed nine million visitors.
