French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a comprehensive renovation plan for the Louvre Museum, aiming to modernize the facility, enhance visitor experience, and better preserve its art collections. The project, estimated to cost between 700 and 800 million euros over the next decade, includes several key initiatives:
1. A New Entrance to Avoid Crowds
Right now, most visitors enter the Louvre through the famous glass pyramid.
But it gets very crowded, especially during busy times. To fix this, a new entrance will be built at the Colonnade de Perrault, a historic part of the museum.
This will help spread out the crowds and make it easier for everyone to get inside.
2. A Dedicated Space for the Mona Lisa
The Mona Lisa is the museum’s most famous painting, often attracting large crowds that can make viewing difficult.
To address this, the painting will be relocated to a specially designed room beneath the Cour Carrée.
This space will have its own separate entrance and require a specific ticket, allowing visitors to choose whether to see the Mona Lisa independently of the rest of the museum.
3. Making the Esplanade Look Better
The area around the Louvre, known as the esplanade, will undergo significant redesign to enhance its beauty and connectivity with the city.
This includes better integration with nearby landmarks such as La Samaritaine, a famous department store, and the historic Pont-Neuf bridge.
The project also encompasses the restoration of the Carrousel and Tuileries gardens, aiming to create a more cohesive and inviting public space.
4. Fixing Up the Cour Carrée
The Cour Carrée is a beautiful square courtyard inside the Louvre. Over time, parts of it have worn down and need repairs.
The planned renovation will cost around 400 million euros.
This investment will restore the courtyard’s historic features and ensure it remains a stunning space for visitors to enjoy.
5. Higher Ticket Prices for Visitors Outside the EU
Starting January 1, 2026, visitors from countries outside the European Union will pay more for Louvre tickets.
This price increase aims to help fund the museum’s improvements.
Visitors from EU countries will continue to pay the current ticket price.
This approach ensures that those who visit from farther away contribute more to the museum’s upkeep and enhancements.
6. A Competition for New Designs
To find the best ideas for the new entrance and other upgrades, the Louvre will hold an international architecture competition.
Architects from around the world can submit their designs.
This process encourages innovative solutions and ensures that the museum’s new features are both functional and visually appealing.
The goal is to select a design that complements the Louvre’s historic architecture while improving visitor experience.
7. New Rooms Under the Cour Carrée
Beneath the Cour Carrée, the Louvre plans to create new underground spaces.
These rooms will host special exhibitions and provide additional areas for visitors to explore.
By expanding underground, the museum can offer more displays without altering its historic exterior.
This development will enhance the museum’s capacity to showcase its vast collection and host temporary exhibits.
8. Better Working Conditions for Staff
The people who work at the Louvre, like guides, security guards, and cleaners, will get better working conditions.
This is important because they help keep the museum running smoothly.
9. Restoring the Tuileries Gardens
Adjacent to the Louvre are the Tuileries Gardens, a popular spot for both locals and tourists.
The restoration project aims to revitalize these gardens, making them even more beautiful and welcoming.
Plans include planting new trees and flowers, repairing pathways, and adding more seating areas.
These enhancements will provide a serene environment for visitors to relax before or after their museum tour.
10. Paying for the Changes
The extensive improvements to the Louvre will require significant funding, estimated between 700 and 800 million euros.
The museum plans to cover these costs through a combination of ticket sales, especially the increased prices for non-EU visitors, donations from patrons, and funds from its partnership with the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
This diversified funding approach ensures that the financial burden doesn’t fall solely on one source and helps secure the necessary resources for the renovations.
11. More Visitors in the Future
The Louvre wants to welcome more people each year.
Right now, about 9 million visitors come annually.
After the planned improvements, the museum hopes to increase this number to 12 million visitors every year.
This means more people from around the world can enjoy the amazing art collections.
12. Protecting the Art
Many artworks in the Louvre are very old and delicate.
To keep them safe, the museum will upgrade its systems that control temperature and humidity.
This helps prevent damage from things like moisture or sudden temperature changes, ensuring the art remains in good condition for future generations.
13. Improving the Streets Around the Louvre
The areas surrounding the Louvre, such as Rue de l’Amiral-de-Coligny, will be redesigned.
These changes aim to make the neighborhood more attractive and better connected to the rest of Paris.
This will create a more pleasant experience for visitors as they approach and leave the museum.
14. Creating a New East-West Path
Inside the museum, a new pathway will be created to help visitors move more easily from one side of the Louvre to the other.
This will make it less confusing to explore the vast collections and ensure that people can find their way around more comfortably.
15. Upgrading Old Equipment
Some of the Louvre’s equipment, like heating and cooling systems, are outdated and need to be replaced.
By upgrading these systems, the museum will create a more comfortable environment for visitors and better protect the artworks from potential damage caused by unsuitable climate conditions.
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