Paris's world-famous Louvre Museum was forced to turn away thousands of visitors on Monday after its staff went on strike, protesting against poor working conditions and management failures. This industrial action comes less than two months after a shocking daylight robbery saw crown jewels worth an estimated $102 million stolen from the institution.
A Museum Under Pressure
Employees gathered outside the museum's iconic glass pyramid, blocking the main entrance and holding banners. A notice informed disappointed tourists that the museum would not open due to the strike, a decision met with cheers from dozens of trade union members present. The strike received broad support from the museum's 2,200-strong workforce, including reception and security staff, as well as curators, researchers, and documentarians.
"We're angry," security guard Elise Muller told reporters, expressing widespread discontent with the Louvre's management. The protest has intensified scrutiny on museum director Laurence des Cars, whose leadership has been questioned since the high-profile heist in October. Union representatives argue they have warned for years about critical staff shortages and the deteriorating state of the historic former royal palace.
Visitor Disappointment and Systemic Issues
The closure left hundreds of visitors stranded in the cold. Among them was Minsoo Kim, 37, who traveled from Seoul with his wife for their honeymoon. "I'm very disappointed, because the Louvre was the main reason for our visit to Paris," he told AFP, having hoped to see masterpieces like the Mona Lisa. While some visitors expressed sympathy for the staff's cause, like London's Natalia Brown, 28, others questioned the museum's financial management. American tourist Rachel Adams, 60, pointed out that an institution attracting 8.7 million visitors last year should not struggle to fund proper maintenance and staffing.
The strike vote was unanimous, with around 400 employees deciding to walk out. A decision on continuing the strike will be made on Wednesday, threatening major disruption during the crucial year-end holiday season. The museum remains closed on its weekly Tuesday shutdown.
Decay and Danger in a World Treasure
The robbery is not the only incident highlighting the Louvre's problems. Recent months have exposed significant disrepair within the building. In November, a water leak damaged hundreds of books and manuscripts in the Egyptian department. Just a month earlier, in October, a gallery housing ancient Greek ceramics had to be closed because ceiling beams were at risk of collapsing. Chief Louvre architect Francois Chatillon admitted to lawmakers last month that "the building is not in a good state."
Staff, particularly in reception and security, complain of being severely understaffed to handle the massive daily crowds. The Louvre, a symbol of global "over-tourism," allows up to 30,000 visitors per day. Unions describe the visitor experience as an "obstacle course" of hazards, long queues, and substandard facilities.
This is not the first closure in 2023; staff staged a spontaneous walk-out in June, and the museum was also shut during nationwide protests against pension reforms. While French President Emmanuel Macron announced a massive renovation plan for the Louvre in January, valued between 700 and 800 million euros, questions persist. The central issue remains how a national treasure holding priceless artifacts could be so vulnerable, with the October robbery seeing intruders use an extendable ladder and angle grinders to steal eight items in front of stunned visitors.
