One of the biggest tourist attractions in Paris abruptly closed its doors Monday, June 16. The move came amid a strike by staff at the Louvre Museum, who told CNN that they fear the building is being damaged due to too many tourists.
The halt in operations left thousands of visitors with tickets already purchased stuck in line beneath the Louvre Pyramid, as they were unable to move any further into the world-famous institution.
The closure is the latest development in a trend of people visiting tourist hotspots in droves, as the famous locations are often unequipped to handle such crowds.
Visitor reaction
The museum, which features the work of Leonardo da Vinci, including the “Mona Lisa,” as well as ancient Egyptian artifacts, left tourists upset as they awaited answers over the closure.
“It’s the Mona Lisa moan out here,” Kevin Ward, 62, from Milwaukee, told the Associated Press. “Thousands of people waiting, no communication, no explanation. I guess even she needs a day off.”
Latest victim of overtourism
The Louvre has become the latest victim of overtourism, as popular destinations from Venice to Greece work to alleviate damage caused by too many guests.
The world’s most renowned museum is no exception to the phenomenon. As millions of people traverse its galleries, its infrastructure has suffered, and some argue it can no longer take on the weight of tens of thousands of people each day.
Overtourism protests
The Louvre’s closure comes just a day after Spanish protesters targeted tourists with squirt guns, fireworks and loud whistles. They say the visitors are causing a housing crisis across Spain and squeezing many residents out of their homes.
Some Spaniards told the Associated Press that they’ve seen rents rise more than 30%, which they blame on the flow of millions of tourists into the country.
“Our lives, as lifelong residents in Barcelona, are coming to an end,” said one resident. “We are being pushed out systematically.”
Rare closure
The Louvre’s move is a rare one. The museum has only closed during World War II, the COVID-19 pandemic and a number of strikes, including walkouts linked to overtourism in 2019 and fears over safety in 2013.
The abrupt closure comes just months after French President Emmanuel Macron announced a decades-long renovation effort for the Louvre to address problems stemming from overcrowding and aging infrastructure. Macron’s move followed complaints of water leaks near iconic works of art and visitor traffic beyond what the institution was designed to handle.
However, striking workers warn that the effort will take too long to save the Louvre, and action is needed now.
“We can’t wait six years for help.” Sarah Sefian of the CGT-Culture union told the Associated Press. “Our teams are under pressure now. It’s not just about the art– it’s about the people protecting it.”
‘Mona Lisa’ at center of overcrowding
One of the focal points of overcrowding centers around the “Mona Lisa,” which sees around 20,000 people a day in the institution’s largest room. The environment is cramped, noisy and many said they barely get to look at the painting in all the chaos.
“You don’t see a painting,” said Ji-Hyun, 28, from Seoul, “ You see phones. You see elbows. You feel heat. And then you’re pushed out.”
Despite its daily limit of 30,000 visitors, the museum saw 8.7 million people last year, which is more than double its intended capacity. Staff contend that the large crowds are a daily test to the museum’s infrastructure and have raised concerns about the added factor of summer heat, amplified by the pyramid’s so-called “greenhouse effect.”
As Straight Arrow News previously reported, Louvre President Laurence des Cars warned in a leaked memo that parts of the museum are “no longer watertight” and that temperature changes are jeopardizing priceless pieces. The memo also noted that visitor needs, such as bathrooms, signage, and food, are in need of major updates.
Renovation funding
The renovation plan for the museum is set to be funded by ticket revenue, private contributions, government funds and licensing fees from the museum’s Abu Dhabi branch. Ticket prices are slated to rise for non-EU tourists later this year to help finance the project.
However, employees said that there needs to be a greater sense of urgency other than the 10-year plan. In contrast to major historical sites in Paris, such as the Notre Dame Cathedral or the Centre Pompidou museum, both of which will be renovated by the government, the Louvre is not fully funded nor completely operational.
Macron delivered his 2017 election victory speech at the Louvre, and during the 2024 Olympics, he vowed to have a safer and more modernized museum by the end of the decade.
