Louvre's Priorities Under Fire Following Major Heist

Thu Nov 06 2025 19:30:49 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A recent French report accuses the Louvre of prioritizing artwork acquisition over security measures, leading to a significant jewel theft that has drawn sharp criticism from officials.

In the wake of a spectacular jewel heist, a report from the Court of Auditors has revealed that the Louvre Museum favored investing in new artworks and exhibitions over essential security and maintenance. The robbery, which took place in October, resulted in the theft of €88 million worth of jewels. Critics, including government officials, argue that the museum's management grossly underestimated security risks, jeopardizing both art and safety.

Three weeks after the spectacular jewel theft at the Louvre, the museum has been heavily criticized for neglecting security.

The Court of Auditors report, drawn up before the heist, found that for years managers had preferred to invest in new artworks and exhibitions rather than basic upkeep and protection.

Let no-one be mistaken: the theft of the crown jewels is a resounding wake-up call, said the court's president, Pierre Moscovici.

In broad daylight on Sunday 19 October, thieves broke into the Louvre's first-floor Apollo Gallery. Using an angle-grinder to open display cases, the gang made off with €88m (£78m) of jewels that once belonged to 19th-Century queens and empresses.

The report stated that the Louvre favoured operations that were visible and attractive at the expense of maintenance and renovation of technical installations, notably in the fields of safety and security.

In the period from 2018 to 2024, the museum spent €105.4m on buying new artworks and €63.5m on exhibition spaces, while only allocating €26.7m for maintenance and €59.5m for restoration of the palace building.

Criticisms echoed from Culture Minister Rachida Dati, stating that the Louvre management had grossly underestimated the dangers of intrusion into the museum.

France's leading art expert, Didier Rykner, accused the institution of diverting its abundant resources towards eye-catching initiatives instead of protecting its existing treasures.

This mismanagement could impact the Louvre's New Renaissance project, which aims to enhance visitor experience through new entrances and galleries, including one for the Mona Lisa. However, concerns over financial evaluations and technical feasibility have arisen, with projected costs having escalated to €1.15bn.

In a response, the Louvre acknowledged most recommendations from the court but contended that their security strategies were more comprehensive than recognized.

As the investigation into the robbery continues, the profile of the suspected thieves suggests a connection to broader criminal networks, and questions remain regarding the future security of the world's most-visited museum.