The world’s most visited museum, Paris’ Louvre, remains closed following a daring daylight heist. Plans are underway to reopen on Tuesday.
On its official website, the Louvre has posted this announcement: “Following yesterday’s robbery at the Louvre, the museum regrets to inform you that it will remain closed to the public today. Visitors who have already purchased tickets will be automatically refunded.”
Unfolding just 270 yards from one of the museum’s most famed masterpieces, the Mona Lisa, the robbery, according to officials, lasted less than eight minutes in total, including less than four minutes inside the Louvre, and was carried occurred in broad daylight, soon after the museum had opened for the day on Sunday.
The robbers got away with priceless priceless Napoleonic jewels, stolen from the museum’s Apollo Gallery, where the Crown Diamonds are displayed. Included among the stolen items are a tiara and brooch belonging to Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III; an emerald necklace and a pair of emerald earrings from Empress Marie Louise; a tiara, necklace and single earring from the sapphire set that belonged to Queen Marie-Amelie and Queen Hortense; and a brooch known as the “reliquary brooch.” Two stolen items were later found outside the museum.
According to AP reports, France’s Culture Minister Rachida Dati noted that a decade-long “Louvre New Renaissance” plan that was launched earlier this year includes security improvements. “When the Louvre Museum was designed, it was not meant to accommodate 10 million visitors,” she said.
The $760 million “renaissance plan” aims to modernize infrastructure, reduce crowding and create a dedicated gallery for the Mona Lisa by 2031.
