Emmanuel Macron will visit the site on Tuesday

Emmanuel Macron will go to the Louvre on Tuesday, January 28, in the afternoon to speak about the deterioration in the state of the largest museum in the world after the alert given by its director, the Élysée announced on Friday. “The Louvre is a symbol of France, it is a source of French pride. It would be a mistake to remain deaf and blind to the risks that weigh on the museum today”indicated the entourage of the Head of State to AFP.

For several months now, Laurence des Cars, president and director of the Louvre Museum in Paris, has been sounding the alarm about the dilapidation of the largest museum in the world, hoping to obtain adequate financial support. Two years ago, she produced a report which landed on the desk of the Élysée in which she already explained that, on the one hand, the museum needed to carry out safeguarding and maintenance work on the building and that, on the other hand, it proposed developments with the creation of a new entrance, new public reception areas, etc. The file was “under study” Since.

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Outdated equipment, water leaks, reception areas… The Louvre warns of its condition and calls for major work

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In a new note dated January 13 addressed to the Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, which leaked to the press, the leader deplores, among other things, « the multiplication of damages in sometimes very degraded areas », « obsolescence (of) technical equipment »as well as « worrying temperature variations endangering the state of conservation of the works ».

If the room which houses The Mona Lisa, admired every day by around 20,000 visitors, is not affected by the damage, this is not the case for other parts of the building in the Sully wing, a source close to the matter confirmed to AFP. This vast space, which extends over four levels around the Cour Carrée, houses masterpieces of French painting and the art objects department.

At least « 100 million euros of investments would be necessary, in particular for priority restoration work, of which only 26 million are assured in 2024, the rest having to be spread out until 2032, due to lack of budget », another source close to the matter told AFP. In total, the museum management has estimated the maintenance, restoration and upgrading of the palace at 500 million and an additional 400 million for the construction of the new entrance and new rooms which could accommodate the Mona Lisa and exhibitions. temporary.

The last major phase of work in the museum ended in 1995 with the end of the construction of the Grand Louvre desired by François Mitterrand. The museum had, in around ten years, tripled in size by opening new exhibition spaces but also technical and scientific areas and reception areas which were lacking, the pyramid and its large hall in particular. Designed to accommodate 4 million visitors, these facilities are now reaching their limits with attendance more than doubling.

Like many public institutions, the Louvre is relying more and more on its own resources, with increased privatization of its spaces, including the Salle des Estates (which houses the Mona Lisa, Editor’s note), and seeks to increase those from patronage .