A national treasure stolen during a robbery at the Hieron Museum in Paray-le-Monial

A jewelry treasure estimated at several million euros was stolen Thursday during an armed robbery in a sacred art museum in Paray-le-Monial (Saône-et-Loire), we learned Friday November 22 from consistent sources.

The robbers arrived on motorbikes around 4 p.m. at the Musée du hieron and three of them entered, helmeted, into the establishment open to the public, the fourth keeping watch outside, explained to the Agence France-Presse the mayor of the town, Jean-Marc Nesme, confirming information from Journal of Saône-et-Loire.

After firing shots, without causing any injuries, they headed towards the centerpiece of the museum, The way of life (1904), by the Parisian goldsmith Joseph Chaumet, which traces the life of Jesus. Classified as a national treasure by the Ministry of Culture, it is estimated at between 5 and 7 million euros, according to the mayor.

They stole the gold and ivory statuettes, as well as emerald decorations, after sawing with a chainsaw the armored windows which protected the nearly three meter high work. They also sawed off part of its marble base.

Around twenty visitors

The robbers fled on motorbikes, throwing nails on the road, thus neutralizing two gendarmerie vehicles which were on their heels, a sign that the operation was prepared, the gendarmerie said.

Around twenty visitors were present on the ground floor of the museum at the time of the robbery, as well as its staff, now “traumatized”relates the mayor. They managed to escape and some took refuge in a neighboring house.

The Mâcon public prosecutor's office has opened an investigation into the charge of armed theft by an organized gang. “It is a great loss for Paray-le-Monial and for the national heritage”lamented Jean-Marc Nesme, regretting that this treasure had been “ransacked”.

“I condemn with the greatest firmness these unacceptable acts which damage our heritage. (…) All my support to the museum teams and the community”for her part reacted to X the Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati.

The Hieron Museum is one of the oldest French sacred art museums. He was already the victim of a burglary in 2017, when two Romay crowns from goldsmith Paul Brunet were stolen, as well as an attempted burglary in September 2022.