PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Tuesday, February 1, 2025, significant renovations for the Louvre Museum, which includes the relocation of the iconic “Mona Lisa” to its own dedicated room. This comprehensive renovation and expansion project, titled “Louvre New Renaissance,” is expected to last up to a decade and is aimed at modernizing the world's largest and most visited museum, which has increasingly suffered from overcrowding and outdated facilities.
Macron revealed these ambitious plans during his speech inside the very room where Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece currently resides. While he did not disclose the exact budget for the project, estimates suggest it could range from 700 to 800 million euros (approximately $730 to $834 million). This gargantuan expenditure aims to transform the visitor experience and re-establish the Louvre as the epicenter of art history.
The proposed changes will enable the “Mona Lisa” to reside within its own special room, ensuring it is more accessible to visitors who wish to see it individually. Currently displayed behind protective glass within the Louvre’s largest room, the painting often gets overshadowed by the lengthy lines and crowds of visitors eager to capture the perfect selfie with Da Vinci's enigmatic portrayal of the woman with the alluring smile.
“Conditions of display, explanation and presentation will be up to what the ‘Mona Lisa’ deserves,” Macron noted, emphasizing the necessity of creating optimal viewing conditions for such a revered piece of art. This move is expected to alleviate congestion within the museum, enhancing the experience for other visitors as well as for the painting itself.
Last year, the Louvre welcomed 8.7 million visitors, significantly surpassing its intended capacity established during renovations 40 years ago, when it was prepared for just 4 million annual guests. The existing facilities, particularly the iconic glass pyramid entrance inaugurated by late President François Mitterrand, have started to show signs of their age, becoming increasingly inadequate for the modern influx of art enthusiasts.
Macron detailed plans to create a new entrance near the Seine River, set to open by 2031, which will be funded through ticket sales, patronage, and licensing revenue from the Louvre's Abu Dhabi branch. He acknowledged the need for new underground gallery spaces to accommodate the growing number of visitors and make the museum experience more seamless.
French officials have hinted at the necessity of raising ticket prices for foreign visitors from outside the European Union, currently set at 22 euros (about $23), to help finance these expansive upgrades. This change is intended to support both public safety and the comfort of not just the visitors but also the 2,200 museum employees.
Addressing the urgent need for modernity at the Louvre, Director Laurence des Cars raised alarms about the museum's gradual degradation due to issues like water leaks, temperature fluctuations, and inadequate insulation, which risk the preservation of pivotal artworks. A French official corroborated this sentiment, mentioning the museum's outdated hardware and lack of adequate restroom and food facilities.
Des Cars stated, “Obsolescence ... is endangering the preservation of artworks,” articulately summing up the pressing concerns architects and curators face as they undertake this extensive project. There is also acknowledgment of the urgent need to resolve environmental and logistical issues surrounding the current pyramid structure, which has not only become uninviting but has also failed to uphold visitor comfort. “The pyramid ... now appears outdated,” she lamented.
Reflecting on the significance of the Louvre’s renovation, Macron drew parallels to the recent reopening of Notre Dame, declaring, “The redesigned Louvre, restored and expanded, will become the epicenter of art history for our country and beyond.” This sentiment encapsulates the hope for the Louvre's evolution as both a historical landmark and a modern artistic haven.
With ambitious renovations on the horizon, the Louvre Museum is set to redefine how art is displayed and experienced, ensuring it remains relevant and appealing to generations of art lovers to come.