Louvre Museum closed for 'exceptional reasons' after robbery
Share and Follow
The world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris is closed for the day after what a minister described as a robbery.
French culture minister Rachida Dati said investigations were under way after a robbery took place this morning.

“I am currently at the location with the museum staff and police,” she shared on X.

The courtyard of the Louvre museum in January. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Meanwhile, the Musée du Louvre announced on the same platform that it would “remain closed today due to exceptional circumstances.”

According to the French newspaper Le Parisien, the culprits accessed the renowned museum and former palace through its facade facing the Seine, where construction is ongoing.

The report indicated that the intruders used a freight elevator to reach the intended room in the Apollo Gallery directly.

Breaking windows, they allegedly made off with “nine items from the jewelry collection of Napoleon and the Empress.”

The Louvre has a long history of thefts and attempted robberies. The most famous was in 1911, when the Mona Lisa vanished from its frame, stolen by Vincenzo Peruggia, a former worker who hid inside the museum and walked out with the painting under his coat. It was recovered two years later in Florence — an episode that helped make Leonardo da Vinci’s portrait the world’s best-known artwork.

In 1983, two Renaissance-era pieces of armour were stolen from the Louvre and only recovered nearly four decades later. The museum’s collection also bears the legacy of Napoleonic-era looting that continues to spark restitution debates today.

The Louvre is home to more than 33,000 works spanning antiquities, sculpture and painting — from Mesopotamia, Egypt and the classical world to European masters. Its star attractions include the Mona Lisa, as well as the Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

The Galerie d’Apollon, where Sunday’s theft reportedly took place, displays a selection of the French Crown Jewels.

The museum can draw up to 30,000 visitors a day.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Mohommed Farhat and Thomas Stojanovski spray-paint a car during their anti-Semitic vandalism spree. Photo: HANDOUT/NSW SUPREME COURT

Jailed Anti-Semitic Vandal Faces Imminent Release: Public Outrage and Concerns Rise

A man responsible for orchestrating a night of anti-Semitic chaos has been…
Debris balls have washed up on several NSW beaches again, but authorities are unsure whether they are related to the ones that were previously found along dozens of Sydney beaches.

Unveiling the Secret: The Fascinating Origin of Mysterious Debris Balls on NSW Shores

Mysterious debris balls found on beaches along the New South Wales Central…
Looming vote in the US marks crucial moment for Epstein files

US House Approves Release of Epstein Documents

The U.S. Senate has unanimously voted in favor of a bill backed…
Three-year-old Kayce's parents were called to collect him just 40 minutes after he arrived at the centre on October 17.

Mother Seeks Legal Action After Toddler Allegedly Hit at Melbourne Daycare

Exclusive: A distraught mother wants criminal charges laid after an educator slapped…
John Torney, 41, watched via video link from prison as Melbourne magistrate Stephen Ballek ordered him to stand trial over Emma Bates' death.

Explosive Courtroom Drama: Accused Flees After Shocking Negligent Manslaughter Verdict

A man facing charges of negligent manslaughter made a dramatic exit after…
Premier Jacinta Allan and Education Minister Ben Carroll met with students at Sunshine College in Victoria's west to announce the funding.

Schools Introduce Social Workers to Prevent Youth Crime Early

Social workers will be assigned to 20 government schools across Victoria in…
Optus hit with maximum fine over phone scam

Optus Faces Record Penalty for Involvement in Phone Scam

The telecommunications watchdog has imposed a fine on Optus for neglecting anti-scam…

Roblox Unveils Age-Detection Technology in Response to Australia’s Upcoming Youth Social Media Restrictions

One of the world’s biggest gaming platforms will ask all users to…