France’s most iconic museum was brought to a standstill Monday as staff walked off the job in protest of dangerous conditions and overcrowding at the Louvre. The sudden strike, triggered during an internal meeting, left thousands of tourists stranded outside the glass pyramid with no warning or explanation.
Gallery attendants, security staff, and ticket agents cited chronic understaffing and unsafe crowd levels. “We can’t wait six years for help,” said Sarah Sefian of the CGT-Culture union. “Our teams are under pressure now. It’s not just about the art – it’s about the people protecting it.”
French President Emmanuel Macron previously announced a €700–800 million renovation plan dubbed the “Louvre New Renaissance,” but workers called it political theater. While the plan includes new entrances and a room for the Mona Lisa by 2031, state funding for the museum’s daily operations has dropped more than 20 percent in the past decade.
The centuries-old former royal palace is the most visited museum in the world. It welcomed 8.7 million visitors last year—double its design capacity. Even with a cap of 30,000 daily visitors, workers describe it as a “physical ordeal.” A leaked memo from Louvre President Laurence des Cars warns of water damage, extreme temperature shifts, and facilities that fail to meet basic standards.
Tourists expressed frustration, with one American stating, “It’s the Mona Lisa moan out here.” Sefian added, “We take it very badly that Monsieur Le President makes his speeches here… but the financial investment of the state is getting worse with each passing year.”
