"It seems like the only way the Musée du Louvre can catch a break these days is through its pipes, after a water leak that damaged hundreds of books on-site came to light this weekend. Following the revelation of water damage underscoring the urgent need for the museum's renovation, three culture unions representing staff at the Louvre issued a joint notice today warning of a rolling strike beginning Monday, December 15."
"Though the damages occurred on November 26, reports of the water leak affecting between 300 and 400 books in the library within the museum's Egyptian Antiquities department emerged last weekend, with Francis Steinbock, deputy director general of the museum, stating that "no patrimony works" had been damaged."
"With all eyes on the Louvre after the brazen daytime theft of the nation's crown jewels in October, the pipe burst came only 10 days after a temporary closure of a Greek Ceramics gallery due to structural concerns about the ceiling, further affirming Louvre Director Laurence des Cars's written warnings about the museum's dilapidation in a leaked memo to the Ministry of Culture in January."
"Des Cars's alarms led to the development of the museum's multi-step overhaul plan, known as "Nouvelle Renaissance," to remediate the Louvre's structural problems, pinch points affecting visitor experience, and security oversights over the next decade. Visitors from outside the European Economic Area will see a 45% entry fee increase as of January 2026 to help fund the renovations."
On November 26 a water leak damaged between 300 and 400 books in the library within the Louvre's Egyptian Antiquities department. The museum's deputy director general said "no patrimony works" were damaged. Three culture unions representing staff issued a joint notice warning of a rolling strike beginning December 15 if working conditions do not improve. A museum spokesperson declined to comment to Hyperallergic. Recent incidents include a brazen daytime theft of the crown jewels in October and a temporary closure of a Greek Ceramics gallery over ceiling concerns. Director Laurence des Cars's warnings prompted a decade-long "Nouvelle Renaissance" overhaul and a 45% entry fee rise for non-EEA visitors from January 2026 to fund renovations.
Read at Hyperallergic
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