At the Louvre, the most visited museum in the world, another incident has occurred that highlights the deteriorating state of the infrastructure. A water leak last month damaged about 400 rare books in the museum's Egyptian antiquities department. The leak affected one of the three rooms in the library where scientific works by Egyptologists are stored.
According to Louvre's deputy administrator Francis Steinbock, while these books are not the most valuable, their loss still raises concerns among scientists. The water supply issue at the museum has been known for several years, but repairs are only scheduled for September 2026.
Robbery and advice from a thief
Recall that the Louvre administration temporarily limited access to the gallery of ancient art due to security checks of the structure and weak beams on the second floor of the southern wing of the museum.
On Sunday, October 19, a brazen robbery occurred at the famous Parisian museum, the Louvre. Thieves stole nine items from the collection of jewelry related to Napoleon and the Empress. The incident was reported by France's Minister of Culture Rachida Dati and confirmed that she was on-site with police and museum staff.
By the way, American museum thief Miles Connor advised the criminals who robbed the Louvre to return the stolen items in exchange for a reward in a few years.
Security issues at the Louvre
The Louvre is expected to resolve security issues by 2032 following the jewelry robbery. A report from the national audit office notes that only 39% of museum rooms were equipped with surveillance cameras as of 2024.
The water leak at the Louvre damaged rare books stored in the museum's Egyptian antiquities department. This only underscores the threat posed by the deteriorating infrastructure of the most visited museum in the world. Crime and security issues at the Louvre also highlight the need for enhancing the security system and preventing crime at this cultural site.