The Louvre Museum in Paris. Travel Pulse Canada
Visitors hoping to explore the Louvre Museum in Paris faced disappointment on October 20, as the world’s most-visited museum remained closed following a daring theft that took place only a day earlier. The heist, which lasted just four minutes, stripped France of several priceless crown jewels once belonging to its royal family.
A statement on the museum’s official website confirmed the closure. “Following yesterday’s robbery at the Louvre, the museum regrets to inform you that it will remain closed to the public today. Visitors who have already purchased tickets will be automatically refunded,” the message read.
Museum officials have not announced when the Louvre will reopen. Even when it does, parts of the building—especially the scene of the theft—may stay off-limits to the public. Since the museum is normally closed on Tuesdays, the earliest possible reopening could be Wednesday.
A Precise and Professional Operation
The theft unfolded on Sunday morning, just half an hour after the museum opened its doors to visitors. The criminals entered through a window facing the Seine River, located near the Apollon Gallery, which houses France’s royal jewels. Reports say they used a basket lift mounted on a truck to reach the window.
Once inside, the group smashed two glass display cases, setting off alarms and drawing the attention of security guards. Within minutes, they escaped with their loot—speeding away on motorcycles waiting nearby.
The museum quickly evacuated all visitors and closed for the day as police launched a large-scale investigation.
Priceless Jewels Stolen
Officials confirmed that eight items were taken in total, worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Among the missing pieces are emerald earrings and a necklace once owned by Empress Marie-Louise, the second wife of Napoleon I. These jewels are considered part of France’s national heritage and hold deep cultural significance.
Police later recovered two items that the thieves dropped while escaping, including an emerald and diamond crown belonging to Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III. The crown, featuring more than 1,300 diamonds, was found damaged but intact enough to identify.
The First Successful Heist in Decades
The theft marks the first successful robbery at the Louvre in 27 years. The last recorded incident occurred in 1998, when a painting titled Le Chemin de Sèvres by Camille Corot disappeared. That artwork has never been found.
The Louvre, once a royal palace before becoming a museum, welcomes about 30,000 visitors every day. It is home to world-famous masterpieces such as the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo. The recent heist has raised fresh concerns about museum security and the protection of France’s cultural treasures.
Authorities continue to investigate, and police say they are reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing staff. So far, no arrests have been made.
