Located in the heart of the French capital and welcoming millions of visitors each year, the Louvre Museum closed its doors on Monday after staff launched strike action. The development, coming just ahead of the Christmas holiday period, left thousands of visitors disappointed outside the museum.

Employees say the Louvre has long been operating under severe overcrowding, with staff shortages threatening both visitor safety and employee well-being. The strike is being seen as another blow to an institution already struggling with mounting problems.

“Conditions Have Become Unsustainable”

According to statements from the CGT and CFDT unions, around 400 employees unanimously voted at a general assembly to continue the strike. The unions say front-line and security staff are being forced to manage visitor numbers far beyond planned capacity with insufficient personnel.

Christian Galani, a representative of the far-left CGT union, said the museum could remain fully closed, and even if it reopens, any access would be extremely limited. Galani added that not only security staff but also scientists, curators, archivists, collection managers, and workshop employees are expected to join the strike.

Overcrowding and Visitor Complaints

Home to Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, the Louvre receives around 30,000 visitors per day. Long queues, security risks, inadequate restroom facilities, and problems with food services have become frequent complaints among both staff and visitors.

A sudden work stoppage on June 16 this year also forced the museum to close temporarily. The latest strike highlights how these issues have become chronic rather than isolated incidents.

The Shadow of a $102 Million Heist

One of the main drivers behind the strike decision is the historic robbery in October, when royal jewels worth $102 million were stolen in broad daylight. The incident reignited debate over serious security weaknesses at the Louvre.

Investigations revealed that two thieves accessed the gallery using an extendable ladder, cut through a glass door with a spiral cutter, and exploited gaps in the security system. At the time of the robbery, only a single external security camera was operational, and the control room lacked sufficient monitoring screens.

It also emerged that audit reports over the past decade had repeatedly warned that the riverside balcony posed a major security vulnerability.

A Deepening Institutional Crisis

The Louvre’s president had already warned the government in January about leaks, overheating, and a deterioration in the visitor experience. Combined with staff strikes and security failures, these developments point to a museum facing not a temporary setback but a profound institutional crisis.

While talks between management and unions are expected to continue in the coming days, it remains unclear when the Louvre will be able to reopen fully and resume normal operations.