The Louvre museum in Paris opened its Apollo Gallery to the public on Wednesday, marking the first time the space has been accessible since a significant theft occurred. The gallery, which features ornate gilded ceilings and Greek frescoes, is now available for visitors to view as they travel toward the nearby Mona Lisa, though the precious items that were previously exhibited there have been removed from the premises.
Museum leadership has stated that the gallery’s renovation reflects a return to its original 17th-century ceremonial function. According to Christophe Leribault, the Louvre’s director, the decision to clear the space also provides an opportunity to highlight the gallery’s architectural and decorative elements. The collections and jewels that were once housed in the gallery will be relocated to other areas within the museum.
The heist that prompted these changes occurred nine months prior, when thieves removed crown jewels valued at 88 million euros from the gallery in a rapid operation lasting less than eight minutes. The stolen items remain unrecovered. The incident led to the resignation of the museum’s previous director, Laurence des Cars, following concerns about security failures. French Culture Minister Catherine Pegard characterized the theft as a significant event that revealed vulnerabilities in a location previously considered secure.
In response to the heist, the Louvre has implemented enhanced security measures, including new surveillance cameras and anti-intrusion systems. These improvements are part of a broader modernization initiative called the “Louvre New Renaissance” plan, which launched the previous year and is projected to cost approximately 800 million euros. The decade-long renovation effort aims to upgrade infrastructure, reduce overcrowding, and establish a dedicated gallery space for the Mona Lisa by 2031.
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