The Louvre Museum closed its doors on Monday, turning away thousands of visitors after staff launched a rolling strike to protest deteriorating working conditions at the Paris landmark, just
weeks after an embarrassing daylight robbery.
Workers gathered outside the museum’s iconic glass pyramid, blocking the main entrance and holding banners reading “The Louvre on strike,” as security staff redirected tourists.
“Who does the Louvre belong to? To us!” demonstrators chanted.
The strike comes as France prepares for the busy Christmas holiday season and adds to mounting pressure on the world’s most visited museum. Staff are demanding more personnel and concrete measures to address chronic overcrowding.
“We are angry,” said Elise Muller, a security guard. “We disagree with the way the Louvre has been managed.”
At a general assembly, around 400 employees voted unanimously to begin strike action, which can be renewed, according to the CGT and CFDT unions. Another meeting is scheduled for Wednesday. The museum is normally closed on Tuesdays.
A notice posted in the courtyard confirmed the museum would remain closed on Monday.
Broad staff support
Christian Galani of the hard-left CGT union said the strike was drawing unusually broad support from across the museum’s 2,200-strong workforce.
“This time it’s not just front-of-house and security,” he said. “Scientists, documentarians, collections managers, curators and workshop staff are all planning to strike.”
Staff grievances vary but point to widespread dissatisfaction inside the institution, now under intense public scrutiny following the October 19 theft of crown jewels worth an estimated $102 million.
Reception and security workers say they are chronically understaffed and forced to manage overwhelming visitor numbers. The Louvre regularly welcomes several million visitors a year beyond its intended capacity.
A spontaneous walkout in June previously forced the museum to close temporarily.
Overcrowding and decay
Unions say the Louvre has become a symbol of “over-tourism,” with up to 30,000 visitors a day navigating long queues, safety hazards, and inadequate facilities.
Behind the scenes, curators and documentarians have raised alarms over the state of the historic building. A recent water leak and the closure of a gallery due to structural issues have fuelled concerns.
“The building is not in a good state,” chief architect François Chatillon told lawmakers last month.
Museum director Laurence des Cars, under pressure to resign, warned the government earlier this year about leaks, overheating and a declining visitor experience in a memo that drew wide attention.
In response, President Emmanuel Macron announced a major renovation project estimated to cost between 700 million and 800 million euros.
Security under scrutiny
Questions have also intensified over museum security following the October robbery. Investigators found that intruders accessed the crown jewels gallery using a portable ladder and angle grinders, operating in front of stunned visitors.
Only one external security camera was working at the time, control room staff lacked sufficient screens to monitor footage, and police were initially misdirected.
As investigations continue, Monday’s strike underscored growing staff anger and uncertainty over the future of one of France’s most treasured institutions. Photo by Dennis G. Jarvis, Wikimedia commons.