What's happened
The Louvre will increase ticket prices for non-EU visitors from January 14, aiming to raise €23 million annually for a €1.3 billion renovation plan. The move follows a high-profile jewelry theft in October and is part of the 'Louvre — New Renaissance' initiative to modernize infrastructure, improve security, and reduce overcrowding.
What's behind the headline?
The Louvre's price hike and security measures reflect a strategic effort to address both financial and safety concerns. The increase targets foreign visitors, especially Americans, Chinese, and British tourists, who constitute a significant portion of the museum's audience. This move is likely to generate €23 million annually, funding critical upgrades. However, the decision to raise prices selectively for non-EU visitors may provoke criticism over perceived discrimination. The jewelry theft exposed vulnerabilities that the new security measures aim to rectify, including installing 100 new cameras and anti-intrusion systems. The broader 'Louvre — New Renaissance' plan will modernize the museum's infrastructure, move the Mona Lisa to a dedicated gallery, and ease overcrowding by 2031. The timing suggests a calculated response to recent security failures, with the price increase serving both as a revenue boost and a deterrent to future thefts. The plan's success hinges on effective implementation of security upgrades and visitor management, which will determine whether the Louvre can restore its reputation and safeguard its priceless collections.
What the papers say
The Independent reports that the Louvre's board approved a €10 increase in ticket prices for non-EU visitors, aiming to fund a €800 million renovation and security overhaul following the October jewelry theft. The museum's director, Laurence des Cars, emphasized the urgency of modernizing infrastructure, which is now considered obsolete. AP News highlights that the price hike is part of Macron's broader 'Louvre — New Renaissance' plan, designed to modernize the museum and improve security, with a focus on raising €23 million annually. The New York Times notes that the increase to 32 euros for non-EU visitors is a 45% rise, intended to address structural problems exposed by the theft. All sources agree that the recent jewelry heist, involving thieves stealing $102 million worth of jewelry in less than eight minutes, was a catalyst for these security and financial measures. The articles collectively portray a museum in transition, balancing financial needs with security imperatives amid a backdrop of high-profile thefts and infrastructure decay.
How we got here
The Louvre's planned overhaul, announced earlier this year by President Macron, aims to modernize the historic building, address security flaws exposed by the October theft, and improve visitor experience. The jewelry heist, which saw thieves steal approximately $102 million worth of jewelry, highlighted the urgent need for security upgrades. The museum's infrastructure from the 1980s is now considered obsolete, prompting a comprehensive renovation plan estimated at up to €800 million.
Go deeper
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Why Is the Louvre Raising Ticket Prices Now?
The Louvre is set to increase ticket prices for non-EU visitors starting January 14, aiming to fund a major renovation and security upgrade. This move comes after a high-profile jewelry theft and is part of France's broader effort to modernize one of the world's most famous museums. But what exactly is driving this change, and what does it mean for visitors? Below, we explore the reasons behind the price hike, the security concerns, and how the Louvre plans to improve your experience.
More on these topics
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The Louvre, or the Louvre Museum (French: Musée du Louvre [myze dy luvʁ] ), is a national art museum in Paris, France, and the most visited museum in the world. It is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the city's 1st arrondissement (district) and
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Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frédéric Macron is a French politician who has been President of France and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra since 14 May 2017.
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Paris is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,150,271 residents as of 2020, in an area of 105 square kilometres.
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Laurence des Cars is a French general curator of heritage and art historian, current director at the Musée d'Orsay and Musée de l'Orangerie. She has been appointed to assume the role of Director of the Louvre Museum from 1 September 2021.