Four robbers robbed the Louvre Museum in Paris on Sunday, according to a statement released by France’s Culture Ministry, in what a French newspaper called a “spectacular” heist and a “particularly rapid and brutal” theft. A total of eight “precious” jewels were stolen. world (However, one art site estimates the work’s value at tens of millions of euros).
Among the royal jewels seized were a necklace made of eight sapphires and 631 diamonds, and the crown of Napoleon III’s wife Empress Eugénie, which was studded with about 2,000 diamonds and 212 pearls. Another of the empress’s crowns was also looted, encrusted with approximately 1,356 diamonds and 56 emeralds, which the robbers reportedly dropped as they fled. world.
How did the robbers break into the Louvre?
Anyone who has waited in line to enter the Louvre knows that security is tight, but a thorough analysis by Reuters found that the four robbers were able to get in and out within seven minutes. Using a pickup truck with a retractable ladder, they parked outside the building that houses the Apollo Museum, facing the Seine.
After cutting through the windows with a power tool, they charged through the gallery at around 9:30 a.m. local time, smashing a glass case and taking eight pieces. An alarm was raised, but the foursome escaped on two scooters. At the time, the museum, which opened at 9 a.m. every day, was only open for 30 minutes.
One Reddit user reported, “We were at the Apollo Gallery and someone tried to break in through the window. They were banging on the window and had power tools. Everyone jumped out and closed the gate to the gallery.” They added: “It was weird. We really thought it was construction at first until people started running. We saw opaque windows pushed in and thought it must be temporary window coverings for construction. I don’t think anyone really understood what was going on, but one of the staff started yelling for everyone to come outside and we did.”
Joan and Jim Carpenter are from Santa Cruz, California. mona lisa as they were “swept out” from the gallery, Joan told Reuters. “We could tell something was going on by the way they swept the entire museum,” he added. Still, the two were in good spirits, despite the very short visit, the BBC reported. “Today is the last day of our long journey. Today is the most exciting part,” said Jim.
French President Emmanuel Macron wrote in a post on X: “The theft at the Louvre is an attack on a heritage we cherish, because it is our history. We will get back the works and the perpetrators will be brought to justice. Everything is being done everywhere to achieve this…”
Has there been any theft at the Louvre in the past?
This is not the first time a robbery has occurred at the Louvre. Da Vinci’s mona lisa The piece had been glazed since the 1950s, but not in 1911. Vincenzo Perugia, a former museum worker, hid in a cupboard overnight, swiped what is now the world’s most famous painting, and left with it under his coat. In December 1976, the thieves escaped with a diamond-encrusted sword that has never been recovered, as has a 19th-century landscape painting that was reported to have been cut from its frame in 1998.
When will the Louvre reopen?
On Monday, October 20, the Louvre remained closed following a robbery. At the time of writing, there has been no communication from the famous art institute regarding its reopening plans. The museum is closed on Tuesdays, so It is expected to reopen as early as Wednesday, October 22nd.. Given the damage to the Apollo Museum, reopening this area may be slower than other parts of the museum.
Will Louvre Museum tickets be refunded?
If you had tickets to the Louvre on Sunday, Oct. 19, Monday, Oct. 20, or any other day the museum is closed due to the robbery, you should receive a refund, according to a post on the Louvre’s Facebook page. If not, you can request a refund by selecting the eligible refund request here.
How can I get tickets to the new Louvre?
Those affected by the closure who still plan to be in Paris in the next few days may want to try their luck by booking new tickets online, assuming museums reopen soon. Due to the current school holidays in France, advance tickets are required until November 2nd. As of this writing, there are still plenty of tickets available for the Louvre.
What other museums can I visit in Paris?
The Louvre’s collection is spectacular, but it’s also the most visited museum in the world, and it’s equally crowded. The City of Lights is home to more than 130 museums, including our editors’ favorite Parisian museums such as the Hôtel de la Marine, where a stunning exhibition on royal jewelery will be on view from December 10, 2025 to April 6, 2026.
With the city’s iconic Center Pompidou on hiatus for a major five-year restoration project, Afar recently rounded up some impressive art replacements in and around Paris, including the Musée d’Art Moderne, which houses works by Chagall, Picasso, Modigliani, and Braque, and the Grand Palais, a festival of art both old and new.
