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The world's most visited museum, the Louvre, shut its doors to thousands of visitors on Monday as employees went on strike to protest their working conditions, just two months after a dramatic theft at the Paris landmark.
The strike follows a daylight theft nearly two months ago, in which crown jewels valued at $102 million were stolen from the museum.
Employees are calling for additional staff and steps to address overcrowding, compounding challenges for the world’s most visited museum as France approaches the Christmas season.
The Louvre has emerged as a symbol of "over-tourism," where the 30,000 daily visitors navigate what unions describe as a hazardous "obstacle course" of long lines, inadequate facilities, and poor catering.
Protesters gathered outside the Louvre’s iconic glass pyramid, blocking the main entrance with signs, while security turned away arriving visitors.
Starting January 14, 2026, non-EU, Icelandic, Liechtenstein and Norwegian visitors will face a €32 entry fee, €10 higher than before, following approval by the museum board.
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