Overview

• The strike shut the Louvre on the morning of June 16 and the museum reopened at 2:30 PM after talks between employees and management began around 10:30 AM.
• Gallery guards, ticket sellers and security personnel walked off during an internal briefing to protest chronic understaffing, unmanageable visitor volumes and aging infrastructure.
• Last year’s 8.7 million visitors—more than twice the museum’s intended capacity—have strained facilities and staff, heightening concerns for art preservation and visitor safety.
• Director Laurence des Cars warned in January that overcrowding, temperature fluctuations and insufficient amenities were putting artworks at risk and burdening employees.
• France’s renovation plan, endorsed by President Macron, aims to modernize the Louvre by 2031 with a new east entrance and a dedicated Mona Lisa gallery featuring separate ticketing to ease congestion.