The Louvre, thought to be the world’s most-visited museum, appears to be the victim of the wave of protests in Europe as its staff went on strike in frustration with what they called unmanageable crowds at an institution crumbling from within.
Thousands of visitors with tickets were seen stranded and confused as they were corralled into unmoving lines beneath I.M. Pei’s glass pyramid.
“It’s the Mona Lisa moan out here,” said Kevin Ward, 62, from Milwaukee. “Thousands of people waiting, no communication, no explanation. I guess even she needs a day off.”
The Louvre has become a bellwether of global overtourism – overwhelmed by its own popularity and success. As tourism magnets from Venice to the Acropolis scramble to cap crowds, the world’s most iconic museum is reaching a reckoning of its own.
It’s rare for the Louvre to close its doors. It has happened during war, during the pandemic, and in a handful of strikes – including spontaneous walkouts over overcrowding in 2019 and safety fears in 2013. But seldom has it happened so suddenly, without warning, and in full view of the crowds.
The spontaneous strike erupted during a routine internal meeting, as gallery attendants, ticket agents and security personnel refused to take up their posts in protest over unmanageable crowds, chronic understaffing and what one union called “untenable” working conditions.
The strike comes just months after President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a sweeping decade-long plan to rescue the Louvre from problems like water leaks, dangerous temperature swings, outdated infrastructure, and foot traffic far beyond what the museum can handle.
Those promises for the future feels distant to staff. “We can’t wait six years for help,” said Sarah Sefian of the CGT-Culture union. “Our teams are under pressure now. It’s not just about the art – it’s about the people protecting it.”
The Louvre welcomed 8.7 million visitors last year – more than double what its infrastructure was designed to accommodate. Even with a daily cap of 30,000, staff say the experience has become a daily test of endurance, with too few rest areas, limited bathrooms, and summer heat magnified by the pyramid’s greenhouse effect.