Louvre Director Raises Alarm Over Visitor Strain and Museum Condition
The director of the Louvre, Laurence des Cars, has recently alerted the French government about critical issues facing the world's most-visited museum. In a confidential memo leaked to the media, Des Cars highlighted alarming conditions due to overcrowding, maintenance issues, and inadequate visitor services. This memo, addressed to Culture Minister Rachida Dati, was published in Le Parisien newspaper, sparking discussion regarding the museum's future.
Des Cars emphasized the “proliferation of damage in museum spaces,” noting that many areas are in very poor condition, with some no longer being watertight and experiencing significant temperature fluctuations that could threaten the preservation of invaluable artworks. Amidst budget constraints faced by the French government, which necessitate a looming renovation of the Pompidou Museum, Des Cars argued that the Louvre similarly requires an extensive and complex overhaul that would demand substantial investment.
Last year, the Louvre welcomed approximately 87 million visitors, nearly double its intended capacity, leading Des Cars to express serious concerns regarding the user experience. The massive influx of tourists was putting undue stress on the historic structure, which lacks adequate rest areas for visitors, not to mention food services and restroom facilities that fall well short of international standards. She called for a total redesign of the museum's signage, highlighting the need for improvements in visitor orientation as well.
The memo also criticized the museum's glass pyramid entrance, designed by noted architect Ieoh Ming Pei and inaugurated in 1989. While it serves as an iconic feature, Des Cars described it as becoming akin to a greenhouse in summer, making it uncomfortable and excessively loud.
International tourism has rebounded in Paris post-COVID, with around 70% of Louvre visitors being foreign tourists. However, long queues to see iconic works, particularly Leonardo da Vinci's famous Mona Lisa, have frustrated many visitors. Des Cars emphasized the necessity of reassessing the presentation of the masterpiece, arguing it should ideally have a dedicated room to enhance the viewing experience.
Since taking her position as director in 2021, Des Cars has spoken out repeatedly about the urgent need to address the saturation point the museum is facing. One of her initial actions was to impose a cap of 30,000 visitors per day, extending opening hours to spread visitor influx more evenly. Additionally, she has advocated for the creation of a second entrance apart from the pyramid to better manage crowd flow throughout the museum.
As Paris prepares for the upcoming years, including the closure of the Pompidou Museum for a five-year refit, attention turns to how the Louvre can adapt and improve, ensuring it remains a world-class destination while safeguarding its extraordinary collections.
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