Latest news with #LaurenceDesCars
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Louvre museum in Paris closes amid staff protest over crowds of tourists
June 17 (UPI) -- The Louvre, home to the Mona Lisa and other iconic works of art in Paris, closed abruptly Monday as the museum's staff staged an impromptu strike over a surge of tourists who were left standing in long lines. Ticket agents, gallery attendants and security refused to return to work, following a morning union meeting, citing overcrowding and understaffing. After four hours of talks with management, the Louvre reopened to confused and tired visitors. Monday's strike comes after French President Emmanuel Macron announced earlier this year that the centuries-old Louvre would undergo renovations to include a separate wing for the Mona Lisa to control crowds better. The "New Renaissance" project, which will repair and modernize the former royal palace, will take a decade to complete. Ticket prices are slated to go up next year for tourists who do not live in the European Union to help pay for the project. Last year alone, 8.7 million tourists visited the Louvre with many complaining about insufficient signage, tight spaces and lack of restrooms. The Louvre was originally designed to accommodate 4 million visitors a year. Louvre President Laurence des Cars, who was appointed in 2021, limited visitors to 30,000 a day after attendance surged in 2018 to more than 10 million. He has warned that parts of the museum are "no longer watertight" and that fluctuating temperatures could damage the priceless artwork.
The Independent
19 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Amid fears of overcrowding, the Louvre shuts its doors
The Louvre Museum in Paris was unable to open on time on Monday due to a staff protest over working conditions, leaving thousands of visitors waiting outside. Union representative Sarah Sefian of the CGT-Culture stated the disruption was due to a spontaneous movement among front-of-house staff protesting deteriorating labour conditions, including overcrowding and understaffing. The protest began as a scheduled monthly information session that turned into a mass expression of exasperation, with staff deciding to stay together until management arrived for talks. As of midday, the museum remained closed, with lines of ticket-holders snaking past the glass pyramid. Louvre President Laurence des Cars earlier warned about overcrowding and insufficient facilities at the museum and has imposed a limit of 30,000 visitors per day.
