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NDTV
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Overtourism Forces The Louvre, World's Most Visited Museum And Home Of Mona Lisa, To Shut Doors
The Louvre, the world's most-visited museum, came to a standstill on Monday as its staff went on a strike in frustration with what they called overwhelming tourist crowds. Thousands of visitors, eager to see masterpieces like the Mona Lisa, were met with long, unmoving queues outside I.M. Pei's glass pyramid. The staff including the gallery attendants, ticket agents, and security refused to take up their posts after a routine meeting turned into a full-scale strike. The staff cited "untenable" working conditions that made daily operations difficult and put them under physical strain. The Louvre Is Breaking Down The strike highlighted a growing crisis inside the Louvre, echoing similar concerns raised during 2013 and 2019 walkouts. But this time, the frustration reached a breaking point. The museum, which welcomed over 8.7 million visitors last year, is reportedly facing issues such as insufficient rest areas, limited facilities, and an infrastructure that is unable to cope with modern demands. Louvre President Laurence des Cars has also warned that parts of the building are no longer waterproof and the temperature swings can damage the priceless artworks. In her internal memo, she described the current experience for both staff and visitors as "a physical ordeal". The Opening Of The 'Louvre New Renaissance' The French President Emmanuel Macron recently announced a 10-year plan to fix the Louvre's problems. Macron unveiled a decade-long restoration initiative, the "Louvre New Renaissance," which promises a new entrance for the Mona Lisa - which alone draws around 20,000 visitors per day into the Salle des États. While the plan promises to address long-term improvements, it does not address the museum's and the staff's immediate needs. The staff called the action hypocritical as Macron promotes new projects, but little is being done to fix the problem at hand. The Louvre employees also don't want to wait years for relief. Workers argue that the state's operating subsidies for the museum have declined by over 20 percent in the last decade, but the number of visitors continues to increase. One of the most iconic cultural spots is now caught in limbo, struggling to fix a problem that no one has a solution to, as per the Associated Press.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Overwhelmed and understaffed Louvre shuts its doors to tourists
Overwhelmed and understaffed Louvre shuts its doors to tourists (Picture credit: AP) PARIS: The Louvre, the world's most-visited museum and a global symbol of art, beauty and endurance, remained shuttered Monday - not by war, not by terror, but by its own exhausted staff, who say the institution is crumbling from within. It was an almost unthinkable sight: the home to works by Leonardo da Vinci and millennia of civilisation's greatest treasures - paralysed by the very people tasked with welcoming the world to its galleries. And yet, the moment felt bigger than a labour protest. The Louvre has become a bellwether of global overtourism - a gilded palace overwhelmed by its own popularity. 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. The strike erupted during a routine 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. "It's the Mona Lisa moan out here," said Kevin Ward, 62, from Milwaukee, one of thousands of visitors corralled into unmoving lines beneath IM Pei's glass pyramid. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo The disruption comes just months after President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a decade-long plan to rescue the Louvre from precisely the problems now boiling over - water leaks, dangerous temperature swings, outdated infrastructure, and foot traffic far beyond what the museum can handle. But for workers, that promised future feels distant. "Our teams are under pressure now. It's not just about the art - it's about the people protecting it," Sarah Sefian of CGT-Culture union. At the centre of it all, as always, is the Mona Lisa, a 16th-century portrait that draws crowds more akin to a celebrity meet-and-greet than an art experience. Roughly 20,000 people a day squeeze into the Salle des Etats, the museum's largest room, just to snap a selfie with Leonardo da Vinci's enigmatic woman behind protective glass. Macron's renovation blueprint, dubbed the "Louvre New Renaissance," promises a remedy. The Mona Lisa will get her own dedicated room, accessible through a timed-entry ticket. A new entrance near the Seine River is also planned by 2031 to relieve pressure from the overwhelmed pyramid hub. Until then, France's greatest cultural treasure - and the crowds who flock to it - remain caught between the cracks.
Economic Times
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Economic Times
World's most famous museum closes as over tourism overwhelms staff — Louvre shutdown sparks global alarm
Crowd and money issues Live Events Museum breaking down FAQs (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel The most-visited museum in the world, Louvre Museum in Paris, shut down on Monday because its staff went on strike. The strike happened suddenly during an internal meeting. Staff like gallery attendants, ticket agents, and security refused to reason according to the workers is they are overwhelmed by huge crowds, not enough staff, and working in bad conditions. Tourists were stuck outside, confused, and holding tickets in long lines under the museum's glass pyramid, as stated by an Associated Press strike shows how mass tourism is becoming too much, not just in the Louvre, but also in other popular places like Venice and the Acropolis, where crowd control measures are also being taken. At the Louvre, the staff say their working conditions are 'untenable', which means they can't take it anymore, as per French President Emmanuel Macron recently announced a 10-year plan to fix the Louvre's problems, things like water leaks, poor air conditioning, old buildings, and too many visitors. But the workers say they can't wait 6 years for help. 'It's not just about the art, it's about the people protecting it,' said Sarah Sefian from the CGT-Culture union, according to the report by Associated Press.A big issue is the Mona Lisa. About 20,000 people squeeze into one room daily just to see it and take selfies. The room is overcrowded and noisy. Macron's renovation plan, called 'Louvre New Renaissance', includes a special room for the Mona Lisa with time-based entry, and a new entrance near the Seine River to reduce crowding at the main pyramid. Macron said the new Mona Lisa display will be 'what she deserves', according to the report by Associated workers call Macron hypocritical, because while he promotes new fancy projects, the Louvre's basic funding has gone down by over 20% in 10 years, even as visitors increased. 'He makes speeches in our museum, but the state gives less money every year,' said Sefian. In 2023, the Louvre had 8.7 million visitors, double what the museum was built to handle, as per the though there's a daily cap of 30,000 visitors, staff say it's still exhausting, few rest areas, limited toilets, and hot temperatures under the glass pyramid. In a leaked memo, Louvre President Laurence des Cars said, some parts of the building are not waterproof. Temperature swings can damage artworks. Basic needs like food, toilets, and signs are below global standards, She called the visitor experience a 'physical ordeal', as per the report by Associated started as a normal info meeting turned into a big protest by staff. Talks with management went on all day. The renovation plan will be funded by a mix of ticket sales, private donations, government funds, licensing money from Louvre Abu say their needs are urgent and can't wait for a 10-year plan. The Louvre is stuck, not fully fixed and not fully funded. But for now, France's greatest museum and the millions of people who visit it are stuck in a situation that no one knows how to fix quickly, as per the Associated Louvre Museum closed because the staff went on strike.A 10-year plan promises repairs and better crowd control.
Express Tribune
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
World's most-visited Louvre Museum faces unexpected forced closure: Details
The Louvre Pyramid designed by Chinese-born US architect Ieoh Ming Pei in Paris as the Louvre museum reopens its doors to the public after more than 6 months of closure due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in France, May 19, 2021. PHOTO: REUTERS A spontaneous strike at the Louvre Museum on Monday caused the world's most-visited museum to close, as workers protested overcrowding and what they described as 'untenable' working conditions. Frustrated by the overwhelming number of visitors and chronic understaffing, staff members, including gallery attendants, ticket agents, and security personnel, walked off the job, halting operations for most of the day. Visitors, many holding tickets in hand, were left stranded and confused, with long lines forming beneath the iconic glass pyramid. 'It's the Mona Lisa moan out here,' said Kevin Ward, a tourist from Milwaukee. 'Thousands of people waiting, no communication, no explanation. I guess even she needs a day off.' The Louvre has long struggled with overtourism, and this latest disruption highlights the severe pressure the institution faces due to its immense popularity. This strike, while rare, follows similar walkouts in 2019 and 2013, with workers citing overcrowding and safety concerns. The Louvre, however, has never shut down so unexpectedly, in full view of visitors. The protest also coincides with President Emmanuel Macron's recent announcement of a comprehensive 10-year renovation plan for the museum. The 'Louvre New Renaissance' blueprint, which aims to address issues such as water leaks, temperature fluctuations, and overcrowding, has yet to address the workers' immediate concerns. Staff members, such as Sarah Sefian from the CGT-Culture union, have expressed frustration with the delay, stating, 'We can't wait six years for help. Our teams are under pressure now.' The strike centered on the overcrowding at the museum, particularly around the Mona Lisa, where around 20,000 visitors daily crowd into the Salle des États to view the famous painting. The scene has often become chaotic, with many visitors focused more on taking photos than appreciating the artwork. In response, Macron's renovation plan promises a dedicated room for the Mona Lisa, accessible via timed-entry tickets. Despite these plans, Louvre workers are concerned that the museum's ongoing issues are being neglected while visitor numbers continue to soar. The strike serves as a loud reminder of the pressures faced by the museum, whose infrastructure was not designed to accommodate such high foot traffic. Last year, the Louvre welcomed 8.7 million visitors, far exceeding its capacity. As the museum navigates these challenges, workers continue to demand immediate action to address their working conditions, rather than waiting for the proposed long-term solutions. The Louvre's closure on Monday was temporary, with some workers agreeing to open a limited 'masterpiece route' later in the day. The full museum is expected to reopen by Wednesday, though Tuesday is a scheduled closure.
Time of India
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
World's most famous museum closes as over tourism overwhelms staff — Louvre shutdown sparks global alarm
The most-visited museum in the world, Louvre Museum in Paris, shut down on Monday because its staff went on strike. The strike happened suddenly during an internal meeting. Staff like gallery attendants, ticket agents, and security refused to work. The reason according to the workers is they are overwhelmed by huge crowds, not enough staff, and working in bad conditions. Tourists were stuck outside, confused, and holding tickets in long lines under the museum's glass pyramid, as stated by an Associated Press report. This strike shows how mass tourism is becoming too much, not just in the Louvre, but also in other popular places like Venice and the Acropolis, where crowd control measures are also being taken. At the Louvre, the staff say their working conditions are 'untenable', which means they can't take it anymore, as per reports. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Setia Budi: Scholarships You Can Apply For (Start Now) Google Search Search Now Undo The French President Emmanuel Macron recently announced a 10-year plan to fix the Louvre's problems, things like water leaks, poor air conditioning, old buildings, and too many visitors. But the workers say they can't wait 6 years for help. 'It's not just about the art, it's about the people protecting it,' said Sarah Sefian from the CGT-Culture union, according to the report by Associated Press. Crowd and money issues A big issue is the Mona Lisa. About 20,000 people squeeze into one room daily just to see it and take selfies. The room is overcrowded and noisy. Macron's renovation plan, called 'Louvre New Renaissance', includes a special room for the Mona Lisa with time-based entry, and a new entrance near the Seine River to reduce crowding at the main pyramid. Macron said the new Mona Lisa display will be 'what she deserves', according to the report by Associated Press. Live Events But workers call Macron hypocritical, because while he promotes new fancy projects, the Louvre's basic funding has gone down by over 20% in 10 years, even as visitors increased. 'He makes speeches in our museum, but the state gives less money every year,' said Sefian. In 2023, the Louvre had 8.7 million visitors, double what the museum was built to handle, as per the reports. Museum breaking down Even though there's a daily cap of 30,000 visitors, staff say it's still exhausting, few rest areas, limited toilets, and hot temperatures under the glass pyramid. In a leaked memo, Louvre President Laurence des Cars said, some parts of the building are not waterproof. Temperature swings can damage artworks. Basic needs like food, toilets, and signs are below global standards, She called the visitor experience a 'physical ordeal', as per the report by Associated Press. What started as a normal info meeting turned into a big protest by staff. Talks with management went on all day. The renovation plan will be funded by a mix of ticket sales, private donations, government funds, licensing money from Louvre Abu Dhabi. Workers say their needs are urgent and can't wait for a 10-year plan. The Louvre is stuck, not fully fixed and not fully funded. But for now, France's greatest museum and the millions of people who visit it are stuck in a situation that no one knows how to fix quickly, as per the Associated Press. FAQs Q1. Why did the Louvre Museum close? The Louvre Museum closed because the staff went on strike. Q2. What is being done to fix the Louvre's problems? A 10-year plan promises repairs and better crowd control.
