French President Macron announced on Tuesday (January 28) that the Louvre Museum will undergo a large-scale renovation and expansion lasting for ten years, with a design competition to be held in the coming months. The world-famous painting “Mona Lisa” will have its own dedicated exhibition room, along with the addition of underground galleries to expand the museum space.
Macron made the announcement of the “Louvre New Renaissance” renovation project, which includes a new spacious entrance along the Seine River and is expected to be completed by 2031, while speaking at the room where the “Mona Lisa” is exhibited.
The museum expansion will provide a new exclusive exhibition hall for the “Mona Lisa,” accessible with specific tickets. This will enhance the convenience for visitors who only wish to see this famous painting and improve the overall touring experience for other visitors.
Currently, Da Vinci’s masterpiece is displayed in the largest hall of the museum, protected by bulletproof glass. However, the hall often gets overcrowded and noisy due to the large number of visitors who come to see the painting and take selfies with it.
The last major renovation of the Louvre was in the 1980s, when the iconic glass pyramid was unveiled, designed to accommodate four million visitors annually.
But last year, the Louvre welcomed 8.7 million visitors, with over 75% coming from international tourists from the United States, China, Italy, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Spain.
Macron did not disclose the specific budget during his speech. According to a senior French official cited by the Associated Press, the total budget for the renovation project is estimated to be between 700 million to 800 million euros (approximately 7.3 billion to 8.34 billion dollars), with half of it allocated for the construction of the new entrance.
Macron also mentioned that the museum will raise ticket prices for non-European Union international visitors, increasing from the current 22 euros (about 23 dollars). He promised that the renovated Louvre will be safer and more comfortable for the public and staff.
Macron compared this project to the recent reconstruction of the Notre-Dame Cathedral, stating, “The redesigned, renovated, and expanded Louvre will become the center of our country and even the world’s art history.”