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Louvre Museum in Paris Announces a Major Renovation, Including New Entrance and a Dedicated Mona Lisa Gallery

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French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a significant renovation plan for the Louvre, following concerns from the museum's director about the building's deteriorating condition. The project includes the creation of a new grand entrance and broader refurbishments across the historic site.

The renovation comes after a letter from Louvre director Laurence des Cars to the French Cultural Ministry highlighted serious maintenance issues affecting both visitors and staff. According to the letter, first published in Le Parisien, conditions inside the museum have become increasingly difficult, with visitors lacking space to rest, insufficient food and restroom facilities, and outdated signage in need of a complete redesign. The letter also pointed to climate control issues, describing a greenhouse effect inside the 36-year-old glass Pyramid designed by I.M. Pei, as well as hazardous temperature fluctuations and leaks in other parts of the building.

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Paris, France - Louvre Museum. Image © Kiev.Victor via Shutterstock

As part of the renovation, an international architecture competition will be launched to design the new entrance, which will be located on the museum's eastern facade. This area, currently featuring a classical colonnade and an artificial moat, will be reconfigured to improve visitor access and reduce congestion at the existing Pyramid entrance. Reports from Le Monde and the BBC indicate that the new entrance will lead directly into underground exhibition spaces, which will connect with the existing complex beneath the Pyramid.


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Paris, France - Louvre museum. Image © Flickr user- Rory Hyde (CC BY-NC-SA)

The Mona Lisa will be relocated to a dedicated gallery within the newly designed exhibition spaces. The competition for the renovation is expected to begin in the coming months, with a winner chosen by the end of the year. The project is anticipated to be completed by 2031, with an estimated cost of approximately $400 million. An additional $300–$400 million will be allocated for further refurbishments, including modernized infrastructure, updated visitor facilities, and improvements to restrooms and restaurants.

Macron has stated that French taxpayers will not bear the cost of the renovation. Funding will come from the museum's own revenue, including contributions from its Abu Dhabi branch and international donations. Additionally, ticket prices for non-EU visitors will increase beginning in January 2026 to help support the project.

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Paris, France - Louvre museum. Image © Olha Solodenko via Shutterstock

The Louvre has reportedly been considering the addition of a new entrance for several years to address the challenges posed by over-tourism. Ultimately, the renovation aims to improve both the visitor experience and the museum's long-term sustainability while preserving its status as one of the world's most significant cultural institutions.

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Paris, France - Louvre museum interior. Image © Pandora Pictures via Shutterstock

In related news, the Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain has announced plans to relocate to a historic Haussmannian building in Place du Palais-Royal, with architect Jean Nouvel leading the redesign ahead of its scheduled opening in 2025. Additionally, the Finnish Museum of Architecture and Design has revealed five shortlisted designs for its future venue in Helsinki's South Harbour, selected from 624 international submissions in the first phase of its competition. Meanwhile, the design by Baile Menduiña and del medio atelier, led by Luis Manuel Pereira, has won the public competition for the renovation and expansion of Lisbon's National Museum of Contemporary Art (MNAC).

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Cite: Nour Fakharany. "Louvre Museum in Paris Announces a Major Renovation, Including New Entrance and a Dedicated Mona Lisa Gallery" 30 Jan 2025. ArchDaily. Accessed 20 Feb 2025. <https://www.archdaily.com/1026320/louvre-to-undergo-major-renovation-including-new-entrance-and-mona-lisa-relocation> ISSN 0719-8884

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