A few days after Laurence des Cars raised the alarm about the worrying state of the Louvre, Emmanuel Macron officially announced a vast renovation plan for the famous Parisian museum. During his visit on January 28, 2025, the president detailed an ambitious project, estimated to cost between 700 and 800 million euros over a period of ten years .
Faced with constant overcrowding – with nearly 9 million annual visitors for an initial capacity of 4 million – and aging infrastructure, this project aims to modernize reception, improve the conservation of works and rethink the visitor experience.
The first key measure of this plan is the creation of a new monumental entrance . Located at the foot of the Perrault Colonnade, it will complement the often congested access via the Pyramid. An international architectural competition will be launched this year to select the project. The entrance will be inaugurated in 2031 and financed by the museum's own resources, notably through an increase in ticket prices for visitors from outside the European Union, which will take effect on January 1, 2026 .
In addition to this new entrance, the project includes a redevelopment of the interior spaces , particularly under the Cour Carrée, to streamline visitor circulation and create new exhibition and reception areas. This project is accompanied by a restoration of the museum's old buildings , which are facing water leaks and temperature variations that are putting some of the works at risk.
Furthermore, the Carrousel and Tuileries gardens will be rehabilitated to become true havens of freshness in the heart of Paris, offering a space for relaxation to visitors and residents.
The Mona Lisa, the Louvre's iconic masterpiece, will have its own dedicated space . This independent room will allow for better visitor management and offer an immersive experience for Leonardo da Vinci enthusiasts. It will also be possible to purchase a dedicated ticket exclusively for this work, an initiative that could transform the museum's business model.
While this renovation program has been welcomed by the Friends of the Louvre and several cultural sector stakeholders, some employees and experts have expressed reservations. Unions point to a lack of prioritization of structural issues , such as the maintenance of existing infrastructure and staff working conditions. For their part, tour guides fear that these new measures will impact the museum's accessibility and pricing model.
The government, however, assures that only private funds and internal revenues will finance the majority of the project, thus limiting its impact on public finances.
With this massive renovation, Emmanuel Macron aims to usher the Louvre into a new era . After the reconstruction of Notre-Dame, this project represents one of the major cultural projects of his second term. More than just a refresh, it's about reinventing the Louvre for the decades to come, combining modernity, accessibility, and heritage preservation .
Work is scheduled to begin in late 2025 , with key milestones leading up to the final inauguration in 2031. It remains to be seen how this project will materialize in the coming years, and whether it will be able to address the challenges raised by industry professionals.
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