The Louvre, the world’s most-visited museum, faced an unexpected shutdown as staff staged a strike, protesting overcrowding, understaffing, and deteriorating working conditions. The disruption, occurring without warning, highlights the growing tensions between mass tourism and the museum’s ability to manage it.
The strike comes amid broader concerns across Europe about unsustainable tourism, with protests in major cities like Barcelona, Venice, and Lisbon. Louvre workers argue that visitor numbers—8.7 million last year, far beyond its designed capacity—have made their jobs untenable. At the heart of the issue is the museum’s most famous attraction, the Mona Lisa, which draws overwhelming crowds daily.
French President Emmanuel Macron has proposed a decade-long renovation plan, dubbed “Louvre New Renaissance,” to address overcrowding and infrastructure problems. However, striking staff claim the plan does little to solve immediate concerns, pointing to declining government subsidies despite soaring visitor numbers.
While the Louvre may partially reopen soon, tensions remain over long-term solutions, leaving France’s cultural icon struggling between its vast popularity and the urgent need for reform.