Louvre Reopens Amid Ongoing Investigation into Crown Jewels Heist
The Louvre Museum in Paris has reopened three days after a daring daylight theft of French crown jewels, with investigations into the heist still underway.
The Louvre Museum in Paris reopened on Wednesday, three days after thieves executed a daylight heist, stealing eight pieces from France's Crown Jewels. The stolen items, valued at approximately €88 million ($102 million), include a sapphire diadem, necklace, and single earring linked to 19th-century queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense, as well as an emerald necklace and earrings tied to Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon Bonaparte’s second wife.
The Apollo Gallery, where the theft occurred, remains closed to visitors as investigations continue. No arrests have been announced, and the stolen jewels are still missing.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin acknowledged security lapses, stating, "We have failed," and noting that the ability to plant a freight lift undetected on a public way projects "a very negative image of France."
The heist has intensified scrutiny of the museum's security measures. Louvre President-Director Laurence des Cars is scheduled to appear before the Senate's culture committee to address these concerns.
The Louvre, the world's most-visited museum, typically closes on Tuesdays and had been shut since the theft for investigation.