The Louvre Museum closed to the public on Monday, December 15th, after staff launched a strike over working conditions, leaving thousands of tourists locked out of the Paris landmark ahead of the Christmas holiday rush.
Around 400 employees voted unanimously to continue the walkout, unions said, with participation extending beyond security and front-of-house staff to include curators, scientists, and collections managers. Workers are demanding more staff—and measures to deal with chronic overcrowding at the world’s most visited museum.
The strike comes nearly two months after an embarrassing daylight robbery in which thieves stole crown jewels worth around $102 million (€87 million) but they were not insured. After this, a water leak occurred in the famous museum which damaged several valuable works and books.
Unions say staff are overwhelmed by visitor numbers far beyond planned capacity, while parts of the historic building suffer from leaks, structural issues and poor facilities. Some argue that The Louvre is increasingly becoming a symbol of overtourism, with up to 30,000 visitors a day.
