The Musée du Louvre in Paris, France is one of the most famous museums in the world. Timeless pieces of art, including the Mona Lisa, are housed at the Louvre.
Last year, the Louvre welcomed 8.7 million visitors, which is more than double what its infrastructure was designed to accommodate, according to PBS.
As a result, it appears that the museum is plagued with issues. So much so that the Louvre closed its doors this week.
On Monday, operations at the Louvre were brought to an abrupt halt as its staff went on strike over mass tourism and working conditions.
Thousands of tourists waited in lines to enter the museum to no avail.
Reportedly, the strike occurred after an internal meeting where workers spoke out about “untenable” working conditions.
According to PBS, staff said that there are not enough rest areas, bathrooms, and that the summer heat is “magnified” by the pyramid greenhouse effect.
There’s more. The museum’s president outlined in a memo that some of the timeless art is at risk (via PBS):
In a leaked memo, Louvre President Laurence des Cars warned that parts of the building are “no longer watertight,” that temperature fluctuations endanger priceless art, and that even basic visitor needs — food, restrooms, signage — fall far below international standards. She described the experience simply as “a physical ordeal.”
“What began as a scheduled monthly information session turned into a mass expression of exasperation,” Sefian said. Talks between workers and management began at 10:30 a.m. and continued into the afternoon.
The full renovation plan is expected to be financed through ticket revenue, private donations, state funds, and licensing fees from the Louvre’s Abu Dhabi branch. Ticket prices for non-EU tourists are expected to rise later this year.
According to the New York Post, the main reason why so many tourists flock to the Louvre is to see the Mona Lisa. These days, over 20,000 people per day squeeze into the room to take photos of it.
As part of the renovation blueprint, the Mona Lisa would get her own room and would only be accessible with a timed entry ticket.
