Louvre's Campana Gallery Closed Due to Structural Fragility in Historic Beams

The Louvre Museum in Paris has temporarily closed its Campana gallery after an audit revealed structural fragility in some of the building's beams. The closure, announced on November 17, affects nine rooms in the gallery dedicated to ancient Greek ceramics, situated on the first floor of the Sully wing's south side. Officials disclosed that certain beams supporting the second-floor flooring exhibit "particular fragility," which has raised safety concerns requiring immediate investigation and repairs.

The structural weaknesses relate to the complex architectural design of the floor system and earlier structural work carried out during the 1930s. Following a technical study, the museum is conducting thorough inspections to determine the extent of the issue. Besides the gallery closure, offices on the same floor in the south wing will be evacuated within three days as a precautionary measure.

This development follows a series of recent challenges faced by the museum, including the high-profile October 19 heist where thieves stole eight crown jewels valued at approximately €88 million, which remain unrecovered. Laurence des Cars, President of the Louvre, had previously alerted the Ministry of Culture about the museum’s deteriorating conditions amid increasing incidents of damage.

In response to these concerns, President Emmanuel Macron has unveiled an ambitious renovation plan focused on the Sully quadrilateral sector that includes the Campana gallery. Initial budget estimates for this comprehensive project have escalated from €800 million to at least €1.15 billion, according to the Court of Auditors. Laurence des Cars is expected to testify before the National Assembly’s cultural affairs committee to discuss the museum's security and renovation needs further.

The Louvre has emphasized that the Campana gallery closure is temporary and necessary to ensure visitor safety and safeguard the museum's priceless collections while investigations continue.