Louvre Under Scrutiny After Daring Crown Jewels Heist, Director to Testify
Following the swift theft of nine crown jewels at the Louvre, museum director Laurence des Cars faces Senate questioning as security failures prompt closure and government scrutiny.
- • Nine crown jewels including Queen Marie-Amélie’s parure stolen in a seven-minute heist at the Louvre on October 19, 2025.
- • Museum remains closed as officials investigate security lapses and prior warnings about outdated protection were ignored.
- • Laurence des Cars, Louvre president, to testify before the Senate on October 22 regarding security system failures.
- • Public reactions mixed between humor and serious cultural concern, with Stéphane Bern calling it an attack on French history.
Key details
On October 19, 2025, the Louvre Museum in Paris suffered a brazen heist where four thieves stole nine of France's crown jewels in a swift seven-minute operation. The valuable pieces taken include the parure of Queen Marie-Amélie and the diadem of Empress Eugénie. The criminals accessed the Apollo gallery by using a freight elevator, a security breach confirmed by Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. The museum has been closed to the public since the incident.
The theft has sparked a wave of shock and criticism over the museum's security measures. A meeting involving Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, Culture Minister Rachida Dati, and other key officials was convened to investigate the security lapses, especially since prior warnings about the Louvre's outdated protection systems were allegedly ignored. Laurence des Cars, president of the Louvre, had previously expressed concern in January 2025 about the museum’s "worrying level of obsolescence" and emphasized the urgent need for renovations. She is scheduled to testify before the Senate on October 22 regarding the security failings exposed by the robbery.
While many public reactions ranged from humorous takes on social media, such as television host Samuel Étienne sharing an archival photo from a past visit to the gallery to confirm his alibi during the theft, the sentiment among cultural commentators is more grave. Stéphane Bern highlighted the cultural wound caused by the theft, stating, "It’s the history of France that was attacked this morning at the Louvre, and that’s what is unbearable."
This incident has intensified scrutiny on France's approach to protecting its national heritage housed in the Louvre. The immediate closure of the museum and the upcoming Senate hearings underscore the institutional urgency to address security failures and restore public confidence in this world-renowned cultural landmark.