Louvre to reopen gallery after spectacular royal jewellery theft
21.07.2026
Photo: Christian Böhmer/dpa
The Louvre's Galerie d'Apollon is to reopen on Wednesday nine months after a spectacular theft of royal jewellery - albeit completely empty.
The gallery at the famous Paris museum will be displayed as the magnificent ceremonial hall it was originally intended to be. The collections and precious objects previously displayed there will be moved to a windowless vault, Louvre director Christophe Leribault told the newspaper Le Parisien.
"We want a fresh start," Leribault said, adding that the gallery's elaborate wall and ceiling decorations will take centre-stage once again.
The Galerie d'Apollon is considered one of the Louvre's most magnificent rooms. Its ceilings were designed by Charles Le Brun and later enhanced by artists including Eugène Delacroix.
Leribault compared the gallery to the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles, describing it as a surviving part of the original royal palace that visitors can still experience within today's museum.
During the burglary in mid-October 2025, eight valuable pieces of jewellery, estimated to be worth around €88 million ($100 million), were stolen. They remain missing.
The crown of Empress Eugénie, which was damaged during the break-in, is currently being restored. According to Leribault, almost all of its components have been recovered. Once it returns to the Louvre, it will be given more space to improve both its security and the flow of visitors.
The museum director believes the crown's story will only enhance its fame. "This crown will be more famous than it was before - just as the Mona Lisa became after its theft in 1911," he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment