Chaotic Scene at the Louvre: Staff Strike Closes Iconic Museum for Hours
Louvre Temporarily Shuts Down for Extended Period Due to Employee Protest
The Louvre, one of the most popular museums globally, found itself in turmoil on Monday, June 16, 2025. Behind closed doors during an internal meeting, staff rebelled, refusing to work due to appalling working conditions, chronic understaffing, and unmanageable visitor crowds. The palace was open again at 14:30, according to official statements.
In 2024, the Louvre welcomed a staggering 8.7 million visitors, far exceeding its designed capacity. To cope with the visitor flow, a new east-side entrance is under planning, meant to be an alternative to the heavily congested glass pyramid.
Despite Louvre President Laurence des Cars' warning about the consequences of overcrowding, outdated infrastructure, and urgent need for renovation to the Minister of Culture as early as January, the issues persisted. Staff were subjected to "untenable" working conditions, marked by inadequate rest areas, insufficient bathrooms, and extreme heat fluctuations caused by the Louvre's pyramid structure.
The museum faced criticism for poor infrastructure maintenance, including frequent water leakage, temperature control problems, and substandard guest amenities. Staff appealed for immediate action, stressing that they can't wait six years for help.
Overcrowding continues to be a significant challenge, with the facility designed to accommodate far fewer visitors than the current annual total. The spontaneous strike highlighted this issue, leading to unexpected closures and long queues outside the museum. Visitors were left frustrated and disappointed, with minimal communication about the closure.
Sources: ntv.de, dpa
For a comprehensive overview of the strike causes, duration, and its impact on visitor flow, check out our summary table and details below:
Details of the Strike
Strike Causes
- Overcrowding and Understaffing: Museum staff pointed out "unmanageable crowds" and "chronic understaffing" as the primary reasons for the strike. Despite a daily visitor cap of 30,000, employees reported that the building's infrastructure is inadequate for the current visitor numbers.
- Poor Working Conditions: Employees described their working conditions as "untenable," citing a lack of rest areas, insufficient bathrooms, and extreme heat fluctuations caused by the Louvre's pyramid structure, which also threatened the safety of the artwork.
- Infrastructure Neglect: Leaked memos from Louvre President Laurence des Cars highlighted ongoing issues with water leakage, temperature control, and substandard guest amenities. Staff warned that parts of the building were no longer water-tight.
- Delayed Renovation Plans: President Emmanuel Macron announced a significant renovation plan for the museum over the next decade, but union representatives stressed that immediate action was needed.
Strike Duration
- Strike Timing: The spontaneous walkout began on Monday, June 16, 2025, during a routine internal meeting. Staff refused to take up their posts, forcing the museum to close for the day.
- Museum Closures: The Louvre typically closes on Tuesdays, so the closure on Tuesday, June 17, was routine and not directly related to the strike. Normal operations were expected to resume on Wednesday, June 18, depending on the negotiations and resolution of staff grievances.
Impact on Visitor Flow
- Sudden Closure: The strike led to an unexpected shutdown, leaving thousands of tourists with tickets stranded outside the museum. Lines were described as "so long that people were corralled into unmoving queues beneath the glass pyramid".
- Visitor Experience: Tourists reported confusion and disappointment, with one visitor stating, "It's the Mona Lisa moan out here... Thousands of people waiting, no communication, no explanation".
- Operational Response: The museum's daily cap of 30,000 visitors suggested that even this limit is not enough to ensure staff and visitor safety or comfort, as the facility was built to accommodate far fewer visitors than the current annual total.
The first reason for the staff's strike at the Louvre, as reported in the internal meeting, was a combination of unmanageable crowds and chronic understaffing, exacerbating the working conditions within the museum. Furthermore, the strike was partially fueled by politics, with union representatives calling for immediate action and criticizing the delay in the museum's renovation plans. The strikes also highlighted the general-news issue of poor infrastructure at the Louvre, including water leakage, temperature control problems, and substandard guest amenities.
