Louvre Museum Shuts Down Amid Staff Strike And Anti-Tourism Protests

Published on June 17, 2025

The world-renowned Paris Louvre Museum, where some of the world’s most iconic paintings, including the Mona Lisa, are housed, was forced to shut its doors following a shocking walkout of its staff.

On Monday, staff of various units, including the security and ticketing units, embarked on a sudden protest, decrying unbearable work conditions caused by overcrowding, chronic understaffing, and inadequate facilities. Thousands of tourists were left stranded outside since they could not gain entry into one of the world’s busiest and most famous museums.

The protest is the result of a string of escalated tensions between museum workers and the French government, with workers pointing to mounting tourism pressures on the museum. Workers described to the Associated Press working at the Louvre as something like life within a “cultural pressure cooker,” with pressure each day exacerbated by government underfunding and a lack of substantial action to limit visitor numbers.

Overcrowding and Safety Concerns at the Louvre’s Mona Lisa Gallery

One of the primary sources of discontent lies in the infamous Salle des États, the gallery where the Mona Lisa is displayed. On an average day, up to 20,000 visitors crowd this single room alone, contributing to the museum regularly operating beyond its capacity of 30,000 total visitors. Despite the official daily visitor cap, the Louvre has become notorious for exceeding this limit, raising serious safety concerns. Staff have reported a range of issues, including extreme heat exhaustion, a lack of proper facilities, and risks to the safety of both staff and visitors.

Adding to the crisis is the deteriorating condition of the museum’s physical infrastructure. An internal memo from the Louvre’s president, Laurence des Cars, recently warned that several parts of the building are no longer watertight, and temperature fluctuations are endangering priceless works of art. She described working conditions as a “physical ordeal,” pointing to the deteriorating environment under the iconic glass pyramid designed by architect I. M. Pei.

Restoration Plan Delayed Amidst Growing Tensions

The Louvre’s woes come on the heels of a long-awaited restoration plan. In 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron announced a €700–800 million, decade-long project aimed at revitalizing the museum’s infrastructure. The ambitious ‘Louvre New Renaissance’ plan includes significant upgrades, such as a new Mona Lisa gallery and a second entrance near the River Seine. However, these improvements will take years to complete, and staff argue that the museum’s current condition is untenable in the meantime.

A limited “masterpieces route,” which includes access to some of the Louvre’s most iconic pieces, may open temporarily. However, full reopening is expected to be delayed until Wednesday, with Tuesday closures being standard. Visitors hoping to see the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo will be able to enjoy these masterpieces, but the situation remains far from ideal for both tourists and staff.

Symbolic Anti-Tourism Protests Sweep Southern Europe

The Louvre’s shutdown is not an isolated incident but part of a growing wave of anti-tourism unrest that is sweeping through Europe. Over the past year, cities like Barcelona, Lisbon, and Palma de Mallorca have witnessed large protests by local residents criticizing the overwhelming effects of mass tourism. Many argue that the surge in visitors has driven up rents, caused environmental degradation, and led to the erosion of local cultures and identities.

In Barcelona, protesters used water pistols to symbolically call for the “cooling down” of overtourism, while elsewhere, demonstrators paraded mock coffins and rolling suitcases through historic city centers. In many cases, local residents have blocked tour buses or staged marches to highlight their opposition to the commercialization of their cities.

These protests are not aimed at tourists themselves, but rather at what is seen as the neglect of local communities in favor of profit-driven tourism industries. Workers at the Louvre have echoed similar sentiments, stressing that their strike is not against visitors but against the French government’s failure to adequately fund and support cultural institutions.

Union Grievances Highlight Longstanding Neglect of Cultural Institutions

Union representatives argue that the ongoing strike underscores a long-standing pattern of neglect by the French government. Over the past decade, state funding for the Louvre has dropped by over 20%, despite the museum’s increasing attendance. While other major cultural institutions like Notre-Dame and the Centre Pompidou receive more government backing, the Louvre remains heavily reliant on ticket sales, private donors, and international partnerships, including revenue generated by the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

Museum workers have expressed frustration at President Macron’s use of the Louvre as a political backdrop without corresponding investment in its upkeep. From his 2017 election victory to last year’s Olympic celebrations, the Louvre has served as a symbolic venue for high-profile events, yet the government has failed to address the institution’s mounting challenges.

A Broader Debate: How to Balance Tourism and Cultural Heritage

As anti-tourism protests extend deeper into Europe, the Louvre strike is a reflection of a broader, increasingly urgent debate about matching economic benefits that accrue to tourism with safeguarding their heritage and the well-being of their citizens and workers. Some cities are questioning the sustainability of mass tourism and exploring alternative options to prevent overcrowding, such as capping visitor numbers or shifting to more sustainable tourism profiles on a year-round basis.

Whereas the issue with the Louvre is still not a question of receiving visitors worldwide but a survival problem, the museum is facing a double challenge: to meet the short-term requirements of its overcrowded staff and to secure the integrity of its collection on a long-term basis.

With ongoing protests and instability, this museum closure is a sorrowful indication that with inadequate funds, investment, and a more equitable tourism model, even the best cultural institutions can be pushed to the precipice.

References: French Ministry of Culture, Louvre Museum Official Website, UNESCO Reports on Cultural Heritage Preservation, European Tourism Commission