On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron accepted the resignation of the Louvre Museum’s director, who has been dealing with the aftermath of a notorious jewel theft and ongoing staff strikes.
Laurence des Cars submitted her resignation, which Macron acknowledged, “commending her for taking responsibility during a time when the world’s most visited museum requires stability and a robust new direction to effectively manage significant security and modernization initiatives,” according to his office.
The Louvre has faced turmoil since a robbery in October, when four thieves escaped with jewels valued at approximately 87 million euros (around $140 million Cdn) in just eight minutes.
In her testimony to a French legislative committee days later, Des Cars admitted to the “grave failure” and offered her resignation, which was declined by the culture minister at that time.
Following that incident, the museum continued to encounter difficulties, as disgruntled staff—frustrated by layoffs, wages, and working conditions—have been staging rolling strikes since December.
Allegations of Ticket Fraud
Earlier this month, French authorities apprehended several individuals as part of an inquiry into a ticket fraud scheme at the Louvre, which is believed to have cost the museum 10 million euros ($16.15 million Cdn) in lost revenue.
The investigation commenced after the Louvre reported in December 2024 that two Chinese guides were suspected of using single-entry tickets multiple times for different groups of Chinese tourists. After extensive verification over more than a year, police uncovered a comprehensive network that may have allowed up to 20 groups of tourists to gain entry each day over a decade, while bribing museum officials to overlook the illicit activity.
Authorities believe the ring might have reinvested the profits into real estate in both France and Dubai, as stated by the Paris prosecutor’s office.
The Louvre is now the site of what some are calling the heist of the decade. Andrew Chang breaks down how France’s crown jewels were stolen, and why the pieces may be impossible to recover. Plus, how China won the rare earths race against the U.S.
During the October heist, thieves made away with eight items, including a sapphire diadem, a necklace, and a single earring from a set associated with 19th-century queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense. They also took an emerald necklace and earrings belonging to Empress Marie-Louise, the second wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, along with a reliquary brooch. The loot also included Empress Eugénie’s diamond diadem and her large corsage-bow brooch, both remarkable examples of craftsmanship. One item—Eugénie’s emerald-set imperial crown, featuring over 1,300 diamonds—was later discovered outside the museum, albeit damaged but salvageable.
Officials revealed that the robbers utilized disc cutters designed for concrete to breach the display cases.
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The robbery underscored the museum’s ongoing security deficiencies, an issue it was already working to rectify. In late November, Des Cars announced the initiation of a plan to install 100 surveillance cameras by the end of 2026.
Additionally, the museum has experienced two water leaks within a three-month timeframe. A leak earlier this month resulted in damage to a 19th-century painting, while between 300 and 400 items, including documents and journals, were affected by a leak in November.
Last month, the Louvre increased ticket prices by 45 percent for most visitors from outside the European Union to fund renovations.