Louvre Museum Closes as Workers Protest Overtourism, Visitors Left Stranded

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Louvre Museum in Paris, famous for the Mona Lisa painting, closed on Monday morning, June 16, 2025, without clear notice, leaving thousands of visitors stranded in the iconic glass pyramid queue.

One of them was Kevin Ward, who came from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. He and other visitors had been queuing to enter the museum.

"It’s the ‘Mona Lisa’ moan out here. Thousands of people waiting, no communication, no explanation. I guess even she needs a day off," the 62-year-old man told AP, as quoted from Fox News.

The Louvre Museum rarely closes. It has been closed a few times during wars, pandemics, and staff strikes in 2019, but seldom does it happen without warning and while a crowd is already waiting in line to enter the landmark.

Workers' Protests

Union representative Sarah Sefian from CGT-Culture said that the closure occurred due to a spontaneous movement among front-of-house staff, including gallery attendants, receptionists, and security personnel. They protested what they described as deteriorating working conditions.

"It's a movement led by reception agents who are suffering from the working conditions at the Louvre," said Sefian, quoted from Independent.

Sefian explained that initially, the staff gathered in the auditorium at 10:30 for a scheduled monthly information session, which then turned into a mass expression of frustration. The staff decided to stay together until the management arrived and discussed with the museum's leaders.

"All roles related to visitor reception are affected. Overcrowding and understaffing are the main issues being raised," she said.

By midday, the museum remained closed, while visitors roamed the underground shopping complex. Some visitors gave up and left. A message on the museum's official website revealed why the museum was closed.

"Due to strikes in France, the museum may open later and some exhibition rooms may remain closed. We thank you for your understanding," the statement read.

Museum Leader's Memo

The Louvre Museum is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe and the most visited museum in the world. Approximately 8.7 million tourists visited the museum in 2024.

Early 2025, a memo from Laurence des Cars, President of the Louvre, warning French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, that the museum building was in very poor condition leaked to the Paris newspaper Le Parisien.

In the memo, Laurence Des Cars explained that parts of the museum were no longer watertight, temperature fluctuations endangered priceless artworks, and basic visitor needs, such as toilets, food, and signage, were all below international standards and needed to be redesigned.

Just days later, French President Emmanuel Macron launched a long-term plan for the museum. However, according to museum workers, the plan felt very distant. Sefian said their team cannot wait six years for assistance. "Our teams are under pressure now. It’s not just about the art – it’s about the people protecting it," Sarah Sefian said, as quoted from France24.

According to Sefian, many staff members planned not to work all day, and others might return to work temporarily to open access to the masterpiece collection for a few hours. The entire museum may reopen as usual on Wednesday, June 18, 2024.

Editor’s Choice: Louvre Museum in Crisis, Urging Help for Renovation

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