The Louvre in Paris Reopens After $102M Jewelry Heist

The Louvre Museum in Paris reopened its doors on Wednesday, October 22, just three days after a dramatic heist that shook the art world. 

The robbery, which occurred on Sunday morning in the museum’s famed Apollo Gallery, saw thieves make off with eight historic pieces of French royal jewellery, including an emerald-and-diamond necklace gifted by Napoleon I to his wife and a diadem once owned by Empress Eugénie. 

The stolen items—the haul valued at approximately €88 million (around $102 million)—are reckoned to be of incalculable heritage value. The break-in was reportedly executed in under eight minutes by a group of thieves who used a freight lift mounted on a truck to access the museum façade, climbed into the gallery, smashed display cases and fled via scooters.

Despite the security breach, the Louvre moved ahead with its reopening plan, welcoming visitors at its usual 9 a.m. local time, though the Apollo Gallery remains closed while investigations continue.

The reopening comes amid growing concern and criticism about museum security, staffing and resource constraints — especially given that the museum handles millions of visitors yearly. 

Authorities have mobilised more than 100 investigators to track down the perpetrators, whose identities remain largely unknown. The heist has sparked outrage across France, with officials calling it “an attack on our heritage” and demanding accountability.

While the Louvre returns to business as usual, the incident has cast a spotlight on the vulnerabilities of even the world’s most-visited art institution, raising urgent questions about how cultural treasures are protected and what reforms are required to prevent a repeat of such a brazen theft.