French President Emmanuel Macron announced renovation plans for the Louvre, including a new entrance and a dedicated room for the Mona Lisa, to bring the museum up to modern standards and relieve overcrowding. The project, named Louvre Nouvelle Renaissance, is expected to take nearly a decade and cost up to 800 million euros. Access will become more expensive for visitors from outside the EU starting January 2026.
Key Points
Renovation includes a new entrance and a dedicated room for the Mona Lisa
Louvre Nouvelle Renaissance project aims to attract 12 million visitors annually
Fully funded by the museum's own resources without burdening taxpayers
Pros
Modernizing the Louvre to meet international standards
Relieving overcrowding and congestion at the museum
Creating new dedicated spaces for key artworks like the Mona Lisa
Cons
Cost of the renovation project could be as high as 800 million euros
Access becoming more expensive for visitors from outside the EU