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Mona Lisa to Be Moved as Louvre Undergoes Major Renovation

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

The world’s most famous painting, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, will be relocated to a new exhibition space within the Louvre Museum as part of an extensive renovation plan for the world’s most visited museum. The announcement was made by French President Emmanuel Macron during a high-profile event attended by dignitaries, as he outlined his ambitious New Renaissance project. The relocation is expected to take place by 2031, with visitors required to purchase a separate ticket to view the masterpiece.

Macron’s initiative also includes an international design competition for a new entrance to alleviate mounting pressure on the museum’s existing access point beneath the iconic glass Pyramid. Starting next January, tariff adjustments will be implemented, increasing entry fees for non-EU visitors, including tourists from the United Kingdom.

The project comes in response to urgent warnings from Louvre Director Laurence des Cars about severe overcrowding and deteriorating infrastructure. In a letter to the government made public earlier this month, Des Cars highlighted that the Pyramid, which has served as the museum’s sole entry point since 1989, is no longer capable of handling the current influx of over nine million visitors per year.

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“In the view of everyone, the presentation of the Mona Lisa is something that needs to be reconsidered,” she stated. Currently, about 75% of the museum’s 30,000 daily visitors head straight to view the Mona Lisa, often enduring long queues and an overcrowded experience in the Salle des États. The average visitor gets only 50 seconds to see the painting, leading to frustration and diminishing the ability to appreciate da Vinci’s work in depth.

Macron’s proposal envisions a transformation of the museum’s eastern facade, where a colonnade and esplanade currently stand, into a modernized entranceway. The new entrance will lead directly to underground exhibition halls beneath the Cour Carré, seamlessly connecting to the Pyramid’s subterranean level. The redesign marks the most significant change to the Louvre since President François Mitterrand’s Grand Louvre project four decades ago.

The French president emphasized that the renovation would enhance the museum’s integration with the city and create a more welcoming atmosphere for Parisians. He also noted that relocating the Mona Lisa would allow for a better presentation of the painting while making other important artworks in the Salle des États more accessible.

In addition to improving exhibition spaces, the extensive renovation plan includes upgrading infrastructure, modernizing restrooms, and expanding dining and relaxation areas. The entire project is estimated to cost several hundred million euros. However, Macron assured that the initiative would not rely on taxpayer funding but instead be financed through ticket sales, donations, and sponsorship agreements, including the Louvre’s partnership with the Louvre Abu Dhabi.

The overhaul aims to enhance the visitor experience while preserving the historic integrity of the world-renowned museum, ensuring that future generations can continue to appreciate its vast artistic treasures in a more comfortable and immersive environment.