In a breathtaking cultural revolution, the Louvre Museum is undertaking its most significant transformation in decades, moving some of the world's most iconic artworks to make way for France's spectacular Crown Jewels collection.
A New Home for Royal Splendour
The museum's historic Salle des Etats, home to Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa for nearly two decades, will be completely reimagined to showcase the French Crown Jewels in all their glory. This ambitious project represents the Louvre's largest architectural intervention since the construction of I.M. Pei's iconic glass pyramid in 1989.
Mona Lisa's Grand Migration
Visitors need not worry about missing the world's most famous smile. The Mona Lisa will be relocated to the nearby Galerie Médicis, part of a comprehensive reorganisation of the museum's Renaissance masterpieces. This strategic move allows for better crowd management and an enhanced viewing experience for the millions who pilgrimage to see Leonardo's masterpiece annually.
Renaissance Reborn
The transformation extends far beyond a single gallery. The entire Richelieu wing's first floor is being reconfigured into a spectacular 2,300 square metre Renaissance art department. This ambitious reinstallation will unite Italian, French, and Northern Renaissance works in a cohesive narrative that celebrates one of art history's most fertile periods.
A Jewel in Paris's Crown
When completed, visitors will encounter the Crown Jewels in a purpose-built, secure gallery adjacent to the former Mona Lisa space. This strategic placement ensures these national treasures receive the prominence they deserve while maintaining the museum's stringent security protocols.
The Louvre's director, Laurence des Cars, describes the project as "a new chapter in the museum's history," one that redefines how visitors engage with both royal heritage and Renaissance masterpieces in one of the world's most visited cultural institutions.
