The Louvre's Apollo Gallery has reopened to the public for the first time since a daytime heist saw £75 million worth of crown jewels stolen. The gallery was closed after a gang of thieves posed as workmen and broke in using a cherry picker, smashing glass displays on October 19, 2025. The theft took just seven minutes, with eight items taken, including an emerald and diamond necklace given by Napoleon I to his second wife Marie Louise.
Empty gallery and new security
Some stolen jewels remain unrecovered nine months later. Four suspects believed to be part of the gang were arrested and charged in France last year. The Apollo Gallery reopened today, but eager media were met with an empty room. The public will no longer see crown jewels or display cases, as the collections have been removed. The museum said the gallery is returning to its 17th-century ceremonial purpose, allowing visitors to tour the room and view its gilded ceilings and Greek frescoes en route to the Mona Lisa.
Christophe Leribault, the Louvre's director, said the former exhibits will be relocated elsewhere in the museum. Leribault became head of the Louvre in February after previous director Laurence des Cars resigned following the heist. Security has been boosted with new surveillance cameras and anti-intrusion systems, at an estimated cost of up to £683 million to modernise infrastructure, ease crowding, and give the Mona Lisa a dedicated gallery by 2031.
