Louvre closed after robbery, French culture minister says

"The Louvre in Paris, the world's most-visited museum, has suddenly closed for the day after the French culture minister said there had a been a robbery. A robbery took place this morning at the opening of the Louvre Museum, Rachida Dati wrote on social media. She used the French word braquage, which can mean robbery or hold-up. She added: No injuries reported. I'm on site with museum staff and police."

"In a note to the cultural ministry leaked to the media in January, the Louvre's director, Laurence des Cars, had said the space below the museum's glass pyramid entrance was not properly insulated from the cold or heat, tended to amplify noise, and was uncomfortable for both the public and the staff. Des Cars also raised the alarm over water leaks, failing infrastructure and temperature swings which endanger the conservation of works of art. Visitors faced overcrowding and substandard facilities, she said."

The Louvre closed unexpectedly for the day after France's culture minister reported a braquage at the museum's opening and said no injuries were reported while she was on site with staff and police. A team member said at least one person had entered the museum, with no immediate details on any theft. The museum announced an exceptional-day closure without specifying what, if anything, had been stolen. The Louvre attracts more than eight million visitors annually and houses works from classical sculpture to the Mona Lisa. Earlier concerns by the director cited overcrowding, poor insulation, water leaks, failing infrastructure and temperature swings threatening conservation, prompting plans for major renovation.

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