Emmanuel Macron “at the bedside of the Louvre”: A project to revive his mandate in response to the museum’s decay

Emmanuel Macron will visit the Louvre Museum on Tuesday, January 28, a place emblematic of France’s cultural power, to announce new measures in response to the alarming decay of the building. This visit comes after the release of a confidential note last week from the museum’s management, revealing the dilapidated state of the building, the wear and tear of its facilities, and the poor conditions for welcoming millions of visitors each year.

The Louvre, with nearly nine million visitors in 2024, is a pillar of France’s cultural influence, but it is now facing major structural issues. The glass pyramid entrance, inaugurated in 1988, is deemed “structurally outdated” and was designed to accommodate a much smaller number of visitors than it receives today. In addition to the deterioration of the infrastructure, technical problems such as temperature fluctuations that threaten the preservation of artworks are further complicating the situation.

In light of these challenges, Emmanuel Macron is going to “the bedside” of the museum, with the goal of launching an ambitious renovation project to preserve this national heritage. The president hopes to inject new life into his mandate by tackling this symbolic issue of heritage. The Louvre is not just a museum; it is a symbol of French cultural exceptionalism and the country’s global power. This renovation project aligns with the restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral, a significant effort that helped strengthen Macron’s image as a defender of national heritage.

The Elysée Palace is keeping the specifics of the announcements under wraps, but several ideas are reportedly under consideration, such as creating a new entrance to ease congestion and improve the visitor experience. The state of the infrastructure and the degraded conditions of visitation are central concerns, particularly the long lines under the pyramid, which were built without the current visitor standards in mind. Additionally, the idea of relocating certain artworks, such as the Mona Lisa, may be explored to better manage crowds in the museum’s most visited spaces.

However, Macron faces two major obstacles: the strained financial situation of the state and the loss of political power after the dissolution of the National Assembly. The question of financing these renovations, estimated to cost hundreds of millions of euros, is particularly delicate. The Elysée has not ruled out the mobilization of private funds, similar to the reconstruction of Notre-Dame, through donors and large companies.

If this project comes to fruition, it would allow the president to breathe new life into his mandate by framing his actions within the context of heritage preservation, while also strengthening his connection with the French people. The Louvre, this great symbol of cultural exceptionalism, could become a unifying project aimed at repairing and renovating, while also preserving national pride.