The world-famous Louvre Museum has temporarily shut down one of its major galleries as a safety precaution after a structural audit discovered serious weaknesses in the building's support beams. The Campana Gallery, which features nine rooms showcasing an extensive collection of ancient Greek ceramics, will remain closed to visitors while engineers conduct thorough investigations into problematic beams that support the floors of the second story directly above the gallery space.
This latest closure represents another significant challenge for the world's most visited art museum, which has already been facing intense scrutiny over security failures. While museum officials emphasized that the structural issues are completely unrelated to the recent high-profile theft, the timing adds to mounting concerns about the institution's operational problems. The announcement comes just weeks after a brazen daylight heist that shocked the art world and exposed serious security vulnerabilities.
Last month, a four-person criminal gang successfully raided the Louvre in broad daylight, using sophisticated equipment including extendable ladders and angle grinders to break into display cases. The thieves made off with valuable jewelry estimated to be worth approximately $102 million, carrying out their operation in full view of startled visitors and museum staff. The audacious theft highlighted significant gaps in the museum's security systems and raised questions about protection protocols at one of the world's most important cultural institutions.
Even before the dramatic break-in occurred, senior museum leadership had been sounding alarms about deteriorating conditions throughout the historic building complex. In a January internal memo, Louvre Director Laurence des Cars documented what she described as "a proliferation of damage in museum spaces," with some areas described as being "in very poor condition." Her warnings painted a concerning picture of a world-class institution struggling with basic maintenance and infrastructure challenges.
Des Cars specifically highlighted serious environmental problems affecting the former royal palace, which welcomed an impressive 8.7 million visitors last year. According to her assessment, some sections of the building were no longer properly watertight, allowing moisture to penetrate and potentially damage priceless artworks. Additionally, significant temperature variations in various gallery spaces were creating unstable conditions that could endanger the long-term preservation of the museum's invaluable collections.
The affected Campana Gallery is strategically located on the first floor of the Sully wing, positioned at the far eastern end of the sprawling museum complex. Museum officials have identified the floor directly above this gallery space as the source of the structural concerns that prompted the closure. The problematic upper level currently serves as office space for museum operations, housing approximately 65 staff members who carry out various administrative and curatorial functions.
As investigations into the structural integrity continue, all 65 employees who normally work in the affected office space are being temporarily relocated to alternative locations within the museum complex. Museum administrators are taking no chances with staff safety while engineers assess the extent of the beam problems and develop appropriate repair solutions. The relocation process is being coordinated to minimize disruption to ongoing museum operations and research activities.
Museum officials stated that the Campana Gallery will remain completely closed to the public throughout the investigation period as a mandatory precautionary measure. While no timeline has been announced for reopening, the closure will prevent thousands of daily visitors from accessing the gallery's renowned collection of ancient Greek ceramics, which represents one of the most significant assemblages of classical pottery in the world.
