The Apollo Gallery at the Louvre Museum in Paris is set to reopen to the public on Wednesday, several months after a major theft involving French Crown Jewels valued at approximately €88 million.
The gallery will no longer display jewellery and other precious artefacts, with museum officials instead restoring the hall to its original function as a 17th-century state gallery following a robbery that exposed security weaknesses at the museum.
Gallery returns to original purpose
According to information cited by Agence France-Presse, the Apollo Gallery will resume its historical role as a 17th-century state gallery.
The reopening will take place in the presence of French Culture Minister Catherine Pégard. Louvre President Christophe Leribault said the collections and valuable objects previously displayed in the gallery have already been relocated.
Crown jewels remain missing
The burglary took place on 19 October 2025 and attracted international attention because of the method reportedly used by the thieves.
According to the report, the suspects, disguised as construction workers, reached the Apollo Gallery using a lift mounted on a truck.
They allegedly stole eight pieces of the French Crown Jewels, which have not been recovered.
New security plans under consideration
For the items that were not stolen, the Louvre is considering the creation of a new purpose-built vault.
The proposed facility would be located elsewhere within the museum and would feature no windows and enhanced security systems.
Museum officials said the project would require substantial funding and considerable time to complete.
Security measures under scrutiny
The theft reignited concerns over security arrangements at the Louvre, which attracts approximately nine million visitors annually.
The incident was followed by changes in the museum's leadership, with Christophe Leribault succeeding Laurence des Cars as president.
A parliamentary committee in France had previously warned that museum security issues had received insufficient attention in recent years. The robbery renewed debate over the need for additional investment, stricter security protocols and stronger protection of the country's cultural assets.
Source: parathyro
