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The Louvre is one of the most iconic cultural institutions in the world. Once the royal residence of French kings, it became a museum after French Revolution
The world-famous Louvre Museum in Paris was forced to close on Sunday after chainsaw-wielding robbers stormed its halls and stole what French authorities have described as “priceless" treasures.
The robbery took place in broad daylight and lasted only seven minutes. France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said that a group of “three or four" thieves used a furniture hoist to access the museum’s Galerie d’Apollon (Apollo’s Gallery), where they targeted two display cases. No injuries were reported.
The thieves are believed to have arrived between 9:30 and 9:40am local time. They reportedly used small chainsaws and accessed the gallery through a goods lift. A police source said the suspects arrived on a scooter before launching the quick and coordinated heist.
The Galerie d’Apollon houses some of France’s most valuable historical jewellery, including the French crown jewels. While it is not yet clear which items were taken, pieces on display include three famous diamonds — the Regent, the Sancy, and the Hortensia — as well as a diamond and emerald necklace once gifted by Napoleon to his wife, Empress Marie-Louise.
France’s Culture Minister Rachida Dati confirmed the break-in on social media, saying: “robbery took place this morning at the opening of the Louvre Museum. No injuries reported. I’m on site with museum staff and police."
The Louvre is one of the most iconic cultural institutions in the world. Once the royal residence of French kings, it became a museum after the French Revolution. Last year, it welcomed nine million visitors, making it the most visited museum globally.
The targeted gallery, commissioned by King Louis XIV, later inspired the famous Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. It is not the first time the museum has suffered a major theft — in 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen but was later recovered.
The robbery is the latest in a string of museum thefts across France. In recent months, gold samples worth €600,000 were stolen from Paris’s Natural History Museum, and artefacts were taken from the Cognacq-Jay Museum by thieves armed with axes and bats.
(With inputs from AFP)
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First Published:
October 19, 2025, 15:15 IST
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