The Apollo Gallery in the Louvre has reopened for the first time after the robbery
Kyiv • UNN
The Apollo Gallery in the Louvre has reopened to the public after the theft of royal jewels worth €88 million. The collections were removed, and the museum has strengthened security following the incident.
The Apollo Gallery in the Louvre reopened to the public on Wednesday for the first time since crown jewels worth 88 million euros ($102 million) were stolen during a dramatic daytime heist, UNN reports citing AP.
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The public can view the majestic room and admire its gilded ceilings and Greek frescoes on the way to the nearby Mona Lisa, but they will not see any royal jewels or empty display cases. The collections and precious gems that were once exhibited there have been removed, as the museum stated that the gallery is returning to its original 17th-century ceremonial purpose.
The stolen jewels remain undiscovered nine months later.
The gallery's former exhibits will be moved to another location in the museum, said Christophe Leribault, director of the Louvre. "This is also an opportunity to rediscover the magnificent architecture and decor of this gallery," he said.
Leribault was appointed head of the Louvre in February after previous director Laurence des Cars resigned following the October theft of the royal jewels and a series of setbacks that undermined confidence in the leadership of the world's most visited museum.
"That ominous day when the iconic exhibits were stolen cannot be forgotten, and I believe should not be forgotten," said French Culture Minister Catherine Pégard. "It was a trauma for the entire world, which for several days expressed its shock and sorrow in all languages. It was a trauma for us, the discovery of the fragility of a place we considered unshakeable, and which, like many others, proved vulnerable."
Security at the Paris museum has been strengthened with the installation of new surveillance cameras and intrusion protection systems.
On the day of the robbery, it took the thieves less than eight minutes to break in through a window into the Apollo Gallery and steal crown jewels worth 88 million euros. It happened during a weekend operation that stunned visitors and exposed glaring vulnerabilities in the security system.
Improving security is a priority of the ten-year "New Renaissance of the Louvre" plan, launched last year, which is estimated to cost 800 million euros (933 million dollars) to modernize infrastructure, reduce overcrowding, and give the Mona Lisa a separate gallery by 2031.