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Louvre reopens fully after staff vote to suspend strike over working conditions

France

The Louvre reopened as normal on Friday after the museum’s staff voted against continuing their strike over working conditions. The former royal palace was shut to visitors all day on Monday and then reopened only partially on Wednesday and Thursday.

People queue to enter the Louvre which remains closed as its staff continue discussions on whether to extend a strike over pay and working conditions in Dec. 2025.
People queue near the Pyramid of the Louvre to enter the museum during a strike over pay and working conditions on December 17, 2025. © Abdul Saboor, Reuters

Staff at the Louvre voted against continuing their strike on Friday, union representatives told AFP, ending three days of disruption which have added to the problems of the world's most-visited museum.

Management said the Louvre, which was the victim of an embarrassing daylight heist on October 19, would open "as normal" on Friday.

The former royal palace and its 400 rooms were shut to visitors all day on Monday, causing frustration for thousands of festive holidaymakers hoping to catch a glimpse of the Mona Lisa and other works.

The museum was closed for its usual day off on Tuesday and then reopened only partially on Wednesday and Thursday as disgruntled staff pressed their demands for more recruitment and better maintenance of the vast complex of buildings. 

Louvre museum workers vote to strike, denouncing overcrowding and security issues

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Louvre museum workers vote to strike, denouncing overcrowding and security issues
© France 24

Union leaders from the CGT and CFDT said staff had voted against another day of stoppages but warned of future industrial action because of "insufficient progress" in talks with management and the culture ministry. 

Questions continue to swirl since the break-in over whether it was avoidable and why the stolen crown jewels, worth more than $100 million, appeared to be so poorly protected.

Read moreLouvre thieves slipped away with seconds to spare, probe reveals

Two intruders used a truck-mounted extendable platform to access a gallery containing the jewels, slicing through a glass door with disk-cutters in front of startled visitors before stealing eight priceless items.

As well as the robbery, two other recent incidents have highlighted maintenance problems inside the building which chief architect Francois Chatillon has described as "not in a good state". 

A water leak in November damaged hundreds of books and manuscripts in the Egyptian department, while management had to shut a gallery housing ancient Greek ceramics in October because ceiling beams above it risk giving way.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)