This Sunday, the Louvre experienced an episode almost unprecedented since the theft of the Mona Lisa in 1911. At around 9:30 a.m., a commando group of around four individuals entered the museum using a freight elevator on the Seine side, then broke into a display case in the famous Galerie d’Apollon. Eight priceless pieces of jewelry, including tiaras, necklaces and brooches from the French imperial collections, were taken, while Empress Eugénie’s crown, also targeted, was found damaged.
Latest news on the Louvre burglary:
The Minister of Culture confirmed that no one was injured, and that the investigation into the robbery had been entrusted to the Brigade de répression du banditisme and the Office central de lutte contre le trafic des biens culturels. The museum remained closed all day Sunday “for exceptional reasons” and will remain closed on Monday. If you had a ticket for this Sunday, please note that refund or postponement measures are currently being put in place by the museum’s management.
According to initial information from the Ministry of Culture, the following items have been stolen:
- Tiara from the ensemble of Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense
- Necklace from the sapphire set of Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense
- Earring, from a pair of the sapphire set of Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense;
- Emerald necklace from Marie-Louise’s set;
- Pair of emerald earrings from the set of Marie-Louise
- Reliquary brooch;
- Diadem for Empress Eugénie;
- Grand nœud de corsage de l’impératrice Eugénie (brooch)
The museum was finally able to reopen its doors on Wednesday, three days after the spectacular robbery.
More information to follow…