Paris, Jan 28 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Tuesday that France would embark on a six-year renovation of the Louvre in Paris. The aim is to expand the world's most-visited museum to accommodate the growing number of visitors who currently fill the palace on the Seine's banks.
During a visit to the museum, Macron disclosed that a new entrance would facilitate entry and exit, and a dedicated area with a separate entrance would be created to showcase the museum's most prized possession, Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa.
Beginning next year, the museum will implement higher entry fees for non-European Union visitors, Macron noted.
Louvre President Laurence des Cars highlighted the urgent state of the centuries-old building, once a sumptuous palace for French monarchs, citing leaks and dramatic temperature fluctuations that could jeopardize the preservation of the artworks.
Describing a trip to the Louvre as "a physical ordeal," des Cars criticized the confusing layout, lack of space for visitors to rest, eat, or access facilities, making it challenging to navigate and enjoy the artwork.
With an annual influx of 9 million visitors, surpassing the 4 million capacity planned during the 1980s renovation, the Louvre is set to expand its capacity to 12 million, as stated by Macron.
Although the renovation costs were undisclosed, Macron assured that the project would be self-financed through the Louvre's resources, ticket sales, sponsorships, and proceeds from its sister museum in Abu Dhabi, thereby not burdening taxpayers.
Historically, large-scale projects in the capital have served as a means for French presidents to enhance their legacies. Following the meticulous restoration of Notre Dame cathedral, unveiled last month after a devastating fire five years ago, Macron emphasized the significance of the Louvre project for art, art history, and national heritage preservation.