An international competition will be held to create a second entrance to the Louvre museum in Paris to alleviate the increasing pressure of visitor numbers around the famous glass Pyramid.
The announcement marked the highlight of a speech by President Emmanuel Macron, presented before dignitaries in the presence of the Mona Lisa, where he introduced his New Renaissance project for the world's most visited museum.
By 2031, another significant change will be the relocation of the Mona Lisa to a new exhibition space, requiring a separate entrance fee for visitors.
Starting next January, tariff adjustments will be implemented, resulting in higher admission fees for non-EU residents to enter the museum.
Macron responded to warnings from the Louvre's director, Laurence des Cars, about serious issues of overcrowding and decaying infrastructure at the museum.
Des Cars publicly expressed concerns in a letter to the government this month, noting that the Pyramid, the main access point to the galleries since 1989, was "structurally unable to cope" with the increasing annual visitors, exceeding nine million.
She also highlighted the importance of reassessing the presentation of the Mona Lisa, a painting that attracts about three-quarters of the museum's daily visitors. The current experience of viewing the artwork involves enduring crowds filtering through the Salle des Etats, with visitors receiving only about 50 seconds to observe and photograph the painting.
Des Cars pointed out in her letter that the public lacks the opportunity to truly understand the artist's work, questioning the overall mission of public service at the museum.
As part of Macron's plan, a redesign of the eastern facade of the museum will take place, including the creation of a new entrance leading to underground exhibition spaces below the Cour Carré, eventually linking to the area beneath the pyramid.
The renovation will be the most significant change at the museum since President François Mitterrand's Grand Louvre project 40 years ago, aligning with the city's vision to develop a green space on the esplanade and integrate the museum into daily Parisian life.
Macron emphasized that relocating the Mona Lisa would enable better presentation, facilitating easier viewing of other often overlooked masterpieces in the Salle des Etats.
The renovation project will include modernizing infrastructure, enhancing facilities like toilets, restaurants, and resting areas, with an estimated cost of several hundred million euros. Funding will be sourced from ticket sales, donations, and the Louvre Abu Dhabi's sponsorship agreement.
Despite recent political setbacks, Macron aims to leave a cultural legacy akin to his praised engagement in the post-fire reconstruction of Notre-Dame cathedral, now turning his focus towards the Louvre.