Water leak in the Louvre damages hundreds of works, museum says

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 2 min read 100% complete by Agence France-Presse in ParisDecember 7, 2025 at 06:37 PM

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In late November, a water leak in the Louvre's Egyptian department damaged 300-400 Egyptology journals and scientific documents dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The leak, caused by an accidentally opened valve in the heating and ventilation system, affected the Mollien wing where the books were stored. According to the museum, no heritage artifacts were damaged, and the affected items are not unique. The Louvre will conduct an internal investigation and plans to restore the damaged works. This incident follows a recent jewel theft and precedes a planned ticket price increase for non-EU visitors to fund structural improvements, including replacing the obsolete heating system in 2026.

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Paris ×350% Francis Steinbock ×260% Louvre ×780%

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water leak 100% louvre 90% damaged works 80% museum infrastructure 70% egyptian department 60% jewel theft 50% scientific documentation 50% heating and ventilation system 40% ticket prices 40%