Louvre Museum director resigns in the wake of October’s brazen French crown jewels heist

Associated Press (AP)EN 5 min read 100% complete by By THOMAS ADAMSON and JOHN LEICESTERFebruary 26, 2026 at 03:53 AM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

Louvre Museum director Laurence des Cars resigned following a tumultuous year marked by significant security and operational failures. The resignation comes after the October 2025 theft of the French crown jewels from the Apollo Gallery, which triggered scrutiny over the museum's security protocols. Other issues contributing to the pressure included a burst pipe near the "Mona Lisa," water damage to valuable books, staff strikes related to overcrowding and understaffing, and the revelation of a suspected decade-long ticket fraud scheme potentially costing the Louvre millions. President Macron accepted des Cars' resignation, citing the need for "calm" and new leadership to address security upgrades and modernization efforts. Des Cars will be given a new mission focused on museum cooperation during France's G7 presidency.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Senate 35% Group of Seven 40% Apollo Gallery 40% Emmanuel Macron ×260% Paris ×270% French crown jewels ×275% France ×380% Louvre Museum ×590% Laurence des Cars ×395%

Keywords

louvre museum 100% french crown jewels heist 90% laurence des cars 90% resignation 80% ticket fraud 70% security failures 70% labor unrest 60% museum director 60% emmanuel macron 50% cultural world 40%