Major projectsSupport the Louvre | Major projects | Renovations and refurbishments

The Louvre is currently undertaking extensive development projects that aim to reinvent how visitors engage with the museum. From refurbishing exhibition spaces to integrating cutting-edge technologies and adopting more sustainable practices, each of our initiatives aims to enhance our visitor experience while also taking the utmost care to conserve the treasures entrusted to us for future generations.

THE ‘LOUVRE NOUVELLE RENAISSANCE’ PROJECT

Today, the Louvre is the most-visited museum in the world. However, the growth of international tourism; the rise of digital, security, and climate-related challenges unimaginable forty years ago; and general wear and tear mean that the Louvre is now also more vulnerable than ever.

As such, the ‘Louvre Nouvelle Renaissance’ project sets out to shape the Louvre of tomorrow: a welcoming museum, designed to offer its diverse visitors an enriching experience, sparking delight and curiosity. Large-scale renovation work will restore the entire building and its facilities, implementing crucial upgrades to boost resilience and increase visitor comfort. This enhanced museum will combine modern amenities and tools with respect for cultural and architectural heritage.

Our iconic Pyramid entrance will be supplemented by a new Colonnade entrance which will improve visiting conditions, and the Mona Lisa will be relocated to a larger exhibition space beneath the Cour Carrée, better suited to her immense popularity. Ever mindful of our mission to educate and share, the Louvre will work to make our collection accessible to as many visitors as possible by creating new spaces for museum mediation and temporary exhibition.

To help the museum rise to this momentous occasion, the Louvre needs the support of its patrons. Together, we can build the Louvre of tomorrow!
 

CREATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BYZANTINE AND EASTERN CHRISTIAN ART

The creation of a new department at the Louvre is a rare event that attests to the museum’s desire to showcase the art and history of great civilizations.

The creation of this ninth curatorial department, bringing together renowned specialists in the field, will facilitate the study and conservation of the objects in its care and offer visitors access to an immense wealth of information.

This new department aims to serve as a cultural bridge between East and West, spanning from the 3rd to the 20th century, and stretching from the Levant to the Slavic world, from the Balkans to the Caucasus: an unrivalled chronological and geographical scope.

The department's visitor trail, designed by the prestigious French-American consortium WHY-BGC, will reveal the exchanges, influences and hybridisations of societies, civilisations and faiths whose histories have been continually interwoven. By shining a light on the past, we aim to also provide greater context for the present, by emphasizing the modern-day relevance of the questions raised by this remarkable collection, given that geographical area in question endures ongoing strife.

The Louvre is on the cusp of profound change: the creation of this department is one of the first milestones of the Louvre’s ‘Nouvelle Renaissance’ project and represents a major step in the museum’s transformation.

With the inauguration of the department scheduled for 2028, it is now more crucial than ever that we continue to bring together donors to ensure the success of this ambitious initiative.

RETHINKING THE ROMAN COLLECTION AND ITS VISITOR TRAIL

The Louvre's galleries of ancient Roman art house an exceptional collection comprising some 40,000 works. Our world-renowned collection illustrates the richness and diversity of the Roman world from the 2nd century BC to the end of the 4th century AD.

Its redesign will offer an updated interpretation of ancient Roman art in line with current scholarship. Covering nearly 3,000 square metres, the scenography, designed by the prestigious Franco-American consortium WHY-BGC, will feature a fluid and easy-to-follow visitor trail sure to speak to a wide audience. With links to other departments, the Roman visitor trail will highlight connections between Roman works and the works of other great Mediterranean civilisations, outlining a connected and hybrid history of art with universal appeal.

The Louvre is currently undergoing a large-scale transformation. This project is one of the first implementations of the Louvre’s ‘Nouvelle Renaissance’ project and represents a critical step in the museum’s evolution. With the Roman galleries scheduled to reopen in 2028, it is now more crucial than ever that we continue to bring together a community of patrons to ensure the success of this ambitious initiative.

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Contact

Claire DUVAL
+ 33 (0)1 40 20 84 97
claire.duval@louvre.fr

Justine TOUCHON
+ 33 (0)1 40 20 56 55
justine.touchon@louvre.fr