Louvre Reopens After Daring Royal Jewellery Heist

The Louvre Museum reopened to the public on Wednesday, three days after it was forced to close following the theft of priceless royal jewellery, in what investigators believe was a highly organised criminal operation.

From 9:00 a.m. (07:00 GMT), the museum’s usual opening time, visitors once again began streaming into the world-famous Paris landmark. However, the Apollo Gallery — the scene of Sunday’s audacious robbery — remains closed to the public as investigations continue.

“We have reopened most galleries, but the Apollo Gallery will remain sealed off until further notice,” a Louvre spokesperson said.

The reopening brought relief to art lovers and tourists who had been turned away earlier in the week when the museum was shut amid intense security reviews.

According to French authorities, the thieves are believed to be part of an organised crime network. Investigators suggest they scaled the museum using a ladder mounted on a truck, broke into the gallery, and snatched eight invaluable pieces of jewellery before escaping — dropping one diamond-studded crown in their haste.

The stolen artefacts include:

Police say the burglars’ swift and professional methods indicate months of planning and insider knowledge of the museum’s security layout.

The heist has reignited public debate over security failures at French cultural institutions, following similar break-ins at two other museums last month.

French investigators — numbering in the dozens — are now working around the clock to recover the stolen treasures. Forensic teams have been examining CCTV footage, alarm systems, and witness accounts from museum staff and nearby residents.

Visitors expressed disappointment after the closure earlier in the week, with many learning only upon arrival that the world’s most visited museum — which welcomed over 9 million people last year — had temporarily shut its doors.

“We came all the way from Canada to see the Louvre, and it was heartbreaking to find it closed because of a robbery,” said tourist Maria Lopez, who finally entered on Wednesday morning.

The French Ministry of Culture has promised a full review of museum security protocols, describing the theft as “an attack on national heritage”.

Authorities have yet to make any arrests but confirmed that the stolen jewels were not insured, raising fears they could soon be dismantled or smuggled abroad.

The Louvre’s Apollo Gallery — home to France’s most precious royal jewellery — will remain closed “until further notice,” while enhanced security measures are being implemented across all state museums.

The French public, meanwhile, has been left stunned by what is now being described as “the most significant museum heist in decades.”