Louvre: Rachida Dati launches an international architectural competition to renovate the museum

Culture Minister Rachida Dati announced on Friday, June 27, on X the launch of an international architectural competition for the vast renovation and transformation project of the Louvre Museum, announced in January by the Élysée Palace.

"Proud to announce the launch of the international architectural competition for the "Louvre - New Renaissance" project, driven by the will of the President of the Republic @Emmanuel Macron," writes Rachida Dati in her message. "Forty years after the pyramid of the Grand#Louvre, a new architectural and cultural impetus," she adds.

On January 28, Emmanuel Macron announced a vast plan to adapt the Louvre, the most visited museum in the world with nearly nine million annual visitors (80% foreigners) in 2024 and nearly ten million before the health crisis, which is suffering from dilapidation problems.

The creation of a new grand entrance on the eastern side of the old castle is planned, which will involve a redesign of the esplanade that borders it. A space dedicated to Leonardo da Vinci's famous Mona Lisa is also to be created, as well as new exhibition rooms beneath the museum's square courtyard.

The pyramid, inaugurated in 1988 and commissioned by former President François Mitterrand, is considered "structurally outdated" because it was designed to accommodate four million visitors per year. The goal is also to address problems of damage in degraded spaces and to meet the needs in terms of safety and environmental standards, while improving comfort and the quality of protection of the works.

The cost of the project has been estimated at around 700 to 800 million euros over ten years, of which only a "very small portion" will be financed by the state. Ten million are budgeted for the initial studies in 2025. It has been estimated at more like "one billion euros" by the CGT and SUD unions.

A more expensive entry ticket for non-EU foreigners is due to come into effect on 1 January 2026. This differentiated pricing could bring in an additional twenty million euros per year, if entry is set at €30.00 for them (compared to the current €22 full price) and if attendance reaches twelve million visitors annually, the President's target. A separate ticket for the collections tour is also planned for admiring the Mona Lisa.