Louvre Thefts: From the Mona Lisa to the 2025 Crown Jewels Heist
On October 19, 2025, thieves disguised as construction workers scaled the walls of the Louvre Museum in broad daylight and vanished with €88 million worth of French Crown Jewels—the most audacious museum heist since Vincenzo Peruggia walked out with the Mona Lisa in 1911. In under eight minutes, they shattered not just display cases but the myth of the world’s greatest museum being impenetrable. This guide explores the complete history of Louvre thefts, from the legendary Mona Lisa theft that captivated the world to the shocking 2025 robbery that exposed critical security failures. Whether you’re fascinated by art crime or planning your visit to see what remains of this extraordinary collection, here’s everything you need to know about the crimes that changed the Louvre forever.
💡 Planning to visit the Louvre Museum? Explore our complete Louvre Tours guide with expert-led private tours covering highlights, themed collections, and evening visits.
Understanding these Louvre thefts isn’t merely about sensational crime stories. It’s about appreciating how vulnerabilities were exploited, how investigations unfolded, and ultimately how these events shaped both the museum and our understanding of art security. From the Mona Lisa‘s disappearance that launched a global manhunt to the still-unfolding 2025 investigation, these crimes reveal the delicate balance between public access and protecting irreplaceable cultural heritage.
The Louvre Museum.
Table of Contents
Mona Lisa
1. The 2025 Crown Jewels Heist: Seven Minutes That Shocked the World
The morning of October 19, 2025, began like any other Sunday at the Louvre Museum. Visitors streamed through the pyramid entrance, security guards took their positions, and the magnificent Apollo Gallery opened its doors to tourists eager to see the legendary French Crown Jewels. By 9:40 AM, everything had changed.
At approximately 9:30 AM, a white truck with a mounted furniture elevator—the kind commonly used by Parisian movers—pulled up alongside the Denon Wing. Four men wearing reflective safety vests climbed out, looking for all the world like a renovation crew. In Paris, where building works are a constant sight, no one gave them a second glance.
The Denon Wing of the Louvre, where the 2025 heist unfolded in broad daylight.
The thieves raised the mechanical basket lift to the first-floor balcony of the Apollo Gallery—Room 705 in the Denon Wing. Two men climbed up while their accomplices waited below with getaway motorcycles. Using disc cutters designed for cutting concrete, they smashed through a window and entered the gallery while a Louvre guard watched in shock, capturing the robbery on his mobile phone.
Four Minutes Inside the Gallery
What happened next was a masterclass in speed and precision—or perhaps desperate chaos. The thieves spent just four minutes inside the Apollo Gallery, using their industrial-grade disc cutters to slice through the display cases protecting the Crown Jewels. The glass cases had been reinforced in 2019 to withstand weapon attacks from inside the museum, but no one had imagined thieves would use concrete-cutting tools from outside.
They grabbed eight pieces of jewelry valued at approximately €88 million ($102 million). In their haste, they dropped at least one item—the Crown of Empress Eugénie, studded with 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds—as they tried to pull it through a hole in the display case that was too small. The crown was later recovered, damaged but restorable.
The robbers scrambled back down the lift, mounted two Yamaha TMax motorcycles driven by their accomplices, and sped toward Highway A6. Behind them, they left a trail of evidence that would soon prove their undoing: a motorcycle helmet, the disc cutter, a glove, a gas can, a walkie-talkie, and a reflective vest. The entire operation took fewer than eight minutes—and changed art security forever.
French Police Arrive Only Three Minutes Later, But Too Late
Both alarms work correctly: firstly, the one for the window to the Seine River; secondly, the one for the display case.
French Police were highly efficient and arrived on site within three minutes after the thieves left the Louvre. But too late? Why? Three main reasons.
- On the Louvre facade to the Seine River at the Apollo Gallery Level, the camera was not watching where the thieves arrived. A perimetrical alarm from the beginning would have saved the Jewels.
- When the window was broken at 9:34 PM, the alarm worked correctly, but the police were not called immediately.
- When the glass cases were attacked at 9:35, the alarm also worked correctly, but the police were not called immediately.
Nevertheless, apparently, the Louvre staff did their job correctly; indeed, when there is an alarm, a time is taken to ensure this is not a technical issue (doubt-removal procedure). The Police were called at 9:36 AM, one minute after the second alarm. A call via the Ramses urgency procedure, the same as for jewelry, you do not have to explain anything at the 17 emergency number, you press a button, and the Police come immediately. They arrived in three minutes. But it was three minutes too Late.
The investigations will clarify all that, but apparently, it is not about human error; the cause of the disaster seems to be, first of all, the inefficiency of the security system, which may have to be redesigned in full.
2. The Apollo Gallery: A Royal Treasury Under Glass
To understand what was lost on that October morning, you must first understand the Apollo Gallery (Galerie d’Apollon)—one of the most magnificent spaces in the Louvre and a jewel box designed for royalty long before it housed the Crown Jewels.
The gallery was commissioned by King Louis XIV, the Sun King, in 1661 after a fire destroyed the previous gallery on this site. The young monarch entrusted the project to architect Louis Le Vau and painter Charles Le Brun, giving them a clear mandate: create a space worthy of Apollo, the god of the sun—and by extension, worthy of Louis himself.
The Prototype for Versailles
Walking into the Apollo Gallery is like stepping into the birthplace of French royal magnificence. The 60-meter-long corridor blazes with gold, mirrors, and painted panels depicting Apollo’s mythological journey across the sky. Le Brun‘s central ceiling painting, Apollo Slaying the Serpent Python, established the visual language that would later define the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.
Indeed, the Apollo Gallery served as a full-scale rehearsal for Versailles. Every technique—the marriage of painting and gilded stuccowork, the strategic placement of mirrors to amplify light, the thematic celebration of royal power through classical mythology—was first perfected here before being replicated on an even grander scale at Louis XIV’s palace.
Charles Le Brun’s ceiling masterpiece in the Apollo Gallery—the prototype for Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors.
From Royal Showpiece to National Treasury
After the French Revolution, the Apollo Gallery found a new purpose. In 1887, the Third Republic decided to sell off most of the French Crown Jewels, considering them symbols of monarchy incompatible with republican values. But the most historically significant pieces were kept and eventually displayed here, transforming the Sun King’s gallery into a showcase of France’s royal heritage.
Until October 2025, visitors could admire not only the jewelry of queens and empresses but also legendary stones like the Regent Diamond (140.64 carats), the pale pink Hortensia Diamond, and the pale yellow Sancy Diamond. The thieves, notably, did not touch these unmistakable gems—perhaps knowing they would be impossible to sell.
The Apollo Gallery currently remains closed following the heist, with precious items transferred to the Bank of France for safekeeping while emergency security measures are implemented.
3. The French Crown Jewels: A Turbulent History
The French Crown Jewels have survived revolutions, wars, and the rise and fall of dynasties—but they have never been truly safe. Their history reads like a thriller, full of theft, dispersal, and miraculous survival.
The Origins: François I and the Permanent Collection
The tradition of French royal jewels began in earnest with King François I in the 16th century, who established the concept of jewels belonging to the crown rather than to individual monarchs. These pieces could be worn by queens and royal family members but could never be sold or given away—they were the property of France itself.
Over the centuries, successive rulers added to this dazzling collection. Louis XIV acquired the Regent Diamond in 1717, one of the finest diamonds ever found. Marie Antoinette famously wore pieces that would later trigger scandal. Napoleon Bonaparte commissioned entirely new sets for his coronation in 1804 and later for his second wife, Empress Marie-Louise.
The Crown Jewels featured prominently in David’s Coronation of Napoleon—now visible in the Louvre’s Denon Wing.
The Revolutionary Theft of 1792
During the chaos of the French Revolution, the Crown Jewels suffered their first major heist. In September 1792, a gang of thieves broke into the Garde-Meuble (the royal furniture repository) over five consecutive nights, stealing most of the collection including the legendary French Blue Diamond—the precursor to what we now know as the Hope Diamond.
Many stones were never recovered. The French Blue disappeared completely, only to resurface decades later in London, recut into the smaller Hope Diamond now in the Smithsonian. Some pieces were recovered, including the Regent, found hidden in a Parisian attic.
The Great Sale of 1887
The final blow to the collection came not from thieves but from politicians. In 1887, the Third Republic—eager to distance itself from monarchical symbols—auctioned off the majority of the Crown Jewels. Over 69,000 stones were sold, many to foreign buyers including Tiffany & Co., which purchased significant pieces for its American clientele.
Only 23 pieces were retained for historical purposes: items deemed too significant to French heritage to sell, including the great diamonds and the most historically important jewelry sets. These survivors formed the core of what would be displayed in the Apollo Gallery—and what the 2025 thieves targeted.
4. What Was Stolen in October 2025
The eight pieces stolen in the 2025 heist represent some of the most historically significant jewelry in French history. Each piece tells a story of empresses, political alliances, and the heights of 19th-century craftsmanship.
The Emerald Parure of Empress Marie-Louise
Empress Marie-Louise, Napoleon’s second wife, received these pieces as a wedding gift in 1810. The Austrian archduchess was just 18 when she married the French emperor, and Napoleon spared no expense in welcoming her.
The Emerald Necklace: A spectacular piece featuring 32 emeralds surrounded by 1,138 diamonds. The emeralds came from the Spanish Crown Jewels, acquired by Napoleon after his conquest of Spain. This single necklace was valued at €25 million.
The Emerald Earrings: Matching drop earrings designed to complement the necklace, featuring large Colombian emeralds of exceptional clarity.
Marie-Louise’s emerald necklace—Napoleon’s wedding gift and among the most valuable items stolen.
The Sapphire Parure of Queens Marie-Amélie and Hortense
This set has a complex provenance, having been worn by multiple queens and redesigned several times.
The Sapphire Diadem: A tiara featuring large sapphires surrounded by diamonds, worn by Queen Marie-Amélie, wife of King Louis-Philippe, and associated with Queen Hortense, Napoleon’s stepdaughter and mother of Napoleon III.
The Sapphire Necklace: A matching piece designed to be worn with the diadem, creating a coordinated ensemble for state occasions.
A Single Sapphire Earring: Only one earring from the parure was taken—perhaps the thieves’ haste caused them to miss the second, or perhaps it fell during the robbery.
The Jewelry of Empress Eugénie
Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III and the last empress of France, was renowned for her elegance and love of jewelry. Several of her most treasured pieces were stolen.
The Pearl Diadem: An extraordinary tiara featuring 212 pearls and 1,998 diamonds, designed to complement Eugénie’s famous beauty. This piece alone was valued at approximately €15 million.
The Reliquary Brooch: A devotional piece containing 94 diamonds, including several of the famous Mazarin Diamonds bequeathed to the French Crown by Cardinal Mazarin in the 17th century.
The Bodice Bow Brooch: Perhaps the most diamond-encrusted piece stolen, featuring 2,438 diamonds. This brooch has a fascinating transatlantic history—it was purchased at the 1887 sale by Caroline Schermerhorn Astor, the famous “Mrs. Astor” who ruled New York society. The brooch eventually returned to France and was acquired for the Louvre in 2008.
What Was Recovered
The Crown of Empress Eugénie: Dropped by the fleeing thieves, this magnificent crown featuring 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds was found damaged but intact. Louvre Director Laurence des Cars confirmed that “initial assessments suggest delicate restoration is possible.”
A second piece was also reportedly dropped, though prosecutors have not specified what it was.
Empress Eugenia’s stolen diadem. Credit photo Jean-Pierre Dalbéra, CC BY 2.0.
5. The Investigation: DNA, Arrests, and Missing Jewels
The 2025 Louvre heist initially appeared to be the work of sophisticated professionals. The precision, the timing, the brazen daylight execution—all suggested an organized crime operation. The reality, as investigators soon discovered, was far more mundane.
The Evidence Left Behind
In their haste to escape, the robbers left behind a treasure trove of forensic evidence. The motorcycle helmet contained DNA. The angle grinder used to cut the display cases was traced. The glove, the gas can, the walkie-talkie—each item was catalogued and analyzed by the 60 investigators assigned to the case.
The Brigade de Recherche et d’Intervention (BRI)—the elite Paris police surveillance unit—began tracking suspects within days. The Brigade de Répression du Banditisme (BRB), the robbery squad that solved the 2016 Kim Kardashian Paris heist, worked its network of underworld informants.
The First Arrests: October 25, 2025
Just six days after the heist, police made their first breakthrough. A 34-year-old Algerian national living in France since 2010 was arrested at Charles de Gaulle Airport as he attempted to board a one-way flight to Algeria. His DNA matched samples recovered from a getaway scooter. The man, who worked odd jobs including garbage collection and delivery, lived in Aubervilliers, a suburb north of Paris.
That same evening, a second suspect—a 39-year-old unlicensed taxi driver also from Aubervilliers—was arrested at his home. His DNA was found on the display cases in the Apollo Gallery and on the disc cutter. Both men were believed to be the two thieves who actually entered the gallery.
Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau noted that both suspects gave “minimalist” statements and “partially admitted” their involvement. Neither appeared to be connected to organized crime networks—a surprising revelation given the heist’s apparent sophistication.
More Arrests: October 29, 2025
Four days later, police arrested five more suspects. After questioning, three were released. Two were charged:
A 37-year-old man believed to be the third member of the robbery team—one of the two who waited outside with the getaway motorcycles.
A 38-year-old woman from the Paris suburb of La Courneuve, charged as an accomplice. She is reportedly in a relationship with one of the male suspects and was tearful during her court appearance.
The Current Status (November 2025)
As of November 2025, four suspects remain in custody facing preliminary charges of organized theft and criminal conspiracy. The fourth member of the actual robbery team—one of the motorcycle drivers—remains at large. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has confirmed that investigators are also searching for whoever ordered the crime, suggesting the arrested individuals may have been hired for the job.
The stolen jewels have not been recovered. Experts fear they may already have been dismantled, with the stones separated from their historical settings to be sold individually on the black market. Master jeweler and Parisian gem appraiser Stephen Portier told CBS News that while selling the intact pieces would be nearly impossible, individual stones could potentially be traded through underground channels.
6. Security Failures Exposed
The 2025 heist exposed security vulnerabilities that had been building for decades. What shocked many wasn’t just the crime itself, but the revelation of how unprepared the world’s most famous museum was to prevent it.
A 2014 Warning Ignored
In 2014, France’s National Cybersecurity Agency conducted an audit of the Louvre’s security systems. The findings were alarming: outdated software, inadequate protocols, and shockingly weak access controls. Most damning of all, the password to access the museum’s surveillance system was literally “Louvre.”
The audit warned of “serious security flaws” and recommended urgent modernization. But renovation budgets are always tight, and security upgrades compete for funding with art restoration, building maintenance, and exhibition costs. According to France’s Cour des Comptes (Court of Auditors), the estimated cost for proper security modernization was €95 million—but only €3.5 million had been invested between 2018 and 2024.
The Camera Facing the Wrong Way
Perhaps the most damning revelation: only 39% of the Louvre’s rooms were monitored by security cameras. And in the Apollo Gallery itself—home to €88 million in Crown Jewels—the CCTV camera was pointed in the wrong direction.
Union representatives had been warning about security staffing cuts for years. The Union syndicale Solidaires issued a statement on the day of the heist complaining about “the destruction of security jobs” at the Louvre, even as visitor numbers had soared to nearly 9 million annually.
Emergency Response
In the heist’s aftermath, Louvre Director Laurence des Cars offered her resignation to the Ministry of Culture, which was declined. Culture Minister Rachida Dati acknowledged “chronic, structural underestimation of the risk of intrusion and theft at the Louvre for the last 20 years.”
Emergency measures were announced: 100 new cameras to be installed by the end of 2026, anti-intrusion systems operational within weeks, a new “security coordinator” position, and the transfer of precious items to the Bank of France. In total, over 20 emergency security measures were implemented.
President Emmanuel Macron called the robbery “an attack on a heritage that we cherish because it is our history,” pledging to recover the jewels and bring all perpetrators to justice.
Posterior Response – Price hike of the Louvre tickets for non-EEA visitors
Just a little more than a month after the heist, the museum’s board decided to hike ticket prices for non-EEA visitors.
Indeed, from January 14, 2026, visitors from countries outside the EEA (European Economic Area: EU member states, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein) will pay an extra €10 to enter the Louvre (ticket price increasing from €22 to €32). French authorities and Louvre Management justify the price hike to fund major renovations, security upgrades, and new gallery spaces, following a recent jewel heist that highlighted security needs—15 to 20 million euros extra revenue is expected from this measure.
7. The 1911 Mona Lisa Theft: The Heist That Made Her Famous
More than a century before the 2025 Crown Jewels heist, another theft at the Louvre would change art history forever. On August 21, 1911, an Italian handyman walked out of the museum with the most famous painting in the world hidden under his coat.
The Morning the Mona Lisa Vanished
The Mona Lisa was stolen on a Monday, when the museum was closed to the public. A worker noticed the empty space on the wall the following day but assumed the painting had been removed for photography—a common practice at the time. It wasn’t until Tuesday afternoon that museum officials confirmed the unthinkable: Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece was gone.
The Mona Lisa theft sparked an international sensation. Newspapers around the world ran headlines about the missing painting. Crowds gathered at the Louvre to stare at the empty space on the wall—some visitors reportedly wept. The painting’s image appeared on postcards, newspapers, and wanted posters across Europe and beyond.
The empty space left by the stolen Mona Lisa became a tourist attraction in itself.
Before the Theft: A Well-Regarded Masterpiece
What many people don’t realize is that before 1911, the Mona Lisa was not the world’s most famous painting. It was certainly admired—Leonardo’s technical mastery and the subject’s mysterious smile had attracted art lovers since the 16th century. But it was considered one great painting among many in the Louvre’s vast collection, not the singular icon it would become.
The theft changed everything. Suddenly, millions who had never heard of Leonardo’s portrait were reading about it daily. The painting’s disappearance created a mystique that its actual presence in the museum never had. The Mona Lisa became a symbol—of beauty, of mystery, of irreplaceable cultural value. And when it finally returned two years later, it came back not as a masterpiece but as a legend.
8. Vincenzo Peruggia: The Man Who Stole the Smile
The man who stole the Mona Lisa wasn’t a master criminal or an art expert. Vincenzo Peruggia was a 30-year-old Italian handyman who had worked at the Louvre briefly, helping to install protective glass cases over several paintings—including the Mona Lisa itself.
The Simplest Heist in History
Peruggia’s plan was almost laughably simple. On Sunday, August 20, 1911, he hid inside the museum until it closed. The next morning, he emerged in his white worker’s smock—identical to what Louvre employees wore—removed the Mona Lisa from the wall, carried it to a service staircase, removed the painting from its frame, hid it under his smock, and walked out.
He encountered one obstacle: the staircase door was locked. A passing plumber helped him open it, thinking nothing of assisting a fellow worker. Peruggia walked out of the Louvre with the most famous painting in history tucked against his body.
Vincenzo Peruggia’s police photograph after his arrest in 1913.
Twenty-Eight Months in Hiding
For over two years, the Mona Lisa sat hidden in a trunk in Peruggia’s small Paris apartment. The thief made no attempt to sell it or ransom it. Meanwhile, the investigation floundered. Police questioned hundreds of suspects and followed countless false leads.
Peruggia himself was actually questioned by police and even fingerprinted—his prints were on file from a previous arrest for attempted robbery. But the French police failed to match his prints to those found on the protective glass case in the Louvre. The technology existed; the follow-through did not.
The Capture in Florence
In December 1913, Peruggia finally made his move. He contacted Alfredo Geri, an antique dealer in Florence, offering to sell him the Mona Lisa. Peruggia claimed he wanted to return the painting to Italy, arguing that Napoleon had stolen it (this was historically false—François I had acquired it legitimately in the 16th century).
Geri and Giovanni Poggi, director of the Uffizi Gallery, examined the painting in Peruggia’s hotel room and confirmed its authenticity. They asked to keep it overnight for “further verification”—and immediately contacted the police. Peruggia was arrested the next day.
A Light Sentence and Italian Hero
Peruggia’s trial in Florence was surprisingly sympathetic. Many Italians viewed him as a patriot attempting to recover looted national treasures. His lawyers emphasized his modest background and claimed he was motivated by nationalism rather than greed.
The sentence was remarkably lenient: one year and 15 days, later reduced to seven months and nine days. Peruggia served his time and returned to quiet obscurity, dying in Paris in 1925. The Mona Lisa was displayed briefly in Florence, Rome, and Milan before being returned to France—where it has remained ever since, now protected by bulletproof glass and constant security.
9. Picasso and Apollinaire: Unlikely Suspects
The Mona Lisa theft investigation produced some extraordinary suspects before Peruggia was finally caught—including one of the 20th century’s greatest artists.
The Connection to Stolen Antiquities
In 1907, a Belgian adventurer named Géry Pieret had stolen several Iberian sculptures from the Louvre. He sold two of them to Pablo Picasso, who was fascinated by their primitive forms—forms that would influence his groundbreaking painting Les Demoiselles d’Avignon.
When the Mona Lisa disappeared, Pieret saw an opportunity. He contacted a newspaper, confessed to his earlier thefts, and implied he might know something about the missing masterpiece. The resulting publicity led police to his associate, the poet Guillaume Apollinaire.
Apollinaire’s Arrest
Apollinaire was arrested on September 7, 1911. Under pressure, he named Picasso as someone who had received stolen Louvre property. The police brought Picasso in for questioning the next day.
According to witnesses, both men were terrified. Picasso allegedly denied knowing Apollinaire at all—a claim contradicted by their obvious friendship. Neither had anything to do with the Mona Lisa theft, but both had purchased stolen antiquities from Pieret and feared prosecution.
Apollinaire was held for nearly a week before being released. No charges were filed against Picasso. Both returned the stolen Iberian sculptures anonymously. The incident left them shaken—and taught them that avant-garde artists were not immune to consequences.
Photo of Guillaume Appolinaire in 1911. Picasso and Apollinaire—artistic revolutionaries and unlikely suspects in the Mona Lisa case.
10. Other Louvre Thefts: The Unsolved Cases
The Mona Lisa and the 2025 Crown Jewels are the most famous Louvre thefts, but they’re not the only ones. Several other crimes at the museum remain unsolved.
The Charles X Sword (1995)
In 1995, a sword that once belonged to King Charles X was stolen from the Louvre. The theft occurred during regular visiting hours, and the thief was never identified. The ceremonial sword, encrusted with jewels, vanished without a trace and has never been recovered.
Le chemin de Sèvres by Corot (1998)
Before the 2025 heist, the last artwork stolen from the Louvre was Le chemin de Sèvres (The Road to Sèvres), a painting by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot. The small landscape was taken on May 3, 1998, during an event when the museum had extra visitors. The painting has never been recovered, and no arrests have ever been made.
These unsolved cases underscore a troubling pattern: the Louvre’s security, despite improvements after each incident, has repeatedly proven inadequate against determined thieves.
Charles X in coronation robe with the regent diamond installed on his crown.
11. What You Can Still See Today
Despite the 2025 heist, the Louvre still holds extraordinary treasures—including jewels that the thieves deliberately bypassed.
The Diamonds They Didn’t Take in the Appolo Gallery
The thieves targeted elaborate jewelry sets but ignored the most famous individual stones in the French Crown Jewels. These remain in the Louvre’s collection (though currently in secure storage):
The Regent Diamond (140.64 carats): One of the finest white diamonds ever discovered, acquired by the Duke of Orléans in 1717. Valued at €51 million, it’s too famous and distinctive to ever be sold on any market.
The Sancy Diamond (55.23 carats): A pale yellow diamond with a legendary history stretching back to the 16th century, owned at various times by French and English royalty.
The Hortensia Diamond (21.32 carats): A pale pink diamond named after Napoleon’s stepdaughter, Queen Hortense of Holland.
The Crown of Louis XV: The coronation crown created in 1722, featuring the Regent Diamond prominently displayed at its center.
The Regent Diamond—too famous to steal, too beautiful to ignore.
The Apollo Gallery Status
The Apollo Gallery remains closed to visitors as of December 2025, with no reopening date announced. Security upgrades are underway, and the remaining Crown Jewels have been transferred to the Bank of France for safekeeping.
When the gallery does reopen, visitors should expect enhanced security measures, potentially including timed-entry tickets, additional screening, and revised display arrangements. You can check the status of the Apollo Gallery on the “list of open galleries and schedule of open rooms” page of the Louvre website.
French Regalia still on Show in Other Parts of the Louvre
At the first level of the Richelieu Wing is a gallery of five rooms (501 to 505), more specifically dedicated to the regalia and treasures of the Middle Ages and the early Middle Ages. Among others, three world-famous pieces are shown there:
One of the world’s most famous swords, Joyeuse, also known as the sword of Charlemagne, is shown there. The sword has played a key role in the coronation ceremonies of French kings, serving as the coronation sword since the 13th century, and probably since the 12th century.
Napoleon’s Imperial Crown is also in the Louvre (room 504), just a few meters from Joyeuse’s legendary sword (room 502).
Hand of justice, made for the crowning of Napoléon I. Shown beside the Imperial crown is the Hand of Justice, which includes the so-called ring of St. Denis from the Treasure of Saint-Denis: Ivory, copper, gold, and cameos. It was designed for Napoleon’s coronation in 1804, as the original hand of justice of the Capetian dynasty disappeared, along with so many other pieces of the crown jewels, during the French Revolution.
The Scepter of Charles V: Topped with a representation of Charlemagne, this Scepter reinforces the connection between the French kings and their Carolingian predecessors. It is shown in the same room as Napoleon’s Imperial Crown and Hand of Justice.
The gallery where these regalia are displayed is not always open; see the Louvre open galleries planning webpage, upload the map, and check Richelieu Level 1 “Objets d’art / Arts décoratifs / Europe”.
12. Visiting the Louvre: Practical Information
Even with the Apollo Gallery closed, the Louvre remains an essential destination with over 35,000 works of art on display. Here’s how to make the most of your visit.
Museum Hours and Admission
The Louvre is open every day except Tuesday, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (until 9:00 PM on Fridays). Admission is €22 for adults. Advance online booking is strongly recommended, especially during peak seasons.
The Mona Lisa Today
After her 1911 theft and return, the Mona Lisa was given increasingly elaborate protection. Today, she hangs behind bulletproof glass in the Salle des États (Room 711, Denon Wing, Level 1), watched by dedicated security guards. Expect crowds—the painting draws visitors from around the world who often photograph it more than they actually look at it.
A Private Tour Makes the Difference
With such vast collections and complex history, navigating the Louvre on your own can be overwhelming. A knowledgeable guide transforms the experience—providing context for what you’re seeing, helping you avoid crowds, and sharing stories that bring the art to life.
From the empty space where the Mona Lisa once hung to the Apollo Gallery’s troubled history, the Louvre’s story includes both triumph and tragedy. Understanding these events—the thefts, the investigations, the security failures—adds depth to any visit.
13. FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
1. Was the Mona Lisa ever stolen from the Louvre?
A: Yes, the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre on August 21, 1911, by an Italian handyman named Vincenzo Peruggia. He hid overnight in the museum, removed the painting in the morning, and kept it hidden in his Paris apartment for over two years before attempting to sell it in Florence. The painting was recovered in December 1913 and returned to the Louvre in January 1914.
2. What happened at the Louvre in October 2025?
A: On October 19, 2025, four thieves used a truck-mounted lift to reach the Apollo Gallery, broke through a window using industrial disc cutters, and stole eight pieces of the French Crown Jewels valued at €88 million. The entire operation took fewer than eight minutes. Four suspects have been arrested, but the jewels have not been recovered as of November 2025.
3. Have the stolen Crown Jewels been found?
A: No. As of November 2025, the eight pieces stolen from the Louvre have not been recovered. Experts fear the jewelry may have already been dismantled, with the stones separated from their historical settings for sale on the black market. Police continue searching for the fourth member of the robbery team and whoever may have ordered the heist.
4. Is the Apollo Gallery open to visitors?
A: No, the Apollo Gallery remains closed following the October 2025 heist. The remaining Crown Jewels have been transferred to the Bank of France for safekeeping while emergency security upgrades are implemented. No reopening date has been announced as of November 2025.
5. Why didn’t the thieves steal the Regent Diamond?
A: The Regent Diamond (valued at €51 million) and other famous individual stones were likely avoided because they are too distinctive to ever be sold. These stones are internationally documented, and any attempt to sell them would immediately alert authorities. The thieves instead targeted elaborate jewelry sets whose individual components might be separated and sold more anonymously.
6. How long was the Mona Lisa missing?
A: The Mona Lisa was missing for approximately 28 months—from August 21, 1911, until December 12, 1913, when Vincenzo Peruggia attempted to sell it to an art dealer in Florence and was arrested. The painting was displayed briefly in Italy before being returned to the Louvre in January 1914.
7. Was Picasso really a suspect in the Mona Lisa theft?
A: Yes, Pablo Picasso was questioned by police in September 1911 during the Mona Lisa investigation. He had previously purchased stolen Iberian sculptures from a thief who was connected to the case. Neither Picasso nor his friend Guillaume Apollinaire (who was briefly jailed) had any involvement in the actual theft, and both were cleared.
8. Who was Vincenzo Peruggia?
A: Vincenzo Peruggia was an Italian handyman who stole the Mona Lisa in 1911. He had previously worked at the Louvre installing protective glass cases. He claimed his motive was Italian patriotism—incorrectly believing Napoleon had stolen the painting. He received a lenient sentence of just over seven months and died in obscurity in 1925.
9. How did the 2025 thieves enter the Louvre?
A: The thieves used a truck with a mounted furniture elevator (commonly seen at Parisian moving jobs) to reach the first-floor balcony of the Denon Wing. Wearing reflective safety vests to appear as construction workers, they used industrial disc cutters to break through a window of the Apollo Gallery, then cut into the display cases.
10. What security problems did the 2025 heist reveal?
A: The heist exposed severe security deficiencies: only 39% of museum rooms had CCTV coverage, the Apollo Gallery camera was facing the wrong direction, and the password to access surveillance systems was literally “Louvre.” A 2014 audit had warned of these problems, but recommended upgrades were not implemented due to funding constraints.
11. How many suspects have been arrested for the 2025 heist?
A: Four suspects are currently in custody: two men arrested on October 25 (believed to be the two who entered the gallery), a third man arrested October 29 (believed to be a motorcycle driver), and a woman charged as an accomplice. The fourth member of the robbery team remains at large, and investigators are searching for whoever ordered the crime.
12. What is the most valuable item stolen in 2025?
A: The most valuable single piece is likely Marie-Louise’s emerald necklace, featuring 32 emeralds and 1,138 diamonds, valued at approximately €25 million. The complete set of eight stolen items totaled €88 million in value.
13. Can you see the Mona Lisa at the Louvre today?
A: Yes, the Mona Lisa is on permanent display in the Salle des États (Room 711, Denon Wing, Level 1). The painting is now protected by bulletproof glass and constant security. Expect large crowds—the Mona Lisa remains the museum’s most visited artwork.
14. Were any other artworks stolen from the Louvre?
A: Yes. Besides the Mona Lisa (1911) and Crown Jewels (2025), other notable thefts include King Charles X’s sword (1995, never recovered) and Corot’s painting Le chemin de Sèvres (1998, never recovered). The museum has improved security after each incident but has never been entirely theft-proof.
15. What happened to the Crown of Empress Eugénie?
A: The Crown of Empress Eugénie was dropped by the fleeing thieves as they tried to pull it through an opening in the display case that was too small. The crown, featuring 1,354 diamonds and 56 emeralds, was recovered damaged but restorable. Louvre officials have confirmed that delicate restoration is possible.
16. How can I visit the Louvre?
A: The Louvre is open daily except Tuesdays, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM (until 9:00 PM on Fridays). Admission is €22 for adults. Advance booking is recommended, especially during peak periods. The museum has wheelchair access, and guided tours are available in multiple languages.
17. Why did the Mona Lisa become so famous after being stolen?
A: The 1911 theft generated unprecedented global publicity. For over two years, newspapers worldwide covered the missing painting, creating awareness among millions who had never heard of it before. The Mona Lisa became a symbol of irreplaceable cultural value, and its mystique only grew when it was finally recovered. The theft, paradoxically, made it the world’s most famous painting.
18. What French Crown Jewels remain at the Louvre?
A: The Louvre still possesses significant pieces including the Regent Diamond (140.64 carats), the Sancy Diamond, the Hortensia Diamond, and the Crown of Louis XV. However, these items are currently in secure storage at the Bank of France following the 2025 heist and are not on public display.
19. Is it safe to visit the Louvre?
A: Yes. The Louvre receives nearly 9 million visitors annually and remains one of the world’s safest major museums for visitors. The security concerns highlighted by the 2025 heist relate to protecting artworks from theft, not visitor safety. The museum has implemented over 20 emergency security measures since October 2025.
20. How can I learn more about these stories during my visit?
A: A private guided tour with an expert provides the best way to understand the Louvre’s complex history—including its thefts, its treasures, and the stories behind its greatest artworks. Your guide can show you where the Mona Lisa once hung empty, explain the significance of what remains in the Crown Jewels collection, and bring centuries of art and crime to life.
References
- Wikipedia. “2025 Louvre robbery.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Louvre_robbery
- NPR. “2 new suspects charged in the Louvre jewel heist.” November 1, 2025. https://www.npr.org/2025/11/01/
- Fox News. “The Louvre museum is adding 100 cameras following the theft of $102 million in jewels.” November 19, 2025. https://www.foxnews.com/travel/
- NBC News. “The Louvre was urged to upgrade security in audit before the jewel heist.” November 6, 2025. https://www.nbcnews.com/world/europe/louvre-heist
- CNN. “Inside the hunt for the Louvre heist suspects.” November 19, 2025. https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/19/europe/
- ABC News. “What to know about the 4 suspects in the Louvre crown jewels heist.” November 2, 2025. https://abc7chicago.com/post/louvre-heist/
- Washington Post. “Two new suspects charged in Louvre jewel heist that shocked France.” November 1, 2025. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/11/01/
- Louvre Museum Official Website. “The Apollo Gallery.” https://www.louvre.fr/en/explore/the-palace/the-apollo-gallery
- History.com. “Mona Lisa Is Stolen from the Louvre.” https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mona-lisa-stolen
- Charney, Noah. The Thefts of the Mona Lisa. ARCA Publications, 2011.
Related Articles
Explore more about the Louvre’s treasures and history:
Venus de Milo: The Complete Story – Discover the fascinating history of the Louvre’s other iconic masterpiece, from its discovery on a Greek island to its place in the world’s greatest museum.
Famous Paintings at the Louvre Museum – Beyond the Mona Lisa, explore the Louvre’s greatest paintings and the stories that make them unforgettable.
Joyeuse: The Legendary Sword of Charlemagne – Another treasure of the Louvre with a history of myth, monarchy, and mystery.
If you’re fascinated by the Louvre’s extraordinary history—its treasures, its crimes, and the stories behind its masterpieces—you can book your private Louvre tour with Yves, our licensed guide specializing in art history and the museum’s hidden stories. Whether you want to stand before the Mona Lisa, explore the aftermath of the 2025 heist, or discover corners of the Louvre most visitors never see, a private tour transforms a museum visit into an unforgettable journey through history.
Explore our complete Louvre tours guide for all our options, from highlight discoveries to themed explorations of Italian Renaissance or French paintings. You may also enjoy our Orsay Museum tour if you’re interested in Impressionism and 19th-century art.
Discover all our Paris private tours. Don’t miss Yves’s webpage—he is the Broaden Horizons private tour guide in Paris, and his page is full of advice and tour selections.