Louvre Museum Robbed: French Crown Jewels Stolen in 7 Minutes

Three thieves broke the windows on the Seine-facing side of the Louvre Museum, used a freight elevator, and gained access to a room displaying royal jewelry.

The robbers stole nine pieces from the museum’s Apollo Gallery, which houses jewels belonging to Napoleon and the Empress. The stolen items include a necklace, brooch, crown, and several other jewels.

Following the heist, the Louvre in Paris was temporarily closed.

The museum has a long history of thefts and attempted robberies. The most infamous incident occurred in 1911, when Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa was stolen by a former museum employee, Vincenzo Peruggia. He hid inside the museum overnight and smuggled the painting out under his coat. The masterpiece was recovered two years later in Florence — a theft that ironically helped make the Mona Lisa the most famous painting in the world.

In 1983, two Renaissance-era armor pieces were stolen from the Louvre and recovered nearly 40 years later. The museum’s collection — which includes many artifacts looted during the Napoleonic era — continues to spark debates over cultural restitution.

The Louvre is home to over 33,000 works, ranging from Mesopotamian and Egyptian antiquities to European masterpieces. Among its most iconic exhibits are the Mona Lisa, Venus de Milo, and Winged Victory of Samothrace.

Source: Euronews