(CLO) The Louvre Museum, the world's most visited tourist attraction and home to Leonardo da Vinci's famous Mona Lisa painting, has asked the French government for urgent support to renovate its dilapidated exhibition rooms and strengthen protection of its precious works of art.
In a letter to Culture Minister Rachida Dati, Louvre Museum President Laurence des Cars warned of the dire state of the centuries-old building, citing problems such as water leaks and sudden temperature changes that pose a risk to the preservation of the artworks.
The Louvre Palace, built in Paris in the late 12th century, was the official residence of the French kings before Louis XIV moved to Versailles due to unrest in Paris. Since 1793, the palace has been converted into a museum to display the royal art collection.
Last year, the Louvre welcomed 8.7 million visitors, all of whom passed through the pyramid-shaped west entrance designed by architect IM Pei. However, this entrance has become a major challenge, with greenhouses making the underground reception area stifling in the summer.
The Louvre Museum in Paris, France. Photo: CC
Despite being designed to accommodate 4 million visitors a year, the Louvre received a record 10.2 million visitors in 2018. However, since taking office in 2021, Ms des Cars has imposed a daily limit of 30,000 visitors to reduce overcrowding.
Ms. des Cars' letter did not mention specific financial figures, but French television channel BFM said the renovation could cost as much as 500 million euros (about $520 million), a major challenge for President Emmanuel Macron's government, which is still considering its 2025 budget.
Le Parisien reported that negotiations between President Macron's office, the Ministry of Culture and the Louvre Museum are underway. A source said Macron has been following the issue closely for months.
In addition to renovating the old areas, the museum is also considering building a new exhibition area dedicated to the Mona Lisa painting.
Ha Trang (according to LM, Reuters)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/bao-tang-louvre-o-paris-keu-cuu-post331889.html
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