A water leak at the Louvre last month damaged several hundred books in the museum’s Egyptian antiquities department. The incident highlights ongoing infrastructure problems at the world’s most visited museum, Reuters reported.
According to art news site «La Tribune de l’Art,» ageing pipes damaged between 300 and 400 specialized research books. The outlet said staff had repeatedly requested funding to better protect the collection, but without success.
Louvre deputy administrator Francis Steinbock confirmed the leak occurred in one of the three library rooms used by the department. He said the affected volumes were working materials consulted by researchers and did not include rare or valuable books. Repairs are scheduled for September 2026, although the issue has been known for years.
The incident comes amid broader concerns about the museum’s condition. Earlier this year, the Louvre faced a major daytime jewel theft, partial gallery closures due to structural issues and criticism from France’s public audit office over delayed infrastructure upgrades.
In mid-November, Belgian TikTok creators Neal and Senne carried out a prank at the Louvre by displaying their own image next to Leonardo da Vinci’s «Mona Lisa,» reportedly without being noticed by museum staff.
To address mounting challenges, the museum’s board voted to raise entry ticket prices for visitors from non-European countries, aiming to generate an additional €20 million annually.
