Head of France’s Versailles Palace to take over Louvre after jewellery heist
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The Louvre, a former royal palace and home to some of the world’s most iconic pieces of art, including Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, receives around nine million visitors a year.
PHOTO: AFP
PARIS – The president of France’s famed Palace of Versailles took over as head of the Louvre following a litany of problems at the world’s most-visited museum, including a US$100-million (S$126.6 million) jewellery robbery in 2025.
Mr Christophe Leribault, who replaced Ms Laurence des Cars, was appointed president of the iconic museum by the Council of Ministers on Feb 25.
Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said he will “lead major projects for the institution’s future” such as security and modernisation.
Mr Leribault will also have to “restore a climate of trust,” added the culture ministry.
As director of the Louvre, Mr Leribault will be in charge of the vast former royal palace that apart from the hugely embarrassing theft of French crown jewels in October has struggled with a litany of problems including union strikes, a ticket fraud scandal, a water leak and structural, maintenance and security issues.
The museum has been forced to close four times due to strikes since mid-December, costing around 2 million euros in lost revenue.
Mr Leribault, 62, is an art historian and museum director specialising in 18th-century art. He has led major Paris institutions, including the Petit Palais and Musee d’Orsay, which hosts the largest collection of Impressionist paintings in the world.
On Feb 24, Ms des Cars sent her resignation
Ms des Cars was appointed director of the Louvre in 2021, becoming the first woman to lead the iconic institution.
She had been under rising pressure since the October robbery, which is currently the subject of an inquiry.
Lawmaker Alexandre Portier, who heads a commission of inquiry, said the Louvre had over the years become a “state within a state” over which the authorities no longer have sufficient control.
Four suspects are in police custody, including the two suspected thieves, but eight of the stolen items have not been found.
‘Unprecedented’
French daily Le Monde said the departure of Ms des Cars became “inevitable” following the burglary as well as trade union strikes pressing for more recruitment, pay and better maintenance of the museum.
“Since the theft on October 19, 2025, we have been caught up in a media and political storm of unprecedented proportions,” she told Le Figaro in an interview.
She said she was proud of the work she had accomplished at the Louvre.
“But staying the course is not enough,” the 59-year-old added. “You also need to be able to move forward. And the conditions for moving forward are no longer in place.”
The Louvre, a former royal palace and home to some of the world’s most iconic works, including Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, receives around nine million visitors a year.
Mr Leribault was appointed president of the Palace of Versailles, one of the most coveted jobs in French culture, in 2024.
Under his leadership, the palace, which was built by Louis XIV in the 17th century, hosted competitions for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The mayor of Versailles said he was sorry to see Mr Leribault go.
“He is arriving in a difficult situation, but he has the qualities to deal with it,” said Mr Francois de Mazieres.
Separately, Dr Annick Lemoine, who heads the Petit Palais, will take over as director of the Musee d’Orsay, according to the official journal published on Feb 25. AFP
