Louvre reopens Apollo Gallery without French Crown Jewels after theft

The Apollo Gallery at the Louvre Museum has reopened to visitors nine months after the theft of French Crown Jewels valued at €88 million. The gallery now stands without the historic jewels that once defined its display, as museum officials confirmed they will not return to the space.

The Apollo Gallery welcomed visitors again after remaining closed since October 19, 2025. While its seventeenth-century painted ceilings and Baroque decoration are once again accessible, the display cases that previously housed the French Crown Jewels have been removed. Louvre President Christophe Leribault said the gallery has returned to its original ceremonial purpose as a grand state gallery, comparable in spirit to the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.

The remaining treasures from the collection, including the Regent Diamond, will eventually be exhibited in a separate high security area within the museum. French Culture Minister Catherine Pégard attended the reopening ceremony.

On October 19, 2025, four thieves armed with power tools entered the world’s most visited museum during daylight hours. They forced open reinforced display cases in about seven minutes before escaping on scooters. Eight historic pieces were stolen, including tiaras, necklaces and an emerald necklace presented by Napoleon to his second wife.

Most of the stolen objects remain missing. The only recovered item is a crown that belonged to Empress Eugénie. It was found damaged and is currently undergoing restoration.

French authorities have charged four suspects believed to have played a direct role in the robbery and placed them in custody. The theft also triggered major leadership changes at the Louvre. Former museum president Laurence des Cars resigned in February 2026, and French President Emmanuel Macron appointed art historian Christophe Leribault to lead the institution.

The robbery exposed significant weaknesses in the museum’s security systems. Since taking office, Leribault has launched a series of upgrades, including the installation of 100 additional surveillance cameras by the end of 2026, new protective security barriers and a mobile police station during peak visitor periods.

These measures form part of the €1 billion Louvre Nouvelle Renaissance renovation program launched by Macron in 2025. The project also aims to address long standing infrastructure issues such as roof leaks and chronic overcrowding.

The reopening of the Apollo Gallery marks an important symbolic milestone for the museum. At the same time, the empty gallery reflects the continuing investigation into one of the most daring museum thefts in recent history and the broader transformation still underway at the Louvre.