Louvre reopens Apollo Gallery empty after crown jewels heist

The Louvre Museum's Apollo Gallery reopened to visitors on Wednesday, nine months after thieves made off with €88 million ($102 million) worth of French crown jewels in one of the most brazen art heists in modern history. The gallery is now entirely empty of jewels — and museum officials say they will stay that way.

A Gallery Without Its Jewels

"We are back in the Apollo Gallery, which had been closed since Oct. 19, 2025," Louvre director Christophe Leribault told reporters on Wednesday. While the gallery's ornate 17th-century Baroque ceilings and painted décor are once again accessible, the display cases that once held the crown jewels have been removed entirely. The museum said the gallery is returning to its original ceremonial purpose as a state gallery, evoking what Leribault has described as the Louvre's answer to Versailles' Hall of Mirrors.Artnet+3

The remaining jewels in the collection, including the Regent diamond, will eventually be displayed in a separate high-security area of the museum, Leribault said. France's Culture Minister Catherine Pegard was present for the reopening.youtube+1

The Heist and Its Aftermath

On October 19, 2025, four thieves equipped with power tools infiltrated the world's most-visited museum in broad daylight, breaching high-security display cases in a roughly seven-minute operation and fleeing on scooters. Eight pieces were stolen, including diadems, necklaces, and an emerald necklace gifted by Napoleon to his second wife. The stolen items remain missing, apart from a crown belonging to Empress Eugénie that was later found damaged and is now being restored.bbc.com+2

Four people suspected of direct involvement have been charged and placed in custody. The heist triggered a leadership crisis: former director Laurence des Cars resigned in February 2026, and President Emmanuel Macron appointed Leribault, an experienced art historian, as her successor.youtube+3

Security Overhaul

The robbery exposed deep security failings at the institution. Since taking charge, Leribault has overseen upgrades including plans for 100 new surveillance cameras by the end of 2026, added security bars, and a mobile police station during peak periods. These changes are part of the broader €1 billion "Louvre Nouvelle Renaissance" renovation plan launched by Macron in 2025, which also addresses chronic infrastructure issues such as leaking roofs and overcrowding.LinkedIn

The gallery's reopening marks a symbolic turning point, but the absent jewels serve as a reminder that the investigation remains unresolved and the Louvre's transformation is far from complete.