PARIS — The Apollo Gallery at the Louvre Museum is scheduled to reopen to the public on Wednesday, nearly one year after a high-profile theft stripped the historic exhibition space of its crown jewel collection.
According to reports circulating internationally, the gallery will no longer display the collection of French crown jewels, which was valued at approximately 88 million euros. Instead, museum administrators have reportedly decided to return the room to its traditional 17th-century function as a state gallery.
The closure of the wing followed a dramatic heist last year, during which perpetrators disguised as construction workers managed to breach the secure area. Reporters around the world noted that the thieves utilized a truck-mounted lift to execute the break-in.
While the physical gallery has been prepared for the return of visitors, the decision to withhold the remaining collection from public display highlights the severe impact of the security breach. Other news platforms have reported that the recovery of the stolen national treasures remains an ongoing effort.
The transition back to a 17th-century state gallery is expected to shift the focus of the exhibition space toward its classical architecture and historic design. Museum officials have reportedly sought to balance public interest in the historic hall with heightened protective measures following the incident.
