The Mona Lisa is at the heart of major renovation plans from The Louvre, with plans set to tackle overcrowding at the famous Parisian institution while also enhancing the overall visitor experience

Tom Anstey | Planet Attractions | 29 Jan 2025

The Mona Lisa is the world’s most iconic piece of art
The Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci’s most celebrated masterpiece, is set to be moved to a new exhibition space within the Louvre Museum as part of a sweeping renovation plan for the world’s most visited cultural institution.
Announced by French President Emmanuel Macron, the relocation is a key element of the New Renaissance initiative, designed to alleviate the growing challenges of overcrowding, while modernising the museum’s infrastructure.
These changes, said Macron, are slated to take place by 2031, with visitors to the Mona Lisa from outside of the EU charged an additional fee for the privilege of viewing the masterpiece in its new setting.
The move follows concerns raised by the Louvre’s director, Laurence des Cars, who has long warned of the museum’s mounting visitor numbers and deteriorating facilities. With over nine million guests annually, the Louvre’s famed glass pyramid, which has served as the museum’s entrance since 1989, has reached the limits of its capacity, with regular queues extending out of the building as people wait to catch a brief glimpse of the famous Da Vinci work.
In a letter to the French government, des Cars emphasised that the current infrastructure is "structurally unable to cope" with the overwhelming flow of visitors, especially those eager to see Mona Lisa. The environment the painting is currently displayed in, said des Cars, hinders the public’s ability to truly appreciate Da Vinci’s masterpiece.
"The public has no way of comprehending the artist's work, which raises questions over our whole mission of public service," said des Cars in her letter.
The New Renaissance project will also feature an international competition for the design of a second, less congested entrance. This new portal will provide direct access to newly created underground exhibition spaces beneath the Cour Carré, which will be seamlessly integrated with the area beneath the pyramid. The redesigned eastern façade of the museum, which currently comprises a classical colonnade and an underused esplanade, will also play a crucial role in this transformation. The changes are intended to not only improve visitor flow but also to contribute to a broader city initiative aimed at creating a verdant, tree-lined "green zone" in the museum’s vicinity, allowing the institution to be more fully integrated into the fabric of the city.
By removing Mona Lisa from its current location, the Louvre says it hopes to offer a more fitting presentation of the celebrated work while simultaneously showcasing other masterpieces that have long been overshadowed by the painting’s popularity. In addition to the relocation of Mona Lisa, the renovation will include major upgrades to the museum’s infrastructure, including new amenities such as restrooms, dining options, and visitor rest areas.
The project, which is expected to cost several hundred million euros, will be fully funded through ticket sales, private donations, and the Louvre’s sponsorship agreement with the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Museums and galleries
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