The world’s largest art museum, the Louvre, is struggling to cope with large crowds of tourists, so-much-so that it was forced to close its doors earlier this week.
Tourists were left disappointed on Monday and Tuesday when Paris’ iconic Louvre shut its doors after overcrowding and hectic working conditions saw staff walk off the job.
On Twitter, the museum confirmed it would reopen from 9.00am to 6.00pm but would only guarantee entry to those who booked their tickets in advance online.
“Only tickets purchased online guarantee entry to the museum.”
Louvre Museum
📣 The Louvre will be open tomorrow, on Thursday May 30, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Enjoy your visit! 😊
👉 Buy your ticket online to ensure entry to the museum: https://t.co/m2bZR58Qbf
Only tickets purchased online guarantee entry to the museum. pic.twitter.com/GtKRPZ7sKX— Musée du Louvre (@MuseeLouvre) May 29, 2019
According to union representatives, the Louvre is “suffocating” with tourists every day and staff are left dealing with organisational problems, extensive queues and harassment, Skift.com reported.
A particular problem for staff, unsurprisingly, is the ‘Mona Lisa’ painting, which is attracting longer lines than usual due to disruptions created by current renovation work.
Image: Alex Holyoake/Unsplash
Last year, the Louvre welcomed some 10.2 million visitors, a figure that union leaders say is 20 percent more than a decade ago, and it’s still growing. Despite this large increase, the museum hasn’t undergone any expansion work.
Click here for a list of four quiet alternatives to visit while in Paris.
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