The Apollo Gallery at the Louvre has welcomed back visitors following the notorious heist in which crown jewels worth £75 million were stolen from the museum. The theft, orchestrated by a group of thieves disguised as workmen, occurred on October 19, 2025. They used a cherry picker to break into the gallery and swiftly made off with eight valuable items, including a historic emerald and diamond necklace gifted by Napoleon I to his second wife, Marie Louise.
Despite the arrest and charging of four suspects linked to the robbery, some of the stolen jewels remain unrecovered nine months later. The reopening of the Apollo Gallery presented a stark contrast to its previous state, with the once-displayed precious jewels now removed from public view. The gallery has been restored to its original 17th-century ceremonial purpose, showcasing its ornate gilded ceilings and Greek frescoes as visitors make their way to the nearby Mona Lisa.
Christophe Leribault, the Louvre’s current director, disclosed that the relocated exhibits will find new homes within the museum. Following the heist, security measures at the Louvre have been significantly enhanced with the installation of advanced surveillance cameras and anti-intrusion systems, costing an estimated £683 million. These upgrades are part of a larger effort to modernize the museum’s infrastructure, alleviate crowding, and create a dedicated gallery for the Mona Lisa by 2031.
