The iconic Louvre in Paris is no stranger to crowds. Since first opening in 1793, the museum has played host to millions of guests and undergone dozens of expansions and renovations to accommodate them. Today, though, overtourism has brought the historic site to a breaking point.

In a typical year, the Louvre is prepared to accommodate 4 million visitors. But in 2024, almost 9 million people—70% of them originating from outside of France—passed through its doors. “Visiting the Louvre is a physical ordeal,” museum director Laurence des Cars wrote in a widely publicized leaked memo. 

Now the Louvre will now undergo a massive renovation to address overcrowding and expand its viewing capacity to 12 million annual visitors, French President Emmanuel Macron has announced. The ambitious project includes opening a new entrance on the Seine river, and dedicating a stand-alone room to house the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci, to give the famed Italian Renaissance........

© Fast Company