The Louvre reopens the Apollo Gallery after the break-in incident

Paris – July 22, 2026: The Louvre’s Galerie d’Apollon reopened to visitors on Wednesday. The hall on the first floor of the Denon Wing had been closed since the break-in on October 19, 2025. At the time of reopening, there are neither jewels nor display cases in it. Instead, the Louvre is focusing on the outstanding architecture and artistic decoration of this historic space.

For many years, the gallery was a central location for displaying valuable objects from the museum’s collection. According to the Ministry of Culture, two high-security display cases were targeted in the break-in. Eight items of immeasurable cultural and historical value were stolen. These included pieces belonging to sets of jewelry of Queen Marie-Amélie, Queen Hortense, Empress Marie-Louise, and Empress Eugénie. There were no injuries at the time.

The Louvre’s management cites the fact that the gallery was originally designed as a prestigious passageway and space for lingering as the reason for its new use. At the reopening, museum director Christophe Leribault explained that the hall should not be regarded as an empty space. Visitors can once again experience it as a space for walking, viewing, and staying. This has made the connection between the Rotonde d’Apollon, the Salon Carré, and the Grande Galerie visible again.

The Galerie d’Apollon, much of whose present appearance was shaped in the 17th century, is considered one of the Louvre’s most important decorative ensembles. After a fire in 1661, it was renovated under architect Louis Le Vau and painter Charles Le Brun. The decorative program centered on the sun god Apollo celebrates order, art, and royal power. The space later became an important model for the Hall of Mirrors at the Palace of Versailles.

The artists who define this hall include Charles Le Brun, sculptor François Girardon, and Eugène Delacroix. In the 19th century, Delacroix created the central ceiling painting depicting Apollo defeating the serpent Python. The gallery is 61.34 meters long, 15 meters high, and covers an area of around 600 square meters. The murals, stucco decoration, sculptures, and Gobelins tapestries all remain on view.

The collection items removed after the break-in will not disappear permanently. According to plans presented at the reopening, the jewelry collection previously displayed in the gallery will be moved to the Richelieu Wing in the coming months. A secure display method is planned for particularly valuable jewelry. No specific date was given for its return to public display.

The reopening after several months of closure visibly marks a return to normal museum operations. At the same time, the entrance on the Seine side, now secured with safety measures, recalls the break-in of October 2025. For visitors, the way this hall is viewed changes. Rather than individual valuables, the gallery itself, its history, and its significance in art history once again become the focus of the visit.