Following a shocking daylight robbery that exposed major security flaws, the Louvre Museum has moved some of its most valuable jewels to the ultra-secure vault of the Bank of France. The transfer, conducted under the protection of a secret police escort, took place on Friday, just a week after masked thieves smashed their way into the museum’s Gallery of Apollo.
The heist, which lasted less than eight minutes, saw thieves take off with a number of historic treasures, including a necklace that belonged to Empress Marie-Louise, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte, and a diadem once worn by Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III. Together, these items are estimated to be worth €88 million (£77 million).
Inside the Bank of France’s ‘Souterraine’ Vault
The jewels are now housed in the Bank of France, located roughly 500 meters from the Louvre, in what the bank calls its “Souterraine” vault. Situated 26 meters below ground, the vault is designed to withstand nearly any attack. It currently holds 90% of France’s gold reserves alongside priceless cultural treasures, including Leonardo Da Vinci’s notebooks, with a total estimated value of €600 million (£520 million).
Security measures at the vault are formidable. A 50cm-thick, seven-tonne flame-resistant concrete door reinforced with steel guards the entrance. Behind it, a 35-tonne rotating concrete turret prevents any forced entry, ensuring that France’s crown jewels are now stored under some of the tightest security in the world.
How the Thieves Broke In
The daring robbery last Sunday highlighted vulnerabilities in the Louvre’s infrastructure. The gang used a mechanical ladder mounted on the back of a lorry to reach a first-floor balcony, then employed an angle grinder to smash through a reinforced window. Once inside the Gallery of Apollo, they swiftly seized the crown jewels before disappearing into the streets of Paris.
Although Interior Minister Laurent Nunez expressed confidence that the perpetrators would be caught, the museum’s director, Laurence des Cars, acknowledged the building’s aging security system. Speaking to French lawmakers on Wednesday, des Cars revealed that the only security camera covering the exterior wall where the thieves gained entry was pointing in the wrong direction.
Lessons and Future Protections
The heist has prompted a swift overhaul of the Louvre’s security measures. By transferring the remaining jewels to the Bank of France, officials have ensured that France’s crown jewels are no longer vulnerable to similar break-ins. While French ministers maintain that security had functioned properly on the day of the robbery, the incident has underscored the need for modernizing one of the world’s most famous museums.
With the treasures now resting in one of the most fortified vaults on the planet, France has taken a decisive step to protect its national heritage. Meanwhile, investigations continue as authorities work to track down the thieves and recover the stolen jewels.
