The Apollo Gallery at the Louvre Museum has reopened to the public nearly two years after a high-profile heist saw eight valuable crown jewels stolen. The gallery, which was the site of the 2025 robbery, will now be presented without any jewels on display, returning instead to its original 17th-century role as a state gallery, according to an informed source.

The reopening took place on July 22, with French Culture Minister Catherine Pegard expected to attend the event. Christophe Leribault, president of the Louvre, confirmed that the precious objects previously exhibited in the gallery had been removed to enhance security.

On October 19, 2025, thieves masquerading as construction workers gained access to the Apollo Gallery using a truck-mounted lift. This audacious morning raid led to the theft of crown jewels collectively valued at approximately €88 million. Despite ongoing investigations, the jewels remain missing.

Leribault noted that the remaining jewelry from the museum’s collection will eventually be relocated to a secure, windowless vault situated elsewhere on the premises. However, the selection of an appropriate location and securing the necessary funding are still underway. “It’s a major construction project and we have to find the ideal location. And the funding,” Leribault said.

The daring burglary attracted international attention and raised serious questions about security at the Louvre, the world’s most-visited museum, which draws about nine million visitors annually. The incident prompted significant institutional changes, including the replacement of former Louvre president Laurence des Cars by Leribault.

A French parliamentary commission tasked with examining the museum’s security released its findings in mid-May, concluding that critical security concerns had been neglected over recent years. The report underscored the urgency of developing more robust measures to protect the museum’s invaluable collections.

The reopening of the Apollo Gallery without its famed jewels symbolizes a cautious step forward as the Louvre seeks to balance public access with improved protection of its treasures.