300 Wet Books Tell of the Louvre's Aging Crisis — What Is Happening at the World's Greatest Museum One Month After the Jewel Heist

The Louvre in Paris, the most famous museum in the world. Beneath it, unnoticed by anyone, a "treasure trove of knowledge" was submerged in water.

At the end of November, a water supply pipe leaked in the library of the Egyptian Antiquities Department, damaging 300 to 400 books and materials, revealed Francis Steinbock, the deputy director of the Louvre, to a French television station.Reuters

The damaged items included Egyptology journals and research reports, primarily used by researchers on a daily basis, dating from the 19th to 20th centuries. The museum explained that they were not "unique valuable books," but staff and experts on site perceive it as "damage to the very history of research."The Times

What Happened

According to reports, the leak occurred on the night of November 27 (or 26), directly hitting one of the three rooms in the library of the Egyptian Antiquities Department. Water leaked from aging pipes running above the ceiling, flowing onto bookshelves, floors, and even into offices on the lower floor.Opovo

- Number of items damaged: Approximately 300-400 (still under examination)
- Main contents: Egyptology journals, research reports, academic materials
- Era: Late 19th to early 20th century
- Location: Library of the Ancient Egypt Department (some archives and offices also flooded)

The materials are currently undergoing "rescue operations" using absorbent paper and dehumidifiers, and after drying, they are planned to be sent for binding repairs and cleaning. The museum emphasizes there is "no irretrievable loss," but some French and British media report that "some are already beyond restoration," indicating a disparity in damage assessment.The Times of India

Neglected Aging Infrastructure

The leak has focused criticism on the issue of the Louvre's aging infrastructure.

The French art specialty site "La Tribune de l'Art" reported that the problematic pipes had long been in a dangerous state, but updates were postponed due to budget constraints.Reuters

The deputy director himself admitted, "This issue has been known for several years," and the complete renovation of the pipes was finally scheduled to begin in September 2026.Reuters

Furthermore, the French Court of Auditors (Cour des comptes) pointed out that while the Louvre spent approximately 105 million euros on acquiring new works between 2018 and 2024, the amount allocated for building maintenance and updates was only about a quarter of that.Reuters
Criticism is growing in France that the "box for the works" is breaking down.

The Connection to the "Jewel Heist" a Month Ago

Fresh in memory is the jewel heist that occurred at the same Louvre on October 19. A gang of thieves broke into the Apollo Gallery during business hours and stole jewelry, including those associated with Napoleon, estimated to be worth around 100 million dollars (approximately 15 billion yen), in 7 to 8 minutes.Reuters

Subsequent investigations revealed significant flaws in the security arrangements and surveillance camera placements around the exhibition room, leading the Louvre to quickly bear the image of a "security-riddled aging giant facility." The recent water leak incident added a new layer of "cultural property preservation risk" to that image.

The Dilemma of "New Renaissance" and Price Hikes

In response to the situation, the Louvre has already announced a large-scale renovation plan, "Louvre New Renaissance," which it is promoting as a "trump card" for infrastructure updates.The Times

- Total budget: Up to 800 million to 1.1 billion euros
- Duration: Approximately 10 years
- Main contents:
- Updating aging facilities and pipes
- Significant enhancement of security and surveillance systems
- New entrance to alleviate chronic congestion
- Establishment of a new gallery dedicated to the Mona Lisa

As one source of funding, there is also a plan to raise the admission fee for visitors from outside the EU from 22 euros to 32 euros, a 45% increase, starting January 14, 2026.Outlook Traveller

An additional annual income of 15 to 20 million euros is expected, with much of it planned to be allocated for renovations.

However, this "foreigner fee" has sparked debate both domestically and internationally, with opinions divided over whether it "restricts access to culture" or "passes the financial burden onto tourists."Straight Arrow News

Is It Okay Because It's "Replaceable"? The Meaning of the Damage as Seen by Experts

The museum has consistently explained that "the books that got wet this time are practical materials used by researchers and are not unique in the world."Reuters

Indeed, within the vast collection of the Louvre, they are not "icons" like the Mona Lisa or the Winged Victory of Samothrace.

However, from the perspective of Egyptology researchers, excavation reports and old magazines from the 19th to 20th centuries are primary materials that contain records of the survey methods and discoveries of the time. Even if the same issue exists in another library, the "annotated separate volumes of the Louvre's Egyptian Department" or "photos pasted by curators of the time" are "individualities" that were born precisely in this place.

British newspapers, citing union members, report that "some materials are already irreparable," indicating that the weight felt on the ground is much deeper than the museum's official explanation.The Times

The value of cultural properties cannot be measured solely by "monetary value" or "whether they are the only ones in the world." The fact that "working tools" imbued with the accumulation of daily research were simultaneously damaged by a single night's water leak can be said to be a blow to the history of Egyptology.

Anger and Lament Spreading on Social Media (Reconstructed)

This news spread worldwide through media in Brazil and France. Links to articles were shared on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook, attracting many comments. In this article, we will introduce "representative voices" reconstructed based on the content of reports and general trends, without quoting specific accounts.

1. Anger at Neglecting Infrastructure
   "Spending hundreds of millions of euros on new works while postponing pipe replacement? The priorities are reversed."
   "Before the Louvre New Renaissance, first stop the leaks and water leaks," are some of the sarcastic posts that stand out.

2. Empathy for Researchers and Librarians
   "Even if they say it's not a 'valuable book,' for those working there, it's their life."
   "Just imagining the work of drying books with warped spines is painful," are voices expressing thoughts on the labor on the ground.

3. Lamenting the "Double Damage" with the Jewel Heist
   "Lost two treasures, 'jewels' and 'books,' in a month," "Is the Louvre cursed?" are comments spreading, half-joking, half-serious.

4. Backlash and Resignation to Price Hikes
   "If they can't stop the leaks even after raising ticket prices by 45%, where is the money going?"
   On the other hand, some travelers take it practically, saying, "I have no choice but to pay because I love the museum," or "I should visit before 2026."

5. Discussing Cultural Property Preservation as a "Global Issue"
   Triggered by this leak, broader discussions are unfolding on social media, such as "With climate change increasing heavy rains and floods, museums and libraries worldwide face the same risks," and "How should digital archives and physical preservation be balanced?"

*The comments mentioned here are not direct quotes from actual posts but are "typical examples" reconstructed based on reports and publicly available information.

"Water" and Cultural Properties—How to Reduce Invisible Risks

While fires and thefts are visible risks, for collections centered on paper, the greatest enemy is often "water."

- Burst of old pipes
- Condensation from air conditioning equipment
- Leaks from roofs or windows
- Water spraying during firefighting activities

Each of these can render hundreds of books and materials unreadable in minutes. Reports also indicate that water in the Louvre incident flowed into electrical panels on the lower floor, and if a short circuit had occurred, it could have led to a major accident involving a fire.Metropolis

In Europe, there are many examples of historical stone buildings being used as museums or libraries, requiring simultaneous preservation of both the cultural properties themselves and the "buildings." The cost and risk are greater than imagined.

The "Louvre Water Leak Incident" for Us

This incident contains many insights that are too valuable to be consumed as a "distant Paris happening."

1. The "Mundane Nature of Infrastructure" Behind Glamorous Exhibitions
   In famous museums, the mundane facilities like plumbing, electricity, air conditioning, and storage often operate at the edge behind the spotlighted works. Without allocating money there, no matter how wonderful the exhibitions are, they will crumble from the ground up.

2. Not Only "Unique" Items Are Worth Protecting
   The books that got wet this time are not the only manuscripts in the world. However, for the research community, they are irreplaceable "tools" and traces of accumulated knowledge over time. In cultural policy discussions, the value of such "mundane materials" is often overlooked.

3. What We Can Do as Users
   As travelers, while we may sigh at the news of ticket price hikes, we can monitor whether the money is truly being used for infrastructure updates. Additionally, we need to demand long-term maintenance and updates, rather than budget cuts, for libraries and museums in our own countries.

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