Leonardo’s masterpiece, Mona Lisa, gets 'special space' at the Louvre Museum

Paris: In an exciting development for art lovers, France’s President Emmanuel Macron announced a major renovation plan for the Louvre Museum on Tuesday, including a "special space" for the world renowned Mona Lisa. Macron revealed that the iconic painting would be moved to an independently accessible area within the museum, complete with its own dedicated access pass. The new setup aims to give the Mona Lisa the attention it deserves, while providing a more exclusive experience for visitors.

But that's not all – the Louvre's ambitious renovation also includes a new entrance near the River Seine, set to open by 2031, designed to ease overcrowding and improve accessibility. Macron’s speech, delivered from the very room where the Mona Lisa is currently displayed, highlighted plans for creating underground rooms to accommodate more visitors while preserving the museum's precious collections.

While Macron didn't disclose the full cost of this ambitious overhaul, sources suggest the price tag could run into the hundreds of millions of euros. The Louvre, already the most visited museum in the world, has long been struggling with outdated facilities and overcrowding issues. The renovation aims to modernize the iconic museum, making it more in line with international standards.

The Louvre’s most recent renovation dates back to the 1980s when the famous glass pyramid was unveiled. But after decades of attracting millions of visitors each year, the museum’s infrastructure is now deemed inadequate to meet the needs of today’s modern art audience.

(with AP, AFP inputs)