The Louvre failed to spot a gang of thieves early enough to stop the theft of €88m (£76m) worth of French crown jewels, the museum's director has revealed.
Laurence des Cars, speaking publicly for the first time since the heist on Sunday, told French senators that CCTV around the Louvre's perimeter was weak and aging.
The only camera monitoring the exterior wall of the Louvre where they broke in was pointing away from the first-floor balcony that led to Gallery of Apollo housing the jewels, she said.
We failed these jewels, she said, adding that no one was protected from brutal criminals - not even the Louvre.
Ministers have given press conferences and interviews denying security failings, but des Cars cut through that and admitted the Louvre had been defeated.
Her words gave an extraordinary insight into the difficulty of securing the world's most visited museum, and how bad its security really was.
The CCTV system outside the Louvre was very unsatisfactory she said, adding that some areas inside were simply too old to adapt to modern technologies.
Despite the museum's huge volume of visitors - 8.7 million last year alone - investment in security has been slow, highlighting the budget challenges faced by large institutions.
Des Cars expressed a desire to double the number of CCTV cameras, emphasizing issues related to obsolete equipment she was warned about upon her appointment, in contrast to the modern equipment of the Musée d'Orsay.
Some senators expressed incredulity at the Louvre's security, questioning the placement of only one camera facing the river, which wasn't monitoring the proper area. This single oversight meant the lorry carrying the gang and their mechanical ladder went unnoticed.
There is a weakness at the Louvre and I acknowledge it completely, des Cars said during the hearing. She praised the security guards for evacuating quickly, but conceded not spotting the thieves early enough was a failing of their perimeter protection.
The museum reopened on Wednesday, though the gallery remained shut. It is home to significant artworks such as Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. A search continues for the gang of thieves who managed to steal eight pieces of jewelry, including a diamond necklace gifted to Empress Joséphine and a crown belonging to Empress Eugenie, both linked to Napoleon. Although the crown was recovered, it suffered damage during the theft.
The director voiced her outrage over the incident, stating she had previously voiced security concerns and had even tendered her resignation, which was declined. She feels deeply wounded by the museum's failure to protect its treasures.
Moving forward, des Cars hopes security improvements will commence in 2026, despite the challenges posed by the Louvre's aging infrastructure.
