Louvre Moves Crown Jewels to Bank of France After $102 Million Daylight Heist

The Louvre has quietly transferred some of its most valuable crown jewels to the Bank of France’s underground vault, just 500 metres away, following a brazen daylight heist that exposed major security gaps at the world’s most visited museum. French radio RTL reported that the secret operation took place on Friday under heavy police escort, moving select treasures from the Apollo Gallery—home to France’s historic crown jewels—to the central bank’s fortified facility, which sits 27 metres below ground and guards the nation’s gold reserves. Neither the Louvre nor the Bank of France has commented on the move, which comes amid intense scrutiny of museum security protocols.

The decision follows the October 19 theft of eight priceless artefacts worth an estimated $102 million, carried out in broad daylight by intruders who used a crane to smash an upstairs window during public hours. The thieves, operating with military-style precision, escaped on motorbikes through Paris traffic, vanishing before guards could respond. Among the stolen items were rare diamonds and historic pieces from the French royal collection, some dating back centuries. The audacity of the operation—executed while thousands of visitors were inside—has been described by French officials as a “national humiliation”, triggering a full-scale police investigation and calls for sweeping security reforms.

French authorities have launched a manhunt across Europe, with Interpol now involved and CCTV footage showing the suspects scaling the museum’s exterior in under four minutes. The Louvre, which attracts over 10 million visitors annually, had relied on a mix of private security and outdated alarm systems in certain galleries. In response, the museum has suspended public access to the Apollo Gallery indefinitely and is accelerating a €50 million upgrade to its surveillance and access control systems. Culture Minister Rachida Dati vowed that “no effort will be spared” to recover the artefacts and prevent future breaches.

Also Read: Louvre Opens Doors to Crowds, But Apollo Gallery Remains Sealed After Heist

The transfer to the Bank of France marks a rare admission of vulnerability for one of the world’s premier cultural institutions. While the Louvre has previously loaned pieces for exhibitions, storing core crown jewels off-site in a central bank vault is unprecedented in modern times. As Paris prepares to host the 2026 World Expo, the incident has raised broader concerns about the safety of France’s cultural heritage, with experts warning that high-value targets like the Louvre require fortress-level protection in an era of increasingly sophisticated art theft networks.

Also Read: Authorities Track Four Thieves Behind High-Stakes Louvre Crown Jewels Theft