A water leak in November at the Louvre Museum has damaged hundreds of rare books stored within its Egyptian antiquities department, drawing attention to longstanding maintenance issues at the world’s most visited museum. The incident comes soon after a high-profile jewel robbery exposed major security lapses at the institution. According to specialist website La Tribune de l’Art, the leak was caused by deteriorating pipes, an issue the department has unsuccessfully sought funding to fix.

Francis Steinbock, the museum’s deputy administrator, confirmed that the leak affected one of the department’s three library rooms, with 300 to 400 works impacted so far. He clarified that while the damaged books are regularly used by Egyptologists, none of the items are considered “precious books” of irreplaceable value. Steinbock also acknowledged that the plumbing problem had been known for years, adding that necessary repair work is not scheduled until September 2026.

The leak adds to a series of infrastructure and security concerns plaguing the iconic museum. In October, four thieves stole $102 million worth of jewels in broad daylight from a Louvre exhibit, followed by the partial closure of a gallery showcasing Greek vases due to structural weaknesses in November. A report by France’s public audit authority, the Cour des Comptes, criticized the museum for failing to modernise its aging facilities, noting that heavy spending on art acquisitions has hindered essential maintenance work.

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