A theft worthy of a movie script... On Sunday morning, the Louvre Museum in Paris was the victim of a spectacular burglary. According to available information, several individuals entered the building shortly after it opened—around 9:30/9:40 a.m.—and broke in through a facade, using a freight elevator and powerful tools such as chainsaws and a cutting disc. A police spokesperson described itas"a real commando operation," "at the top end of the organized crime spectrum."
It appears that a number of historical jewels, notably from the Napoleon-Eugénie collection, have been stolen. According to one of the press releases, nine valuable items have been taken. No victims have been reported at this stage.
Following the robbery, the museum announced that it would be closed for the day "for exceptional reasons." This measure was taken when a large number of visitors were already present or had planned to visit. Many had to leave the premises or change their plans, causing frustration and uncertainty, especially for tourists who had booked tickets for that day.
In this type of situation, visitors find themselves at a loss: finding a last-minute alternative or simply canceling. It is advisable to keep all proof of purchase (ticket, booking confirmation, means of payment) and to pay attention to the instructions given by the museum. It is also prudent to anticipate this type of scenario by consulting the terms and conditions of sale before purchasing.
For visitors who have booked a ticket for this Sunday, the museum states that "people who have booked a visit for this date will receive a refund": you should therefore not have to do anything, just check that you have been refunded and follow the Louvre's official channels for any changes. This approach is in line with the policy posted on the official website: tickets are generally non-changeable, non-exchangeable, and non-refundable, except in the event of cancellation or modification of the service by the museum.
And in other cases, specifically:
It is worth remembering that, in the event of an unexpected closure of the museum for exceptional reasons (construction work, security, incident), the right to a refund is provided for: "If the Louvre Museum closes for unforeseen reasons, we will reschedule your visit or automatically refund your ticket in full," explains the museum.
In the future, it is recommended that you reserve a specific time slot, check that you have received the confirmation email, and only purchase tickets through official channels to avoid fraudulent offers.
Finally, for those who find themselves there on a closing day or during an incident, it may be useful to check out other national museums in Paris or enjoy the surrounding area (Tuileries Garden, walk along the Seine), hoping that the situation will quickly return to normal.
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