The Campana Gallery, located on the first floor of the south wing of the Sully quadrangle in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, had to close its doors on Monday, November 17. This decision follows the submission on Friday, November 14, of a report by a technical engineering firm that sounded the alarm. The document reveals the particular fragility of certain beams supporting the floors of the second floor of the south wing. As a precautionary measure, the nine rooms of this gallery dedicated to ancient Greek ceramics will remain inaccessible until further investigations have been carried out.
Within the Sully quadrangle, the second floor of the south wing has been under special building surveillance for several years. Due to their complex architectural design and the structural and renovation work carried out in the 1930s, the floors in this wing are weak. The report submitted on Friday highlights recent and unpredictable changes in the condition of these structures, requiring immediate action by the museum's management.
On the recommendation of the chief architect of historic monuments in charge of the Louvre Palace, the management has decided to close off access to the offices on the second floor. Sixty-five museum staff members will therefore have to leave their workspaces over the next three days. These offices are located just above the Campana Gallery, hence the decision to also close this area to the public.
The Campana Gallery is the Louvre Museum's premier exhibition space for ancient Greek ceramics. This long series of nine rooms along the Seine offers a comprehensive overview of ancient Greek ceramics, with thousands of vases on display. This enchanting place offers splendid views of the Seine and has preserved its ceilings painted with historical scenes between 1825 and 1833.
The gallery is named after Marquis Giampietro Campana (1807-1880), whose collection was one of the most prominent in Europe in the 19th century. The collection was purchased in March 1861, comprising 11,835 objects, for the sum of 4,800,000 francs, including the largest collection of Greek vases known at the time. Inaugurated in 1863 in the presence of Napoleon III, this gallery is now one of the richest collections in the world in this field.
The museum immediately launched a complementary investigation campaign to determine the causes of these recent developments and carry out the necessary work as soon as possible. No specific duration has been announced for this closure, which will last for the duration of the technical investigations.
The Louvre Museum immediately launched a complementary investigation campaign to determine the causes of these recent developments and carry out the necessary work as soon as possible. No specific duration has been announced for this closure, which will last for the duration of the technical investigations.
This closure does not prevent visitors from enjoying the Louvre Museum, which remains open as usual. Only the nine rooms of the Campana Gallery are inaccessible, which represents a tiny fraction of the museum's 73,000 m². The other masterpieces of Greek antiquities remain on display, including the famous Venus de Milo and the Winged Victory of Samothrace. Greek ceramics enthusiasts will have to wait until the investigation is complete, but the rest of the permanent collections and temporary exhibitions remain accessible without restriction.
Despite this partial closure, the rest of the Louvre's collections remain open to the public. Greek art lovers can still admire the other masterpieces in the Department of Greek, Etruscan, and Roman Antiquities, including the famous Venus de Milo and Winged Victory of Samothrace.
This page may contain AI-assisted elements, more information here.
Dates and Opening Time
On November 17, 2025
Location
Louvre Museum
musée du louvre
75001 Paris 1
Access
Metro Palais Royal - Musée du Louvre
Recommended age
For all
