One of the most infamous heists in the cultural institution’s history was the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa—when Pablo Picasso numbered among the suspects.

The Louvre in Paris has closed today after a robbery that's been dubbed 'the biggest, most dramatic break in' of the museum.

Thieves in balaclavas broke into Paris's Louvre museum on Sunday, using a crane to smash an upstairs window, then stealing priceless objects from an area that houses the French crown jewels before escaping on motorbikes,

According to the French culture ministry, the group stole a tiara, a sapphire necklace, earrings, jewellery sets of queens and pieces of jewellery from another set.

" The theft committed at the Louvre is an attack on a heritage that we cherish because it is our History. We will recover the works, and the perpetrators will be brought to justice ," stated President Emmanuel Macron on his X account as reported by EuroNews.

Intruders entered via a basket lift using a platform mounted on a lorry, breaking a window and making off with jewels that "have genuine heritage value and are, in fact, priceless," France's interior minister said.

France's Culture Minister, Rachida Dati, has claimed there has been a robbery at the Louvre in Paris, prompting 'chaos' as the famous museum is closed.

The robbers employed a portable electric ladder to break into a second-floor wing of the Paris museum that holds the French crown jewels.

Minister Dati announced the incident in a social media post, saying, “A robbery took place this morning at the opening of the Louvre Museum. No injuries reported. I am on-site with museum staff and police.

One of the world’s most iconic museums has been hit by masked thieves with chainsaws who carried out their broad daylight heist in just seven minutes.

French Culture Minister Rachida Dati said a robbery occurred at the Louvre on Sunday morning as thieves reportedly used chainsaws and a freight elevator to steal Napoleon-era jewels