Paris Museum Hit: Priceless Jewels Gone
Thieves stole royal jewellery worth €88 million from the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery in Paris. The heist has shocked the world and raised questions about museum security.
The Louvre is the world’s largest art museum. It is in Paris, France and has millions of visitors every year. It is famous for paintings, sculptures and royal treasures from France’s kings and emperors. On 19 October 2025, thieves stole eight pieces of royal jewellery from the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery. The gallery has crowns, necklaces and tiaras that belonged to famous French emperors and queens. Some pieces are more than 200 years old.
The thieves broke into the museum in the morning. They used a basket lift to reach a window on the upper floor. They smashed the glass cases and stole the jewellery in just a few minutes. They escaped on motorbikes.
The stolen items include a sapphire tiara, necklace and earrings that belonged to Queen Marie-Amélie of France. An emerald and diamond necklace and earrings given to Empress Marie-Louise, wife of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1810, were also stolen. A crown and brooch of Empress Eugénie, wife of Napoleon III, were taken as well. The jewellery comes from royal families of France.
The value of the stolen jewellery is about €88 million (around ?800 crore). But experts say the historical value is much higher. If the thieves break the pieces or melt the gold, the unique history will be lost forever.
