In 2024, a tourist’s cellphone video captured the dazzling imperial jewels on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris shortly before their theft.
The heist took place on October 19 around 9:30 a.m. local time, prompting the museum to shut its doors and triggering global debate over museum security.
Among the stolen items were the Imperial Crown of Empress Eugénie—which was reportedly dropped and later recovered outside the museum—her tiara and reliquary brooch, and a sapphire tiara from the collections of Queen Marie-Amélie and Queen Hortense.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez confirmed that four suspects remain at large and that a nationwide manhunt is underway. As authorities comb through evidence, questions intensify around protecting cultural treasures in the age of viral footage.
For young travelers and global citizens alike, the incident underscores the balance between open access to art and the safeguards needed to preserve our shared heritage.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
