Louvre Museum Gets a Makeover

Thursday, 30 January, 2025198 words3 minutes

The Louvre, the world's most visited museum, is embarking on a major renovation project that promises to transform the visitor experience. French President Emmanuel Macron announced the ambitious plan, dubbed 'Louvre New Renaissance', which includes giving the iconic 'Mona Lisa' its own dedicated room.

The renovation aims to address several longstanding issues, including overcrowding and outdated facilities. A key feature of the plan is the creation of a new entrance near the Seine River, scheduled to open by 2031. This expansion is expected to alleviate congestion and improve the flow of visitors through the museum.

While the exact budget hasn't been disclosed, estimates suggest the project could cost up to 800 million euros. Funding will come from various sources, including ticket sales, patronage, and licensing fees from the Louvre's Abu Dhabi branch. Macron also announced that ticket prices for non-EU visitors will increase.

The renovation is not just about aesthetics; it's also crucial for the preservation of artworks. The museum's director, Laurence des Cars, has raised concerns about water leaks, temperature variations, and other issues that could endanger the collection. The project aims to address these problems, ensuring the Louvre remains a world-class institution for generations to come.

Original News

Quiz

1. What is one of the main issues the renovation aims to address?

Lack of parking

Overcrowding

Shortage of artworks

2. How will the project be funded?

Entirely by the French government

Through ticket sales, patronage, and licensing fees

By selling some artworks

3. What concern did the Louvre's director raise about the current state of the museum?

Lack of modern art

Potential danger to artworks due to environmental issues

Insufficient security measures

Lunar New Year: Snake Year Guide

Lunar New Year is a big holiday. It starts on January 29, 2025. People wear red clothes and hang red decorations. They light fireworks and give red envelopes with money. Families have big dinners together. 2025 is the Year of the Snake in the Chinese zodiac. People born this year will be Snakes. The festival lasts for 15 days. On the last day, there is a Lantern Festival with many beautiful lights. Lunar New Year is fun and colorful. It's a time for family, food, and good luck.

2025/01/2875 words

People Go Back to Gaza

Many people are going back to Gaza. They had to leave their homes before. Now, they can return. Israel opened a road for them. Thousands of people are walking back. They carry their things in bags. They hope to find their homes. But many buildings are broken. There was a fight between Israel and Gaza. Now, they have stopped fighting for a while. This lets people go home. But life in Gaza is still hard.

2025/01/2785 words

Woman Gets Pig Kidney

A woman in the USA got a new kidney. But this kidney is special. It came from a pig! The woman's name is Towana Looney. She is 53 years old. Towana had the operation in November. Now, she has lived with the pig kidney for 61 days. This is a new world record. Towana feels very happy and healthy. She can now go for long walks. Her doctors say she is doing well. This new kidney gives hope to many people who need organ transplants.

2025/01/2669 words

Giant Iceberg Approaches Island

A very big piece of ice is moving in the ocean. It is called an iceberg. This iceberg is going towards an island named South Georgia. The island has many animals like penguins and seals. These animals might be in danger if the iceberg comes too close. The iceberg could stop them from getting food. People are watching the iceberg closely. They hope it will not hit the island.

2025/01/2584 words

Rare Flower Blooms in Australia

A special flower is blooming in Sydney, Australia. It's called the 'corpse flower' because it smells bad. The flower only blooms once every few years for 24 hours. Many people are excited to see and smell this rare flower. They are watching it on the internet. The flower is in the Royal Botanic Gardens of Sydney. It's behind a red rope to protect it. The flower smells like old socks or rotten food. But people still want to see it because it's so unusual.

2025/01/24100 words

Climbing Mount Everest Gets Pricier

Nepal is making it more expensive to climb Mount Everest. Starting in September, climbers will pay $15,000 for a permit during the busy season. This is more than before when it cost $11,000. Nepal makes money from these permits. Many people want to climb Everest, the world's tallest mountain. About 300 people get permits each year. Some experts say this is too many climbers. The government also wants to keep the mountain clean. They remove trash and bodies from Everest every year. Nepal hopes the higher price will help manage the number of climbers and take care of the mountain.