The world-famous needs a massive injection of cash if it is to cope with visitor numbers, the museum's president has said

President Emmanuel Macron announced plans to alleviate crowds at the Paris museum and to charge higher fees for visitors from outside the European Union.

The iconic Louvre in Paris is no stranger to crowds. Since first opening in 1793, the museum has played host to millions of guests and undergone dozens of expansions and renovations to accommodate them. Today, though, overtourism has brought the historic site to a breaking point.

The world's most visited museum is also overcrowded, antiquated and desperate for renovations that will start next year and include separate space and tickets for Mona Lisa.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Tuesday a new restoration and expansion project for the Louvre Museum.

Macron visited the museum days after Le Parisien newspapers reported on a confidential memo that the Louvre's director, Laurence des Cars, sent to Culture Minister Rachida Dati. According to the newspaper, the director warned of “a proliferation of damage to the museum’s spaces, some of which are in a very poor condition.”

The Mona Lisa will be moved to a new space at the Louvre following warnings about overcrowding and crumbling infrastructure at the Parisian museum. Speaking in front of Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece yesterday, Emmanuel Macron said the famous work will have a "special space" as part of what he called "a new renaissance" at the venue.

The French president announced a few changes coming to the world's largest museum, in a bid to prevent overcrowding.

Haute Couture Week opened in Paris this week with Schiaparelli’s traditional show and what may have been Maria Grazia Chiuri’s final collection for Dior. Both fashion houses looked to the past for inspiration,

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Video - The standard price for one ticket to the permanent collections of the Louvre is €22, although free admission is still offered to job seekers, disabled visitors, and European residents 25 years old and under.