Louvre Flood Fallout: Hundreds of Rare Books Damaged by Burst Pipe

Water from a burst pipe damaged hundreds of books in the Louvre Museum. The incident happened in the Department of Egyptian Antiquities. Officials confirmed the news on Sunday.

It occurred in the department’s library section. This area holds important historical journals. The leak poses a new challenge for the historic institution.

Scale of the Damage Revealed in Paris Museum

Between 300 and 400 works were damaged. Louvre deputy administrator Francis Steinbock confirmed the tally to BFM-TV. The assessment is still ongoing.

The damaged items are from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They include periodicals and archaeology journals. These are regularly used by researchers and Egyptologists.

Steinbock described the books as “extremely useful but by no means unique.” No heritage artifacts were affected by the water. The leak was discovered on November 26.

Restoration Efforts and Conflicting Reports

The museum plans a full restoration. Damaged books will be dried and sent to a bookbinder. They will eventually return to the shelves.

However, reports from La Tribune de l’Art suggest more severe issues. They claim “dirty water” damaged antique bindings beyond repair. The flood also affected offices and an electrical cabinet, raising safety concerns.

According to DW, staff had previously requested funds to protect the books from such leaks. The pipe was located in an area scheduled for renovation next year.

The Louvre flood incident highlights the ongoing battle to preserve knowledge within aging infrastructure. The museum assures no “irreparable” losses occurred from this unexpected event.

Thought you’d like to know

What caused the flood at the Louvre?

A pipe burst in the museum’s Mollien Wing. It leaked water directly into the Egyptian Antiquities library. The area was above the valuable book collection.

Were any ancient artifacts damaged?

Officials confirm no heritage artifacts were affected. The damage was limited to books and journals. These were mostly from the 19th and 20th centuries.

How many items were damaged?

The initial estimate is between 300 and 400 works. The final count is still being determined. The items are described as scholarly journals and periodicals.

Can the damaged books be repaired?

The Louvre plans to dry and restore the books. They will be sent to a specialist bookbinder. The goal is to return them to the shelves.

Was the museum’s security an issue?

This was a maintenance incident, not a security failure. It followed a high-profile jewel heist in October. The flood resulted from internal infrastructure.