It’s not every day that one of the world’s most well-attended museums gets robbed, but that’s exactly what happened on Sunday, when thieves broke into the Louvre during broad daylight and ran off with an array of bejeweled objects worn by French royals of years past.
The heist has captured the world’s attention—which, perhaps, makes sense given that no other institution sees as many visitors annually as the Louvre. But the impact of the robbery has been most acutely felt in France, where it has become a symbol of wounded national pride.
Politicians have denounced the museum, and its director has faced calls to resign. In the process, a range of questions have arisen: How did the Louvre not detect the robbery? How did it happen in less than 10 minutes? How much are those jewels worth, anyway?
Below, here’s your guide to the Louvre heist, with updates to come as news emerges from Paris, where the robbery has become the unexpected star of a week that also includes the opening of Art Basel Paris and the reopening of the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain.
