Seven minutes that shook art

"The robbery of the century" - that's what journalists called the daring raid on the Louvre, which took place just over a fortnight ago. In just seven minutes, the criminals, who acted with almost cinematic precision, took out of the Galerie d'Apollo a collection of jewellery that once belonged to Napoleon. Their value was estimated at €88 million, but the loss was much deeper than material - a part of France's cultural DNA had disappeared.

Two of the participants have already been apprehended, but the treasure itself has vanished without a trace. According to stolen art recovery expert Christopher Marinello, the chances of recovering stolen art are slim to none, especially when it comes to jewellery. "Stolen jewellery is almost always dismantled and sold off piecemeal," he explains. - Think of the diamonds from the Dresden Palace - the perpetrators are found, but the pieces are gone forever.

The investigation suggests that the jewellery may have been dismantled in Antwerp or Tel Aviv, cities where the diamond trade thrives. This scenario makes their resale virtually untraceable.

Marinello calls the theft a challenge to the entire museum community: "This is not just a crime against France - it's a slap in the face to every museum in the world." He warns that such high-profile cases can inspire copycats and calls on all institutions that own gold or jewellery exhibits to review their level of protection.

In Luxembourg, the history of the Louvre has become a topic of discussion among museum directors. Bettina Steinbrügge, head of the Musée d'Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean (MUDAM), recalls being in Paris on the day of the robbery. Together with colleagues, they discussed not only technical security standards but also emergency response scenarios.

MUDAM, she says, has invested heavily in advanced security systems from the start: video surveillance, alarms, guards, regular inspections. "There is no such thing as absolute defence," Steinbrugge admits. - But our job is to be prepared for any scenario." Every year, the museum reviews and updates its security plans.

The High Security Hub at Findel Airport, a state-of-the-art storage centre that offers both ideal climatic conditions and an exceptional degree of protection, remains a special advantage for Luxembourg. Steinbrugge calls it "the best place to store art in the country".