Mona Lisa to get a new home in the Louvre

The French President Emmanuel Macron announced the painting's move

One of the most famous paintings in the world, the Mona Lisa, is getting its own room in the Louvre, the museum it lives in in Paris.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he was "humbled" to be standing in front of Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece and announced the painting would be getting its own "special space".

The world-renowned artwork is moving to one of a number of underground rooms being built in a big project to revamp the French art gallery, which Macron hopes to be open to the public by 2031.

The last time the Louvre had this much work done was when the iconic glass pyramid was added 40 years ago

As well as the new rooms, a new entrance will be created by the River Seine, which runs through the centre of Paris, and visitors will have to pay for a separate ticket to see the painting.

The hope is that the project will ease pressure from overcrowding.

The last upgrade to the museum, in 1989, added the iconic glass pyramid and was designed to handle four million visitors a year.

However, the Louvre saw around 9 million tourists come through its doors in 2024, many of whom were wanting to get a selfie with one of the most famous pieces of art in the world.

With 30,000 visitors a day, it makes the Louvre the most visited museum in the world.

Crowds have to be funnelled through to the main room and only get approximately 50 seconds to admire the Mona Lisa.

Visitors come from all over the world to snap a picture of the Renaissance painting

In a letter to the government made public earlier this month, the Louvre's director, Laurence des Cars, said the museum was suffering from overcrowding and building damage.

"The public... has no way of comprehending the artist's work, which raises questions over our whole mission of public service," Ms des Cars said in her letter.

Before the work gets started, however, price changes will also be introduced.

From next January, non-EU residents - including UK tourists - will pay more to visit.

The Mona Lisa currently sits behind protective glass in the Louvre's main room

Mona Lisa fact file

• The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo da Vinci, a famous artist, architect, and engineer

• It was painted sometime between 1503 and 1519, when da Vinci was living in Florence

• No one really knows who the woman is, and has been the subject of debate for many years

• It was famously stolen from the Louvre in 1911 but was safely returned two years later

• During World War II, it was evacuated to the French countryside to keep it safe from potential bombing, and was returned to the Louvre when the war finished in 1945