French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a major renovation plan for the Louvre Museum in Paris to help ease congestion there.

The president unveiled the plan at the museum, standing in front of Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece, the Mona Lisa, on Tuesday.

The Paris landmark is a popular tourist spot that attracted around 8.7 million visitors last year. But the museum has problems with its infrastructure such as aging facilities, as well as congestion in the room where the Mona Lisa is on display. Those matters have prompted calls for improvement.

The renovation plan says the museum will have a new entrance and the Mona Lisa will be given its own dedicated area to ease congestion. Part of the project is expected to be completed in 2031.

The museum plans to continue to operate while undergoing repair of aging facilities. Local media say the project is estimated to cost around 700 to 800 million euros, or about 730 to 835 million dollars, over a decade.

The announcement also says higher admission fees will be set for visitors from outside the European Union, starting from January 2026. Similar measures will be considered at other museums and facilities.

Macron stressed the importance of the renovation, saying the Louvre lives only by growing, by regenerating itself.