The Louvre closed unexpectedly as staff went on strike over overcrowding and understaffing, stranding thousands of daily visitors outside the museum.

Thousands of tourists were left stranded outside the Louvre in Paris on Monday, as it was forced to shut down. What went wrong? It’s staff decided to go on strike

The Paris museum has become a symbol of tourism pushed to its limits. Workers point to unmanageable crowds, chronic understaffing and what one union called “untenable” working conditions.

The Louvre, the world's most-visited museum and a global symbol of art, beauty and endurance, remained shuttered Monday — not by war but by its own exhausted staff, who say the institution in Paris is crumbling from within.

The Louvre Museum failed to open on time Monday, leaving thousands of visitors stuck in long, unmoving lines outside the iconic Paris institution as staff held a protest over working conditions