A treasure of jewels valued at several million euros was stolen on Thursday during an armed robbery at a museum of sacred art in Paray-le-Monial (Saône-et-Loire), we learned on Friday, November 22 from consistent sources.
The thieves arrived on a motorcycle at around 4:00 p.m. at the Hieron museum and three of them entered, wearing helmets, into the establishment open to the public, while the fourth stood guard outside, the city’s mayor told Agence France-Presse. , Jean-. Marc Nesme, confirming information from Saône-et-Loire Diary.
After firing shots, without causing injuries, they headed towards the centerpiece of the museum, via vitae (1904), by the Parisian goldsmith Joseph Chaumet, which covers the life of Jesus. Classified as a national treasure by the Ministry of Culture, it is estimated at between 5 and 7 million euros, according to the mayor.
They stole the gold and ivory statuettes, as well as the emerald decorations, after sawing with a chainsaw the armored windows that protected the almost three-meter-high work. They also cut away part of its marble base.
About twenty visitors
The thieves fled on motorcycles, throwing nails into the road, thus neutralizing two gendarmerie vehicles that were hot on their heels, a sign that the operation was prepared, the gendarmerie stated.
About twenty visitors were on the ground floor of the museum at the time of the robbery, as well as its staff, now “traumatized”says the mayor. They managed to escape and some took refuge in a neighboring house.
The Mâcon prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation into armed robbery by an organized gang. “It is a great loss for Paray-le-Monial and for the national heritage”lamented Jean-Marc Nesme, lamenting that this treasure had been “looted”.
“I condemn with the utmost firmness these unacceptable acts that damage our heritage. (…) All my support to the museum teams and the community”For her part, the Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, reacted to X.
The global workshops
Online courses, evening classes, workshops: develop your skills
Discover
The Hieron Museum is one of the oldest French sacred art museums. He was already the victim of a robbery in 2017, when two Romani crowns from goldsmith Paul Brunet were stolen, as well as an attempted robbery in September 2022.
