The Louvre, home to the Mona Lisa and other iconic works of art in Paris, closed abruptly Monday as the museum's staff staged an impromptu strike over large crowds of tourists and understaffing.

The Musée du Louvre, the world's most visited museum, was forced to close on Monday morning when staff walked off the job to protest against overcrowded galleries and “worsening visiting conditions”.

A spontaneous strike at the Louvre erupted during a routine internal meeting, as gallery attendants, ticket agents and security personnel refused to take up their posts.