The Louvre was forced to close due to strikes over staff shortages and overcrowding of tourists, leaving the Mona Lisa and visitors in suspense.

Tourists hoping to catch a peek of the Mona Lisa were barred from the most popular museum in the world on Monday morning. Slatted doors greeted lines that extended past the famous glass pyramid of the Louvre. Employees protested the oppressive working conditions and congestion by refusing to return to work.

Due to strikes in France, the Louvre might open later, and some of its exhibition spaces might stay closed, the museum said in a statement on its official website. They thank people for understanding them.

When the museum reopens on Wednesday, everything should resume as usual. The museum is closed on Tuesdays. According to the news agency AP, those who had permits from Monday could be permitted to use them again.

The popularity of the Louvre, a representation of France's cultural standing, is causing it to crumble. And you're not alone. Tourist destinations all around the world, from the holy slopes of Mount Fuji to the cobblestone lanes of Venice, are at a breaking point.

Front-house employees, such as security guards, gallery attendants, and receptionists, spearheaded the walkout, a workers' union spokeswoman told AP. At a planned monthly information gathering, the workers voiced their "mass exasperation," which ultimately sparked the walkout while they awaited a meeting with management.

According to the spokesperson, understaffing and overcrowding are the primary concerns.