What to know as Louvre tickets are becoming 45% more expensive for many

Long lines beneath I.M. Pei’s glass pyramid have become as much a part of the Louvre experience as the “ Mona Lisa ” itself.

Now, the world’s most visited museum is putting a higher price on that pilgrimage as it scrambles to fund renovations and security after strikes, overcrowding and October’s French Crown Jewels heist. The Louvre was closed yet again Monday because of a staff walkout.

On Wednesday, the Paris landmark is introducing a two-tier ticketing system that raises admission for most non-Europeans to 32 euros ($37), up from 22 euros ($26) — a 45% hike overnight.

The change affects tourists from most non-European Union countries, including from the U.S., where visitors typically make up the Louvre’s largest share of foreigners.

French labor unions have pushed back, saying it undermines the museum’s universal mission.

Some still eligible for free admission

Under the new structure, visitors who are neither citizens