In 1962, the Countess of Paris attended the wedding of fellow European royalty in Queen Marie-Amélie’s sapphires—which were snatched in what has become one of the worst thefts of its kind.

Museums are notoriously hard to protect. The Paris heist may have more in common with a "smash and grab" than a glamorous movie plot.

The Louvre remained closed Monday after historic jewels were stolen in a daring daylight heist. Thieves used a basket lift to access the museum, smashed display cases, and fled with Napoleonic jewels.

Laurence des Cars has been summoned to appear before France’s Senate Culture Committee on Wednesday to an answer questions regarding the museum's security and what may have went wrong on Sunday when nine "priceless" pieces were swiped from the Louvre’s Apollo Gallery.

The Louvre in Paris was robbed of priceless jewels in a flawless heist. The theft joins a historic list of museum robberies around the world.

Authorities were racing Monday to reassure the public about security at key cultural sites — and find the jewels stolen from the museum before they can be broken up and melted down.

A minute-by-minute look at the daring Louvre robbery, using maps, photos and video to unravel how one of the world’s most famous museums was breached.