When people think about moving, they usually imagine boxes, bubble wrap, and maybe a U-Haul. But during World War II, one of the most legendary relocations of all time took place—not with furniture or a family, but with the most famous painting in the world: the Mona Lisa.
As war loomed over Europe in 1939, France knew that its priceless cultural treasures could be at risk. The Louvre Museum, home to Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic painting, turned into a secret headquarters for a massive, urgent evacuation. Art curators and museum staff worked around the clock to quietly remove thousands of works of art—including the Mona Lisa.
But how do you move the most famous painting in the world without anyone noticing? Very carefully.
The Mona Lisa was removed from her glass case and carefully packed in a specially designed, temperature-controlled case. She was then wrapped in layers of silk and placed in a plain wooden crate—no fancy labels, no signs of what was inside. It was all done under tight security and complete secrecy.
Her journey took her deep into the French countryside. Over the course of the war, she was hidden in several châteaux, including the Château de Chambord, a Renaissance castle tucked away in the Loire Valley. Each move was made under the cover of darkness to protect her from bombs, looters, and Nazi art hunters.
The Mona Lisa stayed in hiding for most of the war, moving multiple times as the threat shifted. And in 1945, after France was liberated, she returned home to the Louvre—without a scratch.
