Louvre, Other Paris Museums Close Amid Fears of Renewed Riots
French authorities deployed tens of thousands of law enforcement officers as tourists were turned away from major cultural sites.
The Louvre and other prominent Paris museums remained shuttered on Saturday as French officials prepared for a potential resurgence of violence following a week of destructive riots. Tourists attempting to visit the Louvre were met with locked gates, as the museum, along with the Musée d'Orsay, Picasso Museum, and Grand Palais, closed its doors amid security concerns.
French authorities deployed approximately 70,000 law enforcement officers nationwide, bolstered by helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons, to manage anticipated demonstrations. Shopkeepers in Paris were seen boarding up storefronts, and police maintained a visible presence, including near the Arc de Triomphe, in anticipation of further unrest.
The closures significantly impacted cultural events, including the Art Basel Paris fair at the Grand Palais, which had opened to the public on Friday but canceled its weekend program due to security worries. The Louvre had previously been forced to close earlier in the week when student protesters from the École du Louvre blocked access.
The wave of unrest across France has resulted in damage or looting to an estimated 3,000 businesses. The U.S. Embassy in France issued a warning to Americans, advising them to avoid areas of protest and noted that partial curfews had been implemented in several cities, with the possibility of additional restrictions.
Tourists expressed frustration over the closures. A Dutch couple, turned away from the Louvre, called the situation "shameful" and stated, "You are giving Paris a terrible image." Major protest gathering spots, including Place de la République, Place de la Bastille, and Place de la Nation, along with Boulevard Voltaire, were identified by The Times of London as areas travelers should avoid.