Louvre, other Paris museums close amid fears of renewed protests

Tourists arriving at the Louvre Museum on Saturday were met with locked gates, as museums and galleries across Paris closed as a precaution ahead of further demonstrations, Reuters reported.

Visitors hoping to see the Mona Lisa and other world-famous artworks were left disappointed as authorities restricted access to major cultural attractions across the French capital, CE Report quotes AGERPRES.

“When we came, we thought there might be a problem, not that the museum would be closed,” Selena Bertoni, a 31-year-old Italian social educator, told Reuters outside the Musée d’Orsay.

Bertoni, who was visiting Paris for four days, had paid €50 for two tickets to see the museum’s collection of Impressionist paintings and other masterpieces.

“Bad timing,” she said with a shrug.

Museums close following violent demonstrations

The closures came one week after nationwide protests over rising living costs and deteriorating public services escalated into some of the worst street violence France has experienced in recent years.

The unrest and resulting damage prompted the government to declare a local state of emergency and close numerous public venues ahead of demonstrations scheduled for Saturday.

The precautionary measures affected much of the capital’s cultural sector, including the Musée de l’Orangerie, Jeu de Paume and Picasso Museum.

Access to the Tuileries Gardens complex, which leads toward the Louvre, was also restricted.

“This is the third museum we’ve been to that’s closed. They should have warned us,” said Heidi Rosar, a 21-year-old visitor from France.

At the Louvre, locked black iron gates prevented visitors from entering the museum complex and its gardens.

Tourists express frustration over restrictions

Canadian tourist Don Nowschuk, 67, who was visiting Paris for two nights, said he had hoped to see at least the Louvre’s iconic glass pyramid.

“We wanted to see at least the pyramid,” he said.

Nowschuk questioned whether the authorities’ response was excessive, pointing to the extensive security presence across the city.

“The security measures are so extensive that you’d think they would be enough to keep the museum safe,” he said.

He also expressed surprise at the number of armed police officers patrolling the streets.

“It’s a little strange to see so many armed police on the streets of Paris. We’re used to guns, but not like this,” he added.

Opera houses and art events also affected

The disruption extended beyond museums to Paris’s performing arts sector.

The Paris Opera closed both the Palais Garnier and Opéra Bastille, citing concerns for the safety of staff and visitors.

Organizers of the prestigious Art Basel Paris fair also canceled the event’s weekend program.

Cultural institutions had published closure notices on Friday, but many tourists had not checked the announcements before arriving, Reuters noted.

Photo: Chat GPT