Student protests shut down Paris museum, one of the world’s busiest and most famous, after weekend riots

Louvre closes its doors

The Louvre, home to works including the “Mona Lisa” and the “Venus de Milo,” closed Monday after protesters blocked its entrances. The closure came after a weekend of demonstrations and riots across France.

In a post on X, the museum said it was closed because of student strikes and apologized to visitors. It did not say when it would reopen or confirm whether it would be open later Monday.

Students lead blockade

Students from the École du Louvre led the blockade, according to AFP, citing museum management and unions. They were supporting a nationwide high school protest movement and opposing what they called police repression. The article does not say how long the blockade lasted or when the museum might resume admitting visitors.

Protests spread across France

The Louvre’s closure followed protests over rising living costs and conditions in schools. Violence and looting were reported in several French cities over the weekend. The museum receives about 9 million visitors annually, making it the world’s most visited museum. Its closure extended the effects of the protests to one of Paris’s most prominent cultural sites.