Paris museums close as stores add barricades and France prepares for new protests
Museums and events shut
The Louvre, Orsay Museum, Picasso Museum and Grand Palais were closed Saturday. The Grand Palais is showing a Cézanne exhibit. Art Basel opened to the public Friday, but only for one day. Organizers canceled its weekend program because of the threat of unrest.
Protests spread across France
More than half a million people took to the streets last week. About 3,000 shops across France were damaged or looted during the unrest.
Rallies and security measures
Protest marches were scheduled in Paris and Marseille. Local authorities banned some other rallies, including those planned in Lyon, Nice and Montpellier. Cities outside Paris were also hit hard. In Limoges, a suspected arson nearly destroyed the 19th-century city hall.
Far-right protest planned
About 50 organizations called for a protest against the far right alongside a two-day congress of Marine Le Pen's nationalist, anti-immigration party. The congress comes ahead of next spring's presidential election. The organizations behind the protest include labor unions, left-wing parties and student groups.
Key points
- Major Paris museums closed as protests were expected across France.
- Art Basel canceled its weekend program after opening for one day Friday.
- About 3,000 shops were damaged or looted the previous weekend.
- Some rallies were banned, while a protest against the far right was planned.