Louvre and other Paris museums to close as France prepares for Saturday protests

Major museums in Paris, including the Louvre, will close on Saturday as French authorities prepare for planned protests and a large police deployment across the country, according to the source. The closures come after unrest earlier in the week over rising living costs.

Museums in Paris are taking precautionary steps

The Louvre, the Orsay museum, the Picasso museum and the Grand Palais are among the cultural sites that will shut for the day. According to the source, the decision is meant to protect visitors, staff and artworks as security concerns rise ahead of the demonstrations.

The French Culture Ministry said institutions under its authority should take the necessary measures to ensure safety and preserve collections. That guidance comes as authorities try to limit risks to both people and cultural property.

Police presence will be increased nationwide

French authorities plan to deploy about 70,000 police officers across France on Saturday, according to the source. The large-scale response reflects concern that the protest movement could lead to further disorder.

Earlier protests over the cost of living escalated into unrest, including fires and rioting in Paris. The source says that context is part of why officials and institutions are taking extra precautions before the weekend.

• The Louvre will be closed on Saturday.
• The Orsay museum and the Picasso museum will also shut.
• The Grand Palais will close, including for Art Basel Paris activities.
• About 70,000 police officers are being deployed nationwide.
• Earlier protests this week led to unrest in Paris, including fires and rioting.

Art Basel Paris cancels its weekend program

The Grand Palais has been hosting Art Basel Paris, but organizers canceled the fair’s weekend program because of security concerns. According to the source, the event had opened to the public for only one day after a two-day invitation-only period.

Organizers said the safety of everyone involved was the top priority. With the weekend program canceled and major museums closing, the broader impact of the protest plans is already being felt in Paris’s cultural life.

Why the closures matter to readers

For ordinary visitors, the closures mean access to some of Paris’s best-known museums will be limited on a major protest day. For workers and organizers, the changes show how unrest can quickly affect public events, tourism and cultural institutions.

The decisions also underline the pressure on French authorities as they balance the right to protest with the need to prevent damage, protect artworks and reduce the chance of further violence.

Source: Elitsa Gadeva, Sylvie Corbet