The Louvre Is Shut, and Nine Governments Just Warned Their Travelers

The Louvre stayed closed on Monday after protesters blocked its entrance, the most visible sign of a weekend of unrest across France. Hundreds of thousands of people marched over rising living costs and school conditions, and some demonstrations turned violent. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said at least 2,000 people have been arrested and more than 600 police officers and firefighters injured.

Travelers are feeling it in specific places. Paris metro stations near the Champs-Élysées were shut at police request, a fire broke out at the tourist office in Lyon, and Marseille has banned public gatherings. Lille and Denain have imposed curfews. French chambers of commerce say more than 2,000 businesses were directly affected over the weekend.

Governments have responded. Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Bulgaria, Italy, Croatia, Austria, Malaysia and the United States have issued or updated advisories for France, and Malaysia has asked its citizens to consider postponing nonessential trips. Protests have also broken out in Portugal, Italy and Belgium, and the U.S. has issued demonstration alerts covering Italy, Spain and Albania.

More is planned. Organizers have called further protests in France for October 24 and November 5, and officials have not ruled out banning demonstrations or declaring a state of emergency. If you are traveling there soon, check museum and rail status the day before, keep itineraries flexible, and read your own government’s latest advisory.

Sources: Skift