World · Europe · 48 mins ago
Students block Louvre entrance amid unrest across France
On Monday, students blocked the Louvre entrance in Paris, making visitors wait outside the museum.
The protesters played music, chanted and handed out leaflets in support of a high school student movement.
Students have been protesting since late September over teacher shortages, crowded classrooms and exhausting timetables.
The action came after a weekend of nationwide protests over rising living costs and social inequality, which turned violent in some places.
Shops and public buildings were damaged and looted, and thousands of people were arrested.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called for local curfews to protect businesses, while President Emmanuel Macron refused the interior minister’s offer to resign.
Authorities said more details on possible curfews were expected later Monday, but it was not clear whether protests would continue.
Students and other protesters blocked the Louvre’s entrance in Paris on Monday, October 19, after a weekend of unrest across France.
The museum temporarily closed, and visitors were unable to enter.
Reports described the demonstrators as supporting the student movement, which has protested school conditions since late September.
The weekend’s demonstrations over living costs and social inequality included clashes, looting and damage to shops and public buildings.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called for local curfews to protect businesses.
- Who
- Students and other protesters blocked the entrance. Reports said the group included students from art schools.
- What
- Demonstrators blocked access to the Louvre, which temporarily closed.
- When
- Monday, October 19, 2026.
- Where
- The Louvre Museum in Paris, France.
- Why
- Reports cited support for the student movement and protests over school conditions; another report said demonstrators opposed public funding cuts.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Students have protested over teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms and exhausting timetables.
Demonstrations over living costs and social inequality drew about half a million people across France and escalated into violence in some places.
President Emmanuel Macron addressed the nation and said local authorities could ban some rallies if necessary.
Protesters blocked the Louvre entrance, and Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called for local curfews.
- Protesters at the Louvre
- About 50, according to ARTnews
- Museum status
- Temporarily closed on Monday
- Weekend demonstrations
- About half a million people across France, according to Le Monde EN
- Security deployment
- About 60,000 law enforcement personnel on Saturday, according to Le Monde EN
- Arrests
- More than 2,330 people taken into police custody over the weekend, according to Le Monde EN
6 sources
Students block Louvre, leading to sometimes tense exchanges with tourists
Protesters block access to Paris' Louvre Museum in support of student movement
Louvre Blocked as Fallout from a Weekend of Unrest Continues to Shake France
Protestors Block Entrance to the Louvre Following Nationwide Protests
What people are saying
I'm absolutely determined to restore public order
On Saturday, in some major cities, you couldn't look shopkeepers in the eye after hundreds of shops had been looted and tell them we hadn't lost control
We are proud to announce that we are blocking the world's largest museum