Student protesters blockaded the Louvre in Paris, forcing thousands of visitors to abandon plans to see the Mona Lisa and other exhibits as demonstrations over French government policy spread to the country’s most famous museum.
Hundreds of students gathered outside the entrance beneath the glass pyramid on Monday, demanding increased funding for cultural institutions. Some frustrated tourists chanted at the protesters and challenged them to help the museum by allowing visitors inside.
The students said admission fees were not enough to support the Louvre and its heritage collections. The protest took place exactly one year after thieves broke into the museum and stole eight pieces of the French Crown Jewels, reportedly worth about €88 million.
The blockade came as France introduced targeted restrictions following a weekend of rioting, looting and fires in several cities. President Emmanuel Macron has acknowledged failures in the police response and approved tougher measures in areas affected by the unrest.
Local curfews introduced after weekend violence
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu ruled out imposing a blanket curfew across Paris, but authorised restrictions in key locations including Place de la République and the Les Halles shopping precinct.
The Paris measures were due to run from 11pm on Monday until 6am on Tuesday. Police had already been stopping young people trying to enter Place de la République, checking their identities and bags before deciding whether to allow them through.
The violence around the historic square involved younger people wearing balaclavas and ski masks, who confronted police, lit fires and looted shops. Limited curfews and other restrictions are also being introduced in the worst-hit parts of Paris and other French cities.
In Nice, mayor Eric Ciotti announced a curfew for young people from 9pm to 6am for the rest of the week. The Alpes-Maritimes region separately banned fireworks and flammable substances, as well as ski goggles and similar equipment used to conceal faces.
The unrest has intensified debate over the demonstrations, but student protesters have sought to distinguish their peaceful rallies from the clashes and property damage.
Inaya Plieu, a student at the Louvre blockade, said the violent “breakers” were not associated with the student movement.
“The media is showing only the violence, only the breakers, only the bad things,” she said. “But on Saturday there was a lot of really peaceful people. The problem is that our government right now is not allowing us to open a dialogue.”
She added: “We don’t support the breakers. We don’t support the destroying of buildings, of anything.”
