France's world famous Louvre Museum in Paris was temporarily closed on Monday soon after protesters supporting a student movement blocked access to the museum.
In a message to visitors, the museum said it was closed for the time being due to a student social movement and strikes. It apologised for the inconvenience caused. "Dear visitors, due to a student social movement, the museum is closed for the time being. We apologize for the inconvenience caused," it said on X.
The museum did not provide further details about when it would reopen.
This mueseum also became widely discussed place, as exactly one year ago, it became a target in high-value heist. In the daylight robbery, thieves used a vehicle-mounted ladder to enter the museum's Apollo Gallery through a window and stole eight pieces of historic French royal jewellery, including tiaras, necklaces and brooches, in less than eight minutes. The stolen jewels were valued at approximately 88 million euros ($102 million). The robbery raised serious concerns over security at one of the world's most visited museums.
Meanwhile, the current closure comes as France grapples with widespread protests, started September, initially sparked by student anger over teacher shortages, poor school infrastructure and deteriorating education standards. The movement has since expanded into nationwide demonstrations against rising living costs and declining public services. Over half a million people took to the streets on Saturday, with protests turning violent in several cities, including Paris, Marseille and Lyon, leading to widespread arrests and clashes with police.