Mona Lisa off limits as Paris shuts museums over protest fears

"Bad timing," she said, ⁠with a shrug. The closures came one week after nationwide demonstrations over the cost of living and ​deteriorating public services descended into some of the worst street violence that France has seen in years.

The ​violence and damage prompted the government to impose localised curfews and close many public venues ahead of demonstrations planned on Saturday. Top Tourist Destination. The shutdown extended across much of the capital's cultural sector, including the Orangerie, Jeu de Paume ​and Picasso museums, while the entire Tuileries Gardens complex that leads out of the Louvre was ​sealed off.

"This is the third museum we have come to that is closed. They should've warned us," French ‌visitor Heidi ⁠Rosar, 21, said. At the Louvre, the locked black iron gates blocked access to the entire site and the garden.

"We wanted to at least see the pyramid," 67-year-old Canadian Don Nowschuk said, referring to the museum's landmark glass entrance. On a two-night stay in the City of Light, Nowschuk suggested the ​local authorities might be ​overreacting.

"There is so much ⁠security that you would think it would be enough to secure the museum," he said. "It's a bit weird to see so many cops with ​guns around Paris. We are used to guns but not like this.

"The ​disruption extended ⁠to the performing arts sector. The Paris Opera shuttered both the Palais Garnier and the Opéra Bastille, citing safety concerns for staff and audiences. Organisers of the prestigious Art Basel Paris fair also cancelled its weekend ⁠programme.

The ​cultural centres posted warnings about the closures on Friday, but ​some people never thought to check. "How could we have known? We didn't think a museum could be closed.

We are ​a bit naive," 59-year-old French woman Catherine Sebbagh said.