Students blocked access to the Louvre Museum in Paris on Monday in support of ongoing high school protests and to denounce what they described as police repression, French media reported.
The blockade delayed the museum’s opening beyond its usual 9 am time, according to management and trade unions cited by the daily Le Parisien.
Students from the Ecole du Louvre led the action, while the CFDT trade union said students from the National School of Fine Arts also took part.
Museum management said the protest was not directly related to the Louvre, describing the institution as being used “as an echo chamber”.
The CGT trade union, which backed the action but did not participate, said the museum would remain closed at least until noon.
Nationwide cost-of-living unrest
Protesters framed the blockade as part of a broader struggle for the right to study, work and live freely in decent conditions.
The action follows a high school protest movement that began in mid-September and comes two days after nationwide demonstrations over the cost of living, which were marred by unrest in several French cities.
The Ecole du Louvre, located within the museum grounds, offers higher education courses in art history, archaeology, anthropology and museology.
The protests began on September 28, driven by rising living costs and poor conditions in schools. Students cited a shortage of teachers and “dilapidated buildings”, and accused the government of trying to push young people out of higher education.
Petrol, energy and food prices have also risen sharply in recent months, fuelling public anger over living standards and deteriorating public services ahead of a presidential election expected in about six months.
