Paris Tourist Sites Including Eiffel Tower Closed This Weekend as Protests Roil City of Light

Dozens of popular tourist sites and museums across Paris, including the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, will be closed this weekend as violent protests continue to roil the City of Light for a fourth week.

Officials said Thursday that the so-called "yellow vest" protests — widespread demonstrations against new fuel taxes — will shutter popular museums and attractions. In addition to the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower, the Orsay museum, the city's two operas and the Grand Palais will go dark to all visitors beginning Saturday.

"We cannot take the risk when we know the threat," Culture Minister Franck Riester told RTL radio, according to Reuters. Riester said that political activists will likely cause more violence at Paris' tourist attractions. Demonstrators in previous protests have defaced the Arc de Triomphe and looted shops on the iconic Champs Élysée avenue, as well as elsewhere in the city.

Police also asked restaurants and shops in the Champs Élysée and Bastille areas to close on Saturday and requested authorities in 15 areas in the city remove anything from the streets that violent protestors could potentially turn into projectiles, Reuters reports.

If you have a trip to Paris planned this weekend or in the near future, expect disruptions and cancellations to your plans. Now would also be good time to check if you booked your trip on a card with built-in protection if things go wrong, and here’s a full list of cards that offer travel protection.