Impromptu strike today at The Louvre. Everyone lined up ready to go. Shut down! Man I would hate for that to happen on the one day you have waited and planned and scheduled for your visit. I have experienced a couple pop-up disruptive "manifestos" in Paris, which are fairly common, but mostly harmless. This would be really nasty for a tourist. The issue....overcrowding, chaos, general mayhem.

The word in French is manifestation for a demonstration. It doesn't mean manifesto. It has other meanings just like in English.

The reason for the strike? Overcrowding, chaos, general mayhem. Caused by too many tourists.

And from years ago: a strike for a reason I'd not heard of before...


Paris Louvre shuts as staff strike over pickpockets (April 2013)

An earlier walkout of staff happened in June, 2019 when I was in Paris. Our 14-year-old granddaughter was with us and we visited the Louvre during evening hours when we thought it might not be so busy. It was mobbed and much too warm. The walkout occurred the following day. In an AP article today, a visitor who had been one of the estimated 20,000 daily viewers of the Mona Lisa was quoted as saying, " You don't see a painting. You see phones, you see elbows, you feel heat. And then, you're pushed out." I hope they address some of these problems soon as there is fear that the temperature fluctuations are damaging the art.