The Louvre, recognized as the world's busiest and most celebrated museum, has closed its doors amid disorder sweeping through Paris.

Home to some of the planet's most famous artworks such as the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, the museum announced on Monday that it had shut after protesters blocked access, extending the effects of a weekend of demonstrations and riots across France.

Dear visitors, due to student strikes the museum is currently closed. We apologize for the inconvenience, the Louvre stated in a post on X. It provided no reopening schedule and did not confirm whether it would resume operations on Monday.

Students from the École du Louvre organized the blockade to support a nationwide high school protest movement and to condemn what they described as police repression, AFP reported citing museum management and unions.

The Louvre welcomes around 9 million visitors each year, making it by far the most visited museum globally.

Monday's closure concludes a tough year for the institution. On the same date last year, four thieves entered the Apollo Gallery and stole eight pieces of France's crown jewels valued at roughly $100 million.

The shutdown followed a weekend of protests over rising living costs and school conditions that featured violence and looting in several French cities.

A Paris shopkeeper whose gold-buying store was broken into told Business Insider's Nathan Rennolds that thieves had taken everything. He also observed a Nicolas wine store on Sunday with its windows smashed and shelves emptied.

Employees at a nearby boutique noted they had hired extra security but closed early as the violence grew.

At least 2,400 people were arrested after the weekend unrest, according to the Associated Press.

After an emergency meeting on Monday, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said he had directed regional officials to impose limited, localized curfews.

In a separate statement, President Emmanuel Macron's office said the president had ordered a review of shortcomings in security planning and intelligence gathering.