France · Protests

Published Friday, 23 October, 7:45 p.m. ET (1:45 a.m. Saturday Orléans) · Source: Ville d’Orléans, France 3, Public Sénat

Orléans, a city on the Loire River south of Paris, will close three bridges, stop its trams and shut most city-centre shops on Saturday, 24 October. The measures come with a protest against the National Rally (RN), the conservative party of Marine Le Pen, which holds its congress in the city this weekend.

The prefecture, the state’s local office, moved the march start away from the cathedral on Friday, in the latest of the France protests that are shaking the country. The march now starts at 4:30 a.m. ET (10:30 a.m. Orléans) from the Esplanade du Souvenir Français on boulevard Alexandre-Martin.

Route Moved Away From the Centre

The march was first due to gather at the Place Sainte-Croix, in front of the cathedral. The revised route, published on Friday, instead assembles at the Esplanade du Souvenir Français and avoids the city centre, France 3 reports.

France 3 says a ministry directive lies behind the change, and that protests are banned in the city centres of France’s other big cities this weekend.

File photo: French riot police face protesters in Paris.

Bridges, Trams and Shops Shut

France 3 reports that Pont Joffre, Pont George-V and Pont Thinat close completely early Saturday, until 8:00 p.m. Sunday local time. Only the Pont de l’Europe, in the west of the city, stays open, with police checks.

Vehicles are banned in the city centre from 7:00 a.m. Saturday until 8:00 p.m. Sunday local time (2:00 p.m. ET Sunday), the city says. Trams A and B are suspended for both days, buses do not run on Saturday and shared bikes are unavailable. France 3 reports nearly 3,000 officers on duty.

Shops in the centre close until 2:00 a.m. Sunday (8:00 p.m. ET Saturday), except pharmacies, food shops, bars, restaurants and hotels. The city has also closed its Fine Arts Museum and gardens and cancelled the Nuit des Ombres and Luminiscence shows and a street flea market.

What It Means for US Readers

Anyone travelling to the Loire valley this weekend should expect no tram, bus or bridge access in central Orléans. The closures also show how France is policing political gatherings after the violence and damage seen on 17 October.

The RN congress opens the party’s run for 2027, so footage from Orléans will shape how the campaign starts. Sud Radio reports that the party expects 5,000 activists on Saturday and about 10,000 on Sunday.

What Is Not Known

Final turnout is unclear: Nuñez told the Senate on 21 October that he expects several tens of thousands, according to Public Sénat, while France 3 cites 20,000 to 30,000. No official breakdown of the police deployment had been published by Friday night.

Sunday bus service was still to be decided on Friday evening. Whether clashes occur is unknown.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the Orléans march start?

It starts on Saturday, 24 October, at 4:30 a.m. ET (10:30 a.m. in Orléans) from the Esplanade du Souvenir Français, according to the city.

Which bridges in Orléans are closed?

Pont Joffre, Pont George-V and Pont Thinat close early Saturday, according to France 3. Pont de l’Europe stays open with police checks.

Are Orléans trams running this weekend?

No. Tram lines A and B are suspended on Saturday and Sunday, and buses do not run on Saturday.

Why is the National Rally in Orléans?

The party holds its congress there on 24 and 25 October, which is meant to open its 2027 presidential campaign. Opponents have called a march against it.

Sources: Ville d’Orléans; France 3 Centre-Val de Loire; Public Sénat.

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