Are French cities safe for tourists now?

More than 10 cities and towns were affected by the riots, but all were outside central Paris, where the main tourist attractions are located.

Violent protests are taking place in Paris and other cities across France after police shot and killed a 17-year-old boy on the evening of June 27. Many of the millions of tourists planning to visit Paris this summer are wondering if their trip is safe. CNN Travel answers questions about the current state of travel in France.

The Credit Mutuel bank branch in Nanterre was set on fire on June 29. Photo: AFP — The Credit Mutuel bank branch in Nanterre was set on fire on June 29. Photo: *AFP*

What is the situation in France now?

Violent protests have erupted in several major French cities. The death of teenager Nahel has reignited anger over inequality and racism in France for years.

More than 800 rioters were arrested on the night of June 29. Buildings and vehicles were vandalized and set on fire over the past several days. President Emmanuel Macron has held crisis talks amid fears the country could face a repeat of the violence of 2005, when two teenagers were electrocuted at a substation in Clichy-sous-Bois, a suburb of Paris, while trying to escape police.

Which cities are affected?

The protests began in Nanterre, a suburb in northwestern Paris, and spread to other areas around the capital: Bezons, Gennevilliers, Garges-lès-Gonesse, Asnières-sur-Seine, Montreuil, Neuilly-sur-Marne, Clamart and Meudon. Trappes, Clergy, Guyancourt and Vigneux-sur-Seine were also affected.

However, CNN said the protests were all outside the Periphique ring road, a road that circles the central districts of Paris, where most of the main tourist attractions are located. In other major tourist cities such as Marseille and Bordeaux in the south, police were also deployed to maintain order.

How is transportation affected?

The transport network, according to CNN , was "severely affected". On June 30, France ordered the suspension of all bus and tram services nationwide by 9 p.m. Also on this day, some bus services were disrupted in Paris but the metro system remained operating normally.

In Clamart, one of the worst-hit towns, a tram was set on fire. Several buses were set on fire in the Paris suburb of Aubervilliers. Nanterre-Préfecture train station was closed.

In Lille, buses and trams will stop running after 8pm from 29 June. During the day, services will continue but at reduced speeds. In the southern city of Marseille, public transport will stop at 7pm. Intercity trains in France will not be affected.

It is unclear whether there will be any further outages or disruptions as protests continue. Travelers are advised to check websites for updates before traveling.

Is it safe to travel to France?

For now, life is largely going on as normal. The central areas of Paris, home to the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower, are largely unaffected. The same goes for rural and coastal areas that are popular with tourists.

CNN said travelers should still be cautious because it is unclear how long the protests will continue and what measures the government will take to restore order. The foreign ministries of some countries such as the UK and the US have issued warnings for citizens traveling to France at this time to be cautious, calling on people to monitor the situation or book tours. However, no travel bans have been issued.

Anh Minh (According to CNN )

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