Lyon wakes up to scenes of destruction after violent protests

Updated: 18/10/2026 - 12:48 GMT+2

Central Lyon was left littered with debris, shattered shop windows and looted stores on Sunday morning after violence erupted during Saturday’s cost-of-living protests.

The city’s tourist office was also left burnt out, while graffiti appeared on nearby streets. Cleaning crews worked to clear the wreckage along Rue de la République, and workers boarded up damaged shopfronts.

The unrest came amid nationwide demonstrations over rising prices, with France’s presidential election scheduled for next year.