New Delhi, Oct. 25 -- France's long tradition of street protests is once again in focus as hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets over deteriorating school conditions and the rising cost of living, reviving questions about the role of mass mobilisation in the country's political life.

France's Ministry of the Interior said 410,000 people protested nationwide on Saturday, including 110,000 in Paris.

In central Paris, businesses remained shuttered and shop windows were covered with protective panels, while some retailers hired private security. At least 24 metro stations were closed at police request.

Major cultural institutions, including the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay, also shut for the day, while Art Basel Paris c...