What to do in Paris during strike on Oct 12

I'm going to be France at that time also. I can't find any more information than just that transportation will be affected. But, I have been in Paris during a national strike in the past and the Orsay was closed (you could get into the building and see the first floor, but all the galleries were closed.)

I think there's a lot of misperception of what it is like during the strikes. There is legislation that seriously diminishes the impact of a strike. Life goes on. Trains, buses, metro, etc. operate on a reduced schedule. Unless the museum workers strike, the museums should still be open. Watch the news the night before and you'll see exact statistics for how many trains (ie 1 in 3) will be operating and who is involved. It's extremely unlikely that things will "shut down" and not worth worrying about this far in advance.

Even if museum workers go on strike, there is still plenty to do and Paris is extremely walkable. You could take a bateau mouche, go shopping, visit the arcades. You could even go watch the strikers. Dina could probably tell you their exact route, usually Republique or Bastille to Nation.

Yeah, I was also thinking about watching the strikes. Depends on how far away it is. We're staying in the Luxembourg Garden/Latin Quarter area.

If the weather is fine, this would be a great day to take in some of those RS walking tours you can download on your iPod. If it's poor weather, take in all of those neat, old passages or private museums like Jaquemart-Andre. The strike marches are themselves quite entertaining to watch. They're very loud with every marcher seemingly armed with a whistle or horn with the obligatory army surplus air-raid siren bringing up the rear. Fun to watch and well-planned one day general strikes are never violent. The last couple ones we've witnessed (and walked along with ear plugs firmly inserted) came up Blvd Raspail, north on rue du Bac, over the Pont Royal, left on Quay des Tuileries, past Place de Concorde, and down Champs Elysee on to Arc de Triumph. Great way to practice your French as your fellow marchers "pass the bottle." Enjoy your trip!

If you watch the strikers try to keep a sense of how the atmosphere's developing. If it kicks off I don't think the CRS will have any inhibitions about baton practice on the odd American tourist!

I've been in Paris when this was occurring in 2003. Try to be flexible and use alternate forms of transport. The "boat bus" that runs along the seine sells a day pass and gets you to most major attractions. It's a great alternate. I was in Beaune when we realized the TGV was going to be hit the following day, we just decided to return the car in Paris instead of in Beaune. It can actually be fun doing more walking and I would have never discovered the Batobus www.batobus.com Have a great time

Does anyone know what time they usually start-in the morning? Do they last all day? Can you figure out the route ahead of time?

Two years ago (in October) we were in France during a strike. Everything was shut down in Paris. Trains, metro, museums, etc. We heard about it while in a hotel in Sarlat as I was speaking with someone from a Rick Steves tour group. Fortunately we altered our plans, cancelled a night in the Loire valley and found an extra night's room in Paris (barely). It was across town from the hotel we had reservations at and we had to carry our luggage across town between hotels. It was a big mess. C'est la vie. I have experienced three major European strikes in the last seven years. They have turned my vacations upside down, yet I keep going back. Right now I am sitting at home when I was supposed to be on a flight to Spain, which has been cancelled due to the current strike. We are in the process of losing 6 days of our 15 day vacation. Strikes in Europe are a big deal and can really make a mess of your vacation plans. Everyone traveling to Europe needs to be aware of the potential and be prepared to go with the flow. Its not for the faint of heart nor fussy traveller.

These do sound like more widespread strikes than typical, but I did run into a strike in Paris, Telecom Workers, several years ago. They gathered in Place de la Bastille prior to marching, and it was really a festival type atmosphere. vendors were selling glasses of wine for a euro, sausages and other snacks, singing songs, speeches being made, in all, quite a cultural experience in it's own right. Other than that, it did not disrupt our plans, but I am sure it depends who does go on strike.

Just stay away from the rear of the line in any demonstration. That's where traditionally anarchist hang out, dressed in black, ready to confront authority. If there's going to be trouble, it will be at the rear of the line.

Yes, the museums will still be open. This strike is only affecting transportation. And public transportation won't be totally shut down-there will just be fewer/less frequent trains and more people on them. Check ratp.fr the day of the strike and they'll tell you exactly which metro lines are running, and how frequent the trains are. As other posters have said, life goes on during strikes.