The summit of Paris’s iconic Eiffel Tower has been closed to visitors because of the punishing heat wave sweeping across France and the rest of Europe.
“Due to the current heatwave, the Eiffel Tower is taking measures to ensure the comfort and safety of our visitors and staff,” said a statement on the attraction’s website, adding that the summit will be closed all day Tuesday and Wednesday.
Access to the first and second floors remains open, but staff are urging visitors without pre-booked tickets to postpone their visits.
Temperatures in Paris are expected to reach 36 degrees Celsius this week, with parts of southern France soaring to 40 degrees. The French government has issued high-level heat wave alerts across 84 areas.
Completed in 1889 for the World’s Fair in Paris, the Eiffel Tower was originally intended as a temporary structure but it quickly became a national symbol and is now one of the most visited monuments in the world.
On Monday, French far-right leader Marine Le Pen criticized the government’s handling of the crisis, calling for “a major air conditioning equipment plan” and claiming ordinary citizens are left to endure the heat while “so-called French elites” remain in climate-controlled environments.
The weather has also impacted other European landmarks. In Belgium, the Atomium in Brussels has reduced its visiting hours because of the heat.
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