Eiffel Tower closes exceptionally this afternoon due to heatwave

The Eiffel Tower will close its doors to visitors this afternoon, starting at 4 p.m. local time, as France braces for extreme heat from a widespread European heatwave. The iconic Parisian monument's operating company announced the exceptional closure, citing forecasts of very high temperatures.

For visitors, the last possible entry was at 12:15 p.m., and restaurant patrons had until 1:30 p.m. The company advised ticket holders affected by the closure to check their messages, assuring that canceled visits would be automatically refunded.

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The Eiffel Tower is adapting.

France has been enduring intense heat, experiencing its hottest night since national records began in 1947. The average minimum temperature nationwide reached 21.6 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record of 21.4 degrees set in July 2019. Daytime national temperatures on Monday averaged 29.3 degrees, the third highest since the end of World War II, with meteorologists predicting a potential breach of the 29.4-degree record soon, possibly reaching 30 degrees.

The heatwave has placed 54 out of 100 French departments on the highest alert level (red), with another 35 on the orange level. This means over 90% of the French population is exposed to what meteorological services deem extreme or exceptional heat. In response, President Emmanuel Macron called for collective vigilance, urging citizens to look out for the elderly, children, and isolated or fragile individuals. The French government has also elevated its ORSAN health plan to enhance emergency response, coordination, and resource mobilization.

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In the face of the heatwave, we look out for each other. Let's collectively pay attention to our elders, our children, and isolated or fragile people.