Eiffel Tower Shuts As Extreme Heatwave Strikes Parts of Europe
The Eiffel Tower in Paris closed as a brutal heatwave swept across Europe, breaking temperature records and triggering safety concerns at popular tourist landmarks.
'Due to the heatwave, and to ensure everyone's comfort and safety, the summit will be closed through July 2. To all my visitors, please protect yourself from the sun and stay hydrated,' La tour Eiffel said in a post on X.
The Eiffel Tower typically draws about 7 million visitors a year, with three-quarters coming from outside France, according to La Tour Eiffel.
An alert appeared on the Eiffel Tower website on Tuesday saying the tower wil close. Source: la tour eiffel
The French government has issued high-level heatwave alerts across 84 regions.
The heat is affecting landmarks beyond France as well. In Belgium, Brussels' Atomium has reduced its opening hours because of the extreme temperatures.
Climate scientists are warning that this summer's extreme temperatures could become the norm.
By 2100, France could be up to 4°C warmer, with heatwaves pushing above 40°C (104°F) nearly every year. Some extreme spikes could hit 50°C (122°F).
Authorities in the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Norway, and Austria have issued heat-related travel advisories for popular tourist destinations in southern Europe.
A dangerous heat wave is sweeping across many Mediterranean countries, with some areas already experiencing temperatures of 42°C (107.6°F). In Majorca, a tourist has died, and wildfires have prompted evacuations in France.
Skift's in-depth reporting on climate issues is made possible through the financial support of Intrepid Travel. This backing allows Skift to bring you high-quality journalism on one of the most important topics facing our planet today. Intrepid is not involved in any decisions made by Skift's editorial team.
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