The Eiffel Tower, the most emblematic monument of Paris, reopens to the public

From 10 a.m., the Eiffel Tower, the most emblematic monument in Paris and ordinarily one of the most visited in the world with its 7 million visitors per year, reopens Thursday 25 June to the public.  

Gustave Eiffel's masterpiece, 324 meters high, had closed on March 13 due to the Covid-19 epidemic, even before the establishment of general containment in France on the 17th.  

World famous, the Eiffel Tower hopes to attract the inhabitants of the Paris region in the absence of traditional foreign tourists, always rare in the capital. Visitors will be able to climb it from 10 a.m. (8 a.m. GMT). 

[Culture] The reopening of @LaTourEiffel is today! Accessible from Bir-Hakeim station on # Line6 #RATP, it undoubtedly offers the most beautiful view @Paris 🤩! pic.twitter.com/qfTVJQUbCf

Initially, only visits by stairs will be possible, up to the second floor. At the beginning of July, if the sanitary situation allows it, the elevators could be reopened up to the 2nd floor, but not those, smaller, leading to the summit, "to avoid any situation of confinement" in these elevators. 

Reopening under high vigilance

Signposted routes, wearing a mandatory mask, limiting the number of visitors, distancing: reopening is also done with great vigilance. 

To overcome these potential inconveniences, the operating company of the monument designed for the Universal Exhibition of 1889, announced a reduction of 50% in the price of entry for children, undertook a promotion campaign with works councils, facilitated online reservations. This is to encourage the inhabitants of the region to take advantage of the relative absence of tourists and queues, after all these weeks of inactivity which saw the tower lose 9 million euros per month. 

And if this giant puzzle composed of 18,038 metal pieces, comprising 2.5 million rivets, heavy with 7,300 tonnes of iron and 60 tonnes of paint, is not enough to attract the youngest, the Eiffel Tower has planned to their DJ sets every Thursday and Friday from July 9. 

A large summer terrace has been set up on the 1st floor, 57 meters high, where burgers and ice creams will be offered, while the Jules Verne restaurant, with chef Frédéric Anton (one Michelin star), will reopen on June 30. 

With AFP 

The France 24 week summary invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

Take international news everywhere with you! Download the France 24 app