-
British man proud to also carry Paris Olympics torch in France
Alastair Rutt says he is honoured to represent Great Britain - although he is a little nervous after a knee injury
-
Thousands of drivers in France to get late speed tickets due to IT bug
Over 600,000 drivers are set to receive fines for small infractions in 2023
-
Explore French museums for free this Saturday evening
Giant game of Cluedo, escape games and many other unique events on offer as over 1,000 museums stay open late for La Nuit Européennes des Musées
Eiffel Tower reopens after security staff strike
The Eiffel Tower has reopened its doors to the public this weekend after it was closed by two days of strikes by security guards.
The famous Parisian monument was closed until Saturday (April 14) afternoon, due to a strike that began on Friday (April 13).
According to workers’ union CGT, security staff were protesting after three of their former colleagues had been fired, allegedly for distributing a petition asking for better working conditions.
Saturday 14th, April, the opening of the Eiffel Tower is delayed for the moment. More information in early afternoon. pic.twitter.com/S4xTGRsWYP
— La tour Eiffel (@LaTourEiffel) April 14, 2018
The Tower’s restaurants, 58 Tour Eiffel and Jules Verne, were also closed during the strike, as were the gardens for a time. All have since reopened.
On its official Twitter account, @LaTourEiffel, Tower staff explained that guests who had paid for pre-booked tickets, but were not able to access the Tower at their allotted time due to the strike, would be automatically reimbursed via credit card in the next few weeks.
In 2017, the monument attracted 6.2 million visitors, marking 300 million visitors in total since it first opened in 1889.
Now almost 130 years old, the Tower is set to undergo significant renovations between now and 2023, including the installation of a €20 million “bulletproof terrorism-proof glass wall” around the base.
Modernising improvements to the visitor reception and facilities are also planned.
Stay informed:
Sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter
Subscribe to access all our online articles and receive our printed monthly newspaper The Connexion at your home. News analysis, features and practical help for English-speakers in France