Eiffel Tower closed - VnExpress Travel

In France, the Eiffel Tower had to close due to a staff strike on December 27th, the 100th anniversary of the death of its creator, Gustave Eiffel.

The one-day strike, launched by the French General Confederation of Trade Unions (CGT), protested the current management of the tower. The CGT condemned the operator for having an "overly ambitious" business model that would lead to "unsustainable development." Representatives of the tower's management said the Eiffel Tower is expected to reopen today.

The Eiffel Tower was closed exactly 100 years after the death of its design engineer. — The Eiffel Tower announced its closure on December 27th. Video : *Wion*

As one of the most visited landmarks in the world , the Eiffel Tower is typically open year-round, although it is sometimes affected by strikes. In 2022, the tower welcomed nearly 5.9 million visitors, a record number since the pandemic. In 2019, it received over 6 million visitors. This year, it is expected to welcome around 20,000 visitors per day.

Many tourists expressed disappointment upon seeing a large iron sign in front of the tower announcing the closure in multiple languages, along with an apology "for this inconvenience." Visitors can still access the glass-enclosed walkway at the base of the tower, but cannot go upstairs to explore.

The Fontaine family said the tower's closure "is a huge blow" to them. "This was our first time bringing our children to Paris, and visiting the Eiffel Tower was the first activity on our itinerary. We are extremely disappointed that the tower is closing," said tourist Emma Fontaine. Dutch tourist Istvan Harman expressed acceptance of the situation and said, "We'll have to go somewhere else to visit."

The Eiffel Tower, a symbol of France, stands 324 meters tall and is a "must-see" spot for most first-time visitors to Paris. Designed by architect Gustave Eiffel and his colleagues, it was built between 1887 and 1889 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. In 2022, the Eiffel Tower was warned of "severe deterioration" as much of it was rusted and needed complete renovation. However, the tower has only been repainted at a cost of 60 million euros in preparation for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

( By Anh Minh , according to The Guardian )

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