The Eiffel Tower reopens to the public after six days of closure due to a strike

Photo: Dimitar Dilkoff Agence France-Presse The Eiffel Tower is generally open 365 days a year.

Associated Press in Paris

February 26, 2024

• Europe

The Eiffel Tower reopened its doors to visitors on Sunday after six days of closure due to striking employees demanding better maintenance of the historic monument, showing traces of rust, and salary increases.

The operator of the 330-meter tower said in a statement that it had reached an agreement with unions representing workers after promising to allocate an “ambitious investment of 380 million euros (around 555 million dollars) by 2031” for renovation work. This week, he also launched wage negotiations, which are expected to be finalized next month, after striking workers demanded an increase in proportion to revenue from ticket sales.

The 135-year-old tower will feature prominently during the Paris Olympics from July 26 to August 11 and the Paralympics that follow. The Paris Olympic and Paralympic medals are encrusted with pieces of a hexagonal piece of iron from the historic monument.

The Eiffel Tower is generally open 365 days a year. Last year, the monument was closed to visitors for 10 days during massive protests across France against the government's plan to reform the country's pension system.