Visitors to the Eiffel Tower have been denied entry due to a staff strike. The Associated Press reports this.
At the entrance there was a sign in English that read: “Due to a strike, the Eiffel Tower is closed. We apologize”.
The landmark in central Paris has seen a surge in visitor numbers ahead of the Summer Olympics in the French capital.
Tourists planning to visit the Eiffel Tower on Monday were warned of possible disruption. Visitors were advised to check the information on the website before traveling to the monument or postpone their trip. E-ticket holders were asked to check their mailboxes in advance.
Some visitors expressed disappointment, but they understand workers' demands for fair wages and working conditions.
The Eiffel Tower is usually open 365 days a year. Monday's closure is the second in two months due to strikes. In December, the tower was closed to visitors for a full day over the Christmas and New Year holidays due to a strike over contract negotiations.
Stephane Dieu, a spokesman for the union that represents the majority of Eiffel Tower employees, said the strike was aimed at raising wages in line with ticket revenue and improving maintenance of the monument.
