Europe is sizzling, and even the Eiffel Tower has had enough. As of Monday, June 30, the iconic Paris landmark has closed its top floor to visitors, citing extreme heat and a desire to avoid slow-roasting tourists like rotisserie chickens at over 900 feet. The summit will remain off-limits through Wednesday, which—if you’ve seen the forecast—is a mercy.
“Due to the current heat wave, the Eiffel Tower is adapting to ensure the comfort and safety of our visitors and our teams,” reads a refreshingly practical notice on the monument’s website. Translation: Go upstairs and you might melt. First and second floors remain open for now, presumably for those who like their sightseeing with a light glaze of perspiration.
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Ticket holders for the summit are being refunded automatically, so there’s no need to fight for shade and customer service. There are also public fountains installed along the approach to the tower, for anyone who didn’t pack their own hydration strategy.
Temperatures across France were expected to top out at around 104°F (that’s 40°C for the Celsius inclined), and nearly 1,350 schools have been closed because learning becomes difficult when the classroom feels like a convection oven.
Elsewhere in Europe, Portugal reported a June high of 116°F. Spain broke its own records too, while Italy is bouncing between flash floods and fire alerts. Even the Mediterranean Sea seems cranky, registering several degrees warmer than usual and threatening marine life in the process. In Turkey and Greece, thousands have been evacuated due to raging wildfires.
So, if your summer travel plans include climbing famous landmarks, pack light, drink water, and maybe just admire them from a distance—with a fan, an iced coffee, and the calm resignation of someone who knows the Eiffel Tower will still be there in October.
