Strife-filled tower: Strike closes monument on centenary of Eiffel's death

The Eiffel Tower, one of the world's prime tourist attractions, was closed on Wednesday after staff went on strike.

An "audiovisuel concert" celebrating the Eiffel Tower, by artist Michael Canitrot will focus on the Parisian landmark. © Geoffrey Hubbe

The strike on the 100th anniversary of the death of engineer Gustave Eiffel, who built the tower, was to protest "the current way it is managed", the hard-left CGT union said in a statement.

The tower's operator SETE was headed for disaster, it said.

🔴 Paris: la Tour Eiffel fermée au public en raison d’un mouvement de grève ce mercredihttps://t.co/Z0NfJ9QkWl pic.twitter.com/5eZv0SVgTN

— BFMTV (@BFMTV) December 27, 2023

SETE apologised to visitors, advising anyone with electronic tickets for Wednesday to check their email.

The Eiffel Tower, among Paris's most famous landmarks, attracts nearly seven million visitors a year, around three-quarters of them foreigners.

Eiffel died on 27 December, 1923, at the age of 91.

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On Wednesday evening, a sound- and light show centered around the Parisian landmark will be broadcast live on television and social media.

The performance features the 'Spectre' choir, Yana Mann, mezzo-soprano singer, Ablaye Diop, a contemporary dancer and Yann Dulché, a pianist who plays a blend of ultramodern and classical music.

Picture of Michel Canitrot's Eiffel Tower's Sound and Light show, designed to mark the centenary of the monument on 27 December 2023. © Geoffrey Hubbel

(With newswires)