Eiffel Tower opens after 104 days, but without elevators

PARIS: Tourists and Parisians panted their way up the stairs of the Eiffel Tower on Thursday as the iron monument reopened after its longest closure since World War II due to the coronavirus, with the lifts still closed as a health precaution.

But the initial crowds of dozens of people braving blazing early summer heat were a far cry from the usual queues at the tower’s base.

PARIS: Marking a milestone in France’s recovery from a coronavirus lockdown, the Eiffel Tower reopened to visitors on Thursday after its longest ever closure in peace time: 104 days.

Tourists trickling back to Paris were delighted to find the landmark open when some other attractions in the French capital remain closed.

The Louvre Museum will reopen on July 6, minus the Mona Lisa section.

Lifts that usually whisk visitors up the 1,063-foot tall wrought-iron Eiffel Tower remain closed. So for now, people have to take the stairs.

Of the tower’s three decks, only the first two were reopened. Those who climbed the 674 steps on Thursday were rewarded with faraway views and a light breeze in scorching summer weather. Masks are obligatory for all visitors aged 11 years and above.

“I booked the first slot because afterwards it will be very hot,” said Sabine Peaufils, a 57-yearold Parisian. “This is a real pleasure.”

The tower lost 27 million euros ($30 million) from the lockdown that started in March, according to its director general, Patrick Branco Ruivo.