The severe heatwave sweeping France has forced the early closures of Paris tourist hotspots the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, and left disappointed visitors sweltering with little respite.
Spanish nurse Maite Blazques said she had spent months saving up to bring her six-year-old son to Paris, but the record heat forced her to reorganise the whole holiday without going inside key landmarks.
“We had to change our whole trip,” said the 35-year-old from Madrid, as France on Tuesday experienced its hottest day since measurements began in 1947.
“We won’t be taking a guided tour of the historic Marais district, or a river boat cruise, and we won’t be going up to the top of the Eiffel Tower,” she said quietly, head bowed and holding her son’s hand.
The operator of the Eiffel Tower said the latticed-steel monument would “exceptionally close” early on Tuesday at 4pm, and it was “very likely” it would have shortened opening hours again on Wednesday.
