The Eiffel Tower, one of the world’s most popular tourist attractions, was closed on Monday due to a strike, unions informed AFP.
The walkout, launched to protest the monument’s financial management, could be extended, they claimed.
The tower’s operator, SETE, announced on its website that “visits to the monument will be disrupted on Monday.”
It recommended ticket holders to check the website before arriving or to reschedule their visit. E-ticket holders were directed to check their e-mails for additional information.
The suspension marks the second strike at the Eiffel Tower in two months for the same cause.
Unions have criticized operator SETE for its economic model, which they claim is predicated on an exaggerated forecast of future visitor numbers while underestimating building costs.
According to its website, the Eiffel Tower, Paris’ most iconic monument, gets almost seven million tourists each year, with around three-quarters of them being foreigners.
During the Covid epidemic, numbers fell dramatically due to closures and travel restrictions, but recovered to 5.9 million by 2022.
Visitors to Paris are likely to increase this summer when the French capital hosts the Olympic Games.
The CGT and FO unions urged the city of Paris “to be reasonable with their financial demands to ensure the survival of the monument and the company operating it” in a joint statement.