Eiffel Tower to welcome back visitors from 25 June
The Eiffel Tower is to reopen to the public on 25 June, as more French museums and monuments reopen this week, nearly three months after the coronavirus lockdown began.
The Eiffel Tower, one of the most visited sites in Paris, will emerge from its longest closure since World War II with limited visitor numbers at first and face masks mandatory for all over the age of 11, said the Eiffel Tower website.
"At first, only visits by the stairs will be available," read the message, with the elevator to remain closed for the moment, in line with social distancing measures to limit the risk of infection.
The top level will also remain closed, since it is only accessible by lift. "It might re-open during the summer," said the website.
Ground markings are to be put in place to ensure people maintain a safe distance from one another, with "daily cleaning and disinfection of public spaces at the tower".
The monument, completed in 1889, receives about seven million visitors every year, about three-quarters of them from abroad.
"The re-opening date of our online ticket office will be soon communicated," said the Eiffel website.
"We strongly encourage our visitors to opt for online ticket purchase, in order to avoid the wait at the Tower's ticket offices."
France, one of the world's most visited countries, has taken a hard hit under a Covid-19 lockdown, with the tourism sector, including hotels, restaurants, museums and theatres worst affected.
Some of the French capital's most famous landmarks have begun to reopen. The Château de Versailles opened on 6 June, and the Louvre museum has announced 6 July as its big day.