Free Republic

PARIS (AP) – The Eiffel Tower was closed to visitors Wednesday because of a strike over contract negotiations timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the death of its creator, Gustave Eiffel. One of the world’s most-visited sites, the Eiffel Tower is typically open 365 days a year – though it is occasionally affected by strikes – and is expected to play a central role in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Some tourists were visibly dismayed upon seeing a big sign beneath its iron façade announcing the closure in multiple languages, and apologizing for the inconvenience. Others took photos anyway,...

Daredevils looking to get a mesmerizing view over Paris could have the lucky chance to take a zip line off of the second floor of the Eiffel Tower. Perrier is back with its popular attraction, Smash Perrier, inviting people to whizz from the monumental tower to the 18thcentury École Militaire, this June. The attraction is opening to align with both the French Open, which takes place through June 9, and the 130th anniversary of the Eiffel Tower this year, inviting lucky winners to take a ride at speeds of 90 km (about 56 miles per hour). The zip line, which...

One of the top tourist attractions in Paris was forced to close Monday after a person scaled the iconic Eiffel Tower. The operators of the attraction tweeted around 10 a.m. ET that the tourist site was "closed until further notice" after the unidentified climber was spotted on the top side of the tower. The climber appeared to be wearing a red jacket and was located near the top of the 1,063-foot structure. "We kindly advise our visitors to postpone their visit," officials said.

Nationwide, about 89,000 police will fan out in the streets, an increase from 65,000 last weekend, when more than 130 people were injured and over 400 arrested as the protests degenerated into the worst street violence to hit the French capital in decades. In addition to the closure of the Eiffel Tower, many shops and museums across Paris, including the Louvre, the Orsay Museum and the Grand Palais, will be shut on Saturday for safety reasons. Music festivals, operas and other cultural events in the capital were canceled.

Oh là là, our splendid First Lady knocked my socks off again with a very original dress! The red, white and blue must have impressed the French on Bastille Day. Voltaire, the ex-prisoner, would approve! Enjoy! More pics at the Google Image link above.

Americans are still waiting for a border wall, but France is set to get a wall of their own by the end of the year. Unlike the American iteration, this barrier won’t be erected on the French border. It’s set to surround the Eiffel Tower to shield it from terrorist attacks. Last month, the Paris city council approved a $20 million bulletproof glass wall, just over 8 feet high, that will surround the iconic tower. In a country proudly obsessed with art and beauty, this will be an obnoxious eyesore and a reminder that war and violence is just a...

Looks like France is building an “apartheid wall.” Will the islamophobia never end? While the city of Paris is spending $22 million to build a protective wall around the Eiffel Towe after a series of terror attacks, the condemn President Trump for taking measures to protect our country against jihad terrorism. PARIS BUILDS BARRIER AROUND EIFFEL TOWER TO LIMIT TERRORISM

Witnesses report Paris' Eiffel Tower has been evacuated; cause not immediately known

The story is just some screenshots of tweets about the Eiffel Tower being evacuated, with lots of police in the area.

I haven't seen anything on FR about this since earlier in the evening. Everything's been about the Nice attack.

TERROR STRIKES SOUTH OF FRANCE FIRE AT EIFFEL TOWER

BREAKING: Heavy black smoke over Eiffel Tower as fire erupts after Nice terror attacks PLUMES of black smoke have engulfed the Eiffel Tower amid ongoing chaos in France. By Tom Evans / Published 14th July 2016

French police were forced to use tear gas to end riots outside the Euro 2016 fan zone in Paris. Supporters were allegedly trying to forcibly enter the 'fan zone' to watch the final between France and Portugal in the city centre on Sunday night. But those who could not squeeze into the venue let out their frustrations and clashed with police underneath the Eiffel Tower. Police used tear gas to try and disperse the crowds who were seen to be throwing objects and lighting fires just yards from the back of the fan zone's big screen. Piles of rubbish were...

Explanation: What's that over Paris? Cirrus. Typically, cirrus clouds appear white or gray when reflecting sunlight, can appear dark at sunset (or sunrise) against a better lit sky. Cirrus are among the highest types of clouds and are usually thin enough to see stars through. Cirrus clouds may form from moisture released above storm clouds and so may herald the arrival of a significant change in weather. Conversely, cirrus clouds have also been seen on Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Titan, Uranus, and Neptune. The featured image was taken two days ago from a window in District 15, Paris, France, Earth. The...

The Eiffel Tower is "frustratingly overcrowded and overpriced" while Stonehenge is "just a load of old rocks" according to a report which has named the top ten most disappointing tourist spots. The Eiffel Tower topped the blacklist The Louvre's Mona Lisa and New York's Times Square also have difficulty enticing tourists to rush back, the survey reveals. Even Egypt's great pyramids, the eighth wonder of the world, made the list of underwhelming and overrated attractions, because of the oppressive heat and the persistent hawkers. But top of the list was Paris's famous tower, which almost a quarter of the 1,000...

(Translated) Armed police converging on Hotel Pullman

The unfolding tragedy in Paris is almost unspeakably horrific and awful. I'm sort of at a loss for words. This viral painting from Twitter is deeply moving. Peace for Paris by Jean Jullien

France's famous Eiffel Tower, one of the world's most visited attractions, was closed after a man carrying a rucksack was seen climbing the tower. The alarm was quickly raised early on Sunday and the area was evacuated while anti-terror police carried out a search of the iconic landmark. Police said that so far they have been unable to find the man. France is on the highest state of alert following a spate of terror attacks this year. The Eiffel Tower, which receives as many as 30,000 daily visitors, has been the target of plots by Islamist extremists in the past....

Drones have been seen flying over several sensitive landmarks in Paris in a night-time mystery that French police say is being taken seriously. At least five of the unmanned aerial machines were spotted between midnight on Monday and 0600 on Tuesday, and none of the operators has been caught. The first appeared over the US embassy and there were later sightings near the Eiffel Tower and Place de la Concorde. French police believe the drone flights could be linked. Small drones are easy to buy but their appearance in recent months over sensitive locations has worried French authorities.

French authorities say they foiled an Islamic terrorist plot reportedly targeting the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and a nuclear power plant last year. The revelation comes as the country unveiled new anti-terror rules which included a proposal to ban terror suspects from leaving the country if it is thought they intend to fight abroad, The Telegraph reported. French authorities revealed they arrested a 29-year-old Algerian butcher living in southern France June 2013, after they found coded messages between him and a high-ranking Al Qaeda member discussing how “to conduct jihad in the place you are currently,” according to Le Parisien....