The Eiffel Tower and other Paris landmarks, including the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, closed early on Saturday as France was hit by its third heatwave since May. Across the country, many towns have also cancelled their fireworks displays for Bastille Day due to increased fires and dry conditions.
The Eiffel Tower and other Paris landmarks closed early over the weekend, and cycling's Tour de France shortened a stage for the first time in its history, as France sweated through its third heatwave since May.
As of Saturday, a quarter of mainland France was sweltering under the country's highest heat alert level, including the Paris region. The operator of the Eiffel Tower said the latticed-steel monument would "exceptionally close" early on Saturday and Sunday at 4:00pm (1400 GMT), "due to the high temperatures forecast".
Read moreFrance records 2,025 excess deaths in June heatwave
The 324-metre tower, which attracts seven million tourists a year, usually stays open past midnight during the high season.
Two of the French capital's most famous museums, the Louvre and the Musée d'Orsay, have taken similar measures.
The Louvre, the most visited museum in the world, said on Thursday it would close at 4:00pm from Friday through to Monday.
The Musée d'Orsay announced it would also close early, "due to the extreme heat" at 5:00pm from Saturday to Wednesday. And the organisers of the Tour de France cycling race said Sunday's 185.5-kilometre stage would be shortened by 30 kilometres, cutting out a hilly loop, because of the intense heat – the first time in its history it has taken such a decision.
Belgian sprinter Tim Merlier, winner of Saturday's stage, welcomed the news.
"We are now one week of racing, it was always above 35C degrees," he said. "It's definitely a fight to have water, ice and drinks between the (support) cars."
Read moreWestern Europe records its hottest June after searing heatwave
Call for vigilance
Twenty-four departments, home to 22.2 million people according to an AFP calculation, were under the maximum alert level issued by the national weather service Meteo-France on Saturday.
Another 59 departments of 96 in mainland France were under an orange heat warning, a step below the highest, as people flooded trains and highways at the start of a holiday weekend ahead of France's national public holiday on July 14.
Across France, many towns have called off their firework displays for Bastille Day due to increased risk of fires amid the dry conditions.
Wildfires have scorched twice as much land in France so far this year as in the same period last year, an official said on Friday.
French President Emmanuel Macron called for vigilance on Saturday, warning nine out of 10 fires are due to human activity.
"A single second of inattention can put families at risk, endanger those who protect us and destroy our countryside," he wrote on X.
The European nation is facing its third heatwave since May, with a heatwave in June shattering records.
The country recorded more than 2,000 excess deaths during the June heatwave, and 300 during the high temperatures in late May, according to official figures.
The government has faced a barrage of criticism, accused of being "unprepared" for the extreme weather, the increasing frequency of which scientists have linked to man-made climate change.
High temperatures are expected to continue until Bastille Day, according to Meteo-France.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
