Eiffel Tower closed to visitors amid nationwide strike

The Eiffel Tower, Paris"s most famous tourist attraction, was closed to visitors on Thursday due to strikes.

According to Report, citing TASS, the closure was announced on the monument"s official website.

"Due to the nationwide strike on September 18, the Eiffel Tower is currently closed," the notice stated.

However, the plaza beneath the tower remains open to visitors until 9:00 p.m.

Across France, the strike is being held in protest of the government"s proposed austerity measures. Authorities expect around 900,000 people to participate nationwide. To maintain order, the Ministry of Interior has deployed over 80,000 police officers and gendarmes, along with armored vehicles and drones.

In Paris, the march is scheduled for the afternoon, while demonstrations in Lyon, Nantes, and Nice have been ongoing since the morning and have already led to clashes with police.