Eiffel Tower and Louvre close at 4 pm Saturday and Sunday

The Eiffel Tower will close at 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday due to high temperatures forecast for the weekend, its operator said. The 324-meter monument usually stays open past midnight during peak season and draws seven million visitors annually. The Louvre announced it will close at 4 pm from Friday through Monday.

The Musée d'Orsay will close at 5 pm from Saturday through Wednesday, citing extreme heat.

Heat alerts and holiday travel Twenty-four departments were placed under the maximum heat alert level by Météo-France on Saturday. Another 59 departments received an orange warning, one level below the highest. Travelers filled trains and highways at the start of the Bastille Day holiday weekend. High temperatures are expected to continue until July 14.

Fire risks and government response Many towns across France canceled Bastille Day fireworks displays due to increased fire danger and dry conditions. Wildfires have burned twice as much land this year compared with the same period last year. French President Emmanuel Macron urged vigilance on Saturday, stating that nine out of ten fires result from human activity.

He wrote on X that a moment of inattention can endanger families and destroy countryside. The government has faced criticism for being unprepared for the extreme weather, which scientists have linked to human-caused climate change. The country recorded more than 2,000 excess deaths during the June heatwave and 300 during late May temperatures, according to official figures.