Eiffel Tower to re-open - but you will have to take the stairs

 

A sign that reads, "Mandatory to wear a mask on all the site", is seen at the entrance of the Eiffel Tower as she gets ready to re-open to the public following the coronavirus outbreak, in Paris, France, June 17, 2020. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann

 

PARIS (Reuters) - The Eiffel Tower is preparing to welcome back visitors after the COVID-19 lockdown, but they will need to be fit: because of lingering concerns about infection, the elevators will initially be off-limits.

 

Workers at the Parisian landmark, which looms 324 metres (1,062 feet) over the French capital, were on Wednesday making preparations to re-open on June 25, after three months of shutdown. It has been the site's longest period out of action since World War Two.

 

Managers said they hoped to get operations fully back to normal later in the summer. In the meantime, a series of safety measures will be in place.

Visitors will not be able to go any higher than the second level of the tower, and until the start of July access will be only via the staircases. The elevators, with their confined space, represent a risk of disease transmission.

 

Signs reminding about social distancing is seen at the Eiffel Tower as she gets ready to re-open to the public following the coronavirus outbreak, in Paris, France, June 17, 2020. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann

 

There will also be a one-way traffic system in force on the staircases, and all visitors over the age of 11 will be required to wear a face covering.

 

"To attract people, the most important thing is that security measures are taken, and that's why we're promoting safe distances," said Patrick Branco Ruivo, director of the Eiffel Tower's operating company.

 

He said that with foreign travel yet to recover from restrictions put in place to slow the pandemic, most of the visitors would in the initial stage be domestic.

 

"For the French public, this is the moment to come to the Eiffel Tower," said Branco Ruivo.

 

(Reporting by Christian Hartmann and Noemie Olive; Writing by Matthieu Protard and Christian Lowe; Editing by Rosalba O'Brien)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-06-18

 

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No problem.....but check out how to come down by looking at how Holland and Pendlebury did it in The Lavender Hill Mob. 

 

Monsieur le Roostere

I think you mean Monsieur le Coq.

I visited the Eiffel Tower long ago in 1967 and walked down from the second stage to the first stage and then to ground level.  They told me at the time that there were 1889 steps, which was the year construction finished.  I was only 17 then so I was able to come down the stairs two at a time and didn't count them.  I still don't know if the 1889 figure is the total steps from top to bottom or a combination of something.

 

At 70 now, I certainly wouldn't like to try to walk up them although from what I remember it was reasonably safe but not up to today's standards.  I can't imagine that they are expecting people to walk up to the 3rd stage as it would be a horrendous climb if you weren't fairly fit.

 

I went up the Tokyo Tower in 1983 which is of a similar design but taller.  There was no option to use any stairs then but what amazed me were the size of the footings for its legs.  Mind you, they were promising that it wouldn't fall over in around a 9.5 earthquake, although its antennae did get damaged in the 2011 earthquake.

 

 

Stadtler wonders how many old geezers will have heart attacks attempting the climb.

i climbed the stairs with a backpack back in the 70s as a poor student .bottom to top and back

Cant wait for flights to resume , Bkk - France.

   Eiffel , is on my bucket list ..

  

According to the link below, there are only 674 steps to the second level. That doesn't sound bad, especially compared with Tiger Cave Temple in Krabi with 1237 very uneven steps.

https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/faq/spot/how-can-you-climb-eiffel-tower-foot