Eiffel Tower shuts down on 100th anniversary due to strike

By Esra Taskin

PARIS (AA) - The Eiffel Tower, the symbol of Paris, was closed to visitors on Wednesday on the 100th anniversary of the death of its designer, Gustave Eiffel.

A statement on the website of SETE, the company responsible for the operation of the Eiffel Tower, said the decision was made due to a portion of the tower's staff going on strike.

The statement noted that the surroundings and gardens of the tower could still be visited.

According to reports in the national media, the tower employees went on strike in reaction to SETE's financial policies.

Born on Dec. 15, 1832 in Dijon, France, Eiffel passed away on Dec. 27, 1923 in Paris at the age of 91.

Eiffel played a significant role in the construction of the Eiffel Tower, which was built for the 1889 World's Fair.

The French architect also designed the iron framework of the world-famous Statue of Liberty in the US.

*Writing by Alperen Aktas from Istanbul