France heatwave forces closure of Eiffel Tower, Louvre

France's third major heatwave since May forced the early closure of Paris's most iconic landmarks over the weekend, as extreme temperatures placed a quarter of the country under its highest alert level and disrupted national life ahead of Bastille Day. The Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, and the Musée d'Orsay all announced shortened hours to protect visitors and staff from the dangerous heat.

The Eiffel Tower's operator said the monument would "exceptionally close" at 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12, due to forecast high temperatures. The tower typically remains open past midnight during the summer peak. The Louvre, the world's most visited museum, stated it would close at 4 p.m. from Friday through Monday. The Musée d'Orsay announced it would shut at 5 p.m. from Saturday through Wednesday.

These measures come as France's national weather service, MétéoFrance, placed 24 departments, home to more than 22 million people, under a red heat alert-the highest level-on Saturday. Another 59 departments were under an orange warning. Temperatures were forecast to reach up to 39 degrees Celsius in some regions, with the extreme weather expected to persist through the...