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Some of Europe’s most visited landmarks are cutting their hours as a brutal heat wave strains cities built for crowds, not 104-degree Fahrenheit.
In Paris, the heat upended peak tourist season, forcing the Louvre to close two hours early, the Eiffel Tower to shut ahead of schedule, and other major attractions to shorten hours or close sections, Euronews reported.
The Louvre said it would close at 4 p.m. from Wednesday through Saturday, with final admissions at 2 p.m. and automatic refunds for visitors holding later reservations.
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Under its usual schedule, the Louvre opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. on most days, with a late closing at 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays. The museum says it received nine million visitors in 2025, roughly 25,000 per day on average.
Tourists still lined up outside the iconic museum, as visitors shielded themselves with parasols and umbrellas. Far fewer guests lingered outside to admire the Louvre’s glass pyramid, with many hurrying past the sun-baked plaza.
People cool off in the Trocadero Fountain next to the Eiffel Tower as temperatures rise during a heatwave affecting much of France in Paris on June 22, 2026. (Abdul Saboor/Reuters)
The Eiffel Tower’s reduced hours cut into a summer schedule that normally runs well into the night. During peak season, the monument is typically open from 9 a.m. until 12:45 a.m., but it closed to visitors at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, with last entries at 12:15 p.m., Reuters reported.
The decision affected one of the world’s busiest paid landmarks. The tower’s operator said more than 6.75 million people visited its upper levels in 2025.
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Swimmers sought refuge in the Trocadéro fountain, which sits across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower and is a popular viewing spot.
The disruption also hit schools, with France closing 845 of them on Monday and allowing students at roughly 1,800 others to leave early, AFP reported via Euronews.
A tourist dips his hands into the fountain in front of the historic Pantheon Basilica in Rome. (Claudia Chieppa/Anadolu)
“Remember to protect yourself from the sun and stay hydrated,” the Eiffel Tower website says. “Water fountains are available in the walkways leading to the plaza.”
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Travel was also disrupted in other parts of Europe.
London’s Changing of the Guard ceremony was scaled back because of the extreme temperatures, while Florence’s Uffizi Gallery temporarily halted ticket sales after an air-conditioning malfunction, Reuters reported.
Some people choose to beat the heat in a paddle boat on a lake in Hyde Park, London. (Brook Mitchell/AFP)
Additionally, train operators reduced service. About one in 10 trains in the Paris region were canceled over infrastructure risks, Euronews reported.
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Sports were disrupted as well. AP reported that French authorities canceled some outdoor sporting events, while Spain’s Basque region suspended outdoor competitions.
In some cases, the heat wave has become deadly. At least 48 people in France have drowned while attempting to cool off since the heat wave began. In Spain, two elderly people died from heat-related illnesses, according to Reuters.
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Meteorologists say the prolonged heat is being driven by an “Omega block,” a weather pattern that traps hot air over the same region for several days, allowing temperatures to continue climbing.
As temperatures climbed to record highs, locals and tourists have been wading in forbidden fountains. (Alain Apaydin/ABACAPRESS.COM)
Paris sweltered through record-setting heat this week, with temperatures climbing above 104 degrees Fahrenheit, AP reported.
Southern England logged its warmest June day since records began. Italy has placed 16 cities under its highest heat alert as forecasters warn the heat could continue through the week, Reuters said.
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Officials continue to advise travelers to drink plenty of water, avoid strenuous outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day, and seek air-conditioned spaces whenever possible.
Reuters contributed to this report.
