In an unprecedented move marking the 100th anniversary of Gustave Eiffel’s passing, the iconic Eiffel Tower closed its gates on Wednesday due to a strike initiated by its staff.

The strike, orchestrated by the hard-left CGT union, aimed to protest against the management practices employed by the tower’s operator, SETE.

SETE faced scathing criticism from the union, which warned of an impending disaster if the current management approach persisted. Expressing regret over the closure, SETE urged visitors holding electronic tickets for Wednesday to keep an eye on their email for further instructions.

This isn’t the first time the Eiffel Tower has faced closures disrupting its normal operations. In its storied history, the tower has encountered intermittent closures due to weather conditions, security threats, and strikes. Notably, in 2010, the tower closed for two days due to a worker strike protesting the ticketing system and security issues.

The Eiffel Tower, a symbol of Paris and a magnet for tourists worldwide, typically draws nearly seven million visitors annually, with a significant majority hailing from foreign countries.

Gustave Eiffel, the visionary engineer behind the iconic structure, passed away on December 27th, 1923, at the age of 91.