The Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum and other iconic Paris attractions shut their doors early this weekend as a quarter of mainland France sweltered under the country’s highest heat alert. Tour de France organisers shortened Sunday’s stage for the first time in the race’s history.

PARIS – France’s most famous landmarks closed early over the weekend as the country faced its third heatwave since May, with authorities placing 24 departments under maximum heat alert.

The Eiffel Tower operator announced the 324-metre steel monument would close at 16:00 on Saturday and Sunday due to forecast high temperatures. The tower, which attracts seven million tourists annually, typically remains open past midnight during peak season.

The Louvre, the world’s most visited museum, closed at 16:00 from Friday through Monday. The Musee d’Orsay also shut early at 17:00 from Saturday to Wednesday because of extreme heat.

Tour de France organisers shortened Sunday’s 185.5-kilometre stage by 30 kilometres, removing a hilly section due to intense heat. Belgian sprinter Tim Merlier, who won Saturday’s stage, said riders have been racing in temperatures above 35°C for a week.

“It’s definitely a fight to have water, ice and drinks between the support cars,” Merlier said.

As of Saturday, 24 departments covering 22.2 million people were under the national weather service Meteo-France’s maximum heat alert. Another 59 of the 96 mainland departments were under orange warning as families travelled ahead of the 14 July Bastille Day holiday.

ALSO READ: Dangerous heatwave grips Europe as temperatures threaten records across continent

Many towns cancelled firework displays for the national holiday due to increased fire risk in dry conditions. Wildfires have burned twice as much land in France this year compared to the same period in 2025, according to officials.

President Emmanuel Macron called for vigilance on Saturday, noting that nine out of 10 fires result from human activity.

“A single second of inattention can put families at risk, endanger those who protect us and destroy our countryside,” Macron wrote on X.

France recorded more than 2 000 excess deaths during June’s heatwave and 300 during late May’s high temperatures, according to official figures. The June heatwave broke previous records.

The government has faced criticism over its preparedness for extreme weather events, which scientists have linked to climate change.

Meteo-France forecast high temperatures to continue through Bastille Day.

ALSO READ: Two children die in France as heatwave blasts Europe