Eiffel Tower closed
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The gist
Eiffel Tower staff struck Monday, closing the monument after female colleagues were removed during a Hindu.
The strike spotlights workplace gender equality and religious accommodation tensions in France.
Background
The Eiffel Tower was closed on Monday, September 7, 2026, after staff went on strike to protest the removal of female employees during a private visit by a Hindu religious group, BAPS. The group, around 100 people, visited on Saturday, and staff allege women were asked to leave their posts to be replaced by men. The operator, SETE, admitted the conditions should not have been accepted, and Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire called it unacceptable, launching an investigation.
How it unfolded
- Sep 5, 2026A delegation of about 100 people linked to BAPS visited the Eiffel Tower; female staff were allegedly asked to leave their work positions.
- Sep 7, 2026Staff went on strike, closing the Eiffel Tower all day; signs cited 'operational reasons' initially. Union representative Diane Davoine described the incident, and management apologized.
- Sep 8, 2026The tower was expected to reopen normally on Tuesday, according to a staff representative.
Who’s saying what
- Staff
- Union rep Diane Davoine said women were humiliated and asked to leave their posts, which employees found unacceptable.
- Operator
- SETE said the delegation's conditions 'should not have been accepted' and were not in line with its values or gender equality principles.
- Mayor
- Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire called the incident 'unacceptable' and said equality must not end at historic monuments.
- BAPS
- BAPS said it takes concerns 'very seriously' and that the visit was coordinated with the Eiffel Tower team to limit disruption.
Still unverified
The exact details of the request to remove women are based on staff allegations; BAPS did not directly confirm the request.