The Eiffel Tower is covered in rust and needs extensive repairs, but instead of doing so, it is getting a 60 million euro cosmetic paint job before the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
Gustave Eiffel constructed the wrought-iron, 324-meter (1,063-foot) tall tower in the late 19th century. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, drawing around six million tourists annually.
The monument is reportedly in bad condition and covered with rust, according to secret reports by specialists that Marianne referenced.
One anonymous manager at the skyscraper told the journalists, “It is simple, if Gustave Eiffel visited the location he would have a heart attack.”
Societe d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), the organization in charge of the tower, could not be reached right away for comment.
Only 5 percent of the tower will be treated because lead in the previous paint and delays in the construction caused by the COVID outbreak will prevent the remaining 30 percent from being scraped and given two fresh coats.
Due of the lost tourist earnings, SETE is hesitant to close the tower for an extended period of time, it was said.