France faces a third heatwave since May, prompting early closures at several major Paris attractions over the weekend. The operator of the Eiffel Tower says the monument will “exceptionally” close early at 4 pm (1400 GMT) due to forecast high temperatures and Paris being placed under the highest weather alert level. Other prominent sites, including the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay, also announce shorter hours or early shutdowns. Multiple outlets report that a red heat alert covers Paris and much of north-west France, citing Météo-France warnings affecting more than 20 million people across 24 departments. Beyond tourism, some towns cancel or scale back public events ahead of Bastille Day as dry conditions and heightened fire risk increase pressure on emergency services. Authorities also note broader impacts from the heat, including health, energy and wildfire risks, and keep emergency responders on high alert as the heatwave is expected to continue through the holiday period. The announcements are presented as precautionary measures in response to the extreme temperatures and the risk they pose.