PARIS — The Eiffel Tower was closed to visitors on Monday, September 7, after employees went on strike over the alleged sidelining of female workers during a private visit by a delegation from the Hindu organisation BAPS.
Union representatives said women working at the landmark and for its contractors were instructed to leave certain positions or stay away from some areas while the delegation passed through the tower.
The dispute led employees to hold a meeting with management and demand guarantees that female workers would not be treated in the same way again.
What happened during the BAPS visit?
A delegation of around 100 people associated with Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, commonly known as BAPS, visited the Eiffel Tower on Saturday, September 5.
According to union representative Diane Davoine, women were asked to leave their workstations as the delegation moved through the monument, with male employees taking their places at some positions.
Employees said the instructions left female colleagues feeling humiliated and raised serious concerns about workplace equality. Anger reportedly increased over the weekend before workers began their protest on Monday.
The Eiffel Tower’s official operator, Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel, or SETE, acknowledged that the delegation had requested arrangements intended to limit interactions with women.
SETE said those conditions should not have been accepted because they were inconsistent with the organisation’s values and the principle of equality between women and men.
Ariel Weil, president of SETE, described the reported arrangements as unacceptable and reaffirmed the monument’s commitment to equality.
The closure caused disruption for tourists arriving at one of France’s most visited landmarks. Signs at the site initially described the delay as being caused by operational circumstances.
Visitors planning trips to the French capital have faced other unexpected changes this year, including the earlier postponement of the Paris Pride March during France’s heatwave.
BAPS responds as Paris orders investigation
Nous comprenons les préoccupations exprimées et les prenons très au sérieux.
— BAPS Mandir Swaminarayan Hindou de Paris (@BAPSParis) September 7, 2026
Compte tenu de la taille de notre délégation, la visite a été organisée en coordination avec les équipes de la tour Eiffel, au début des horaires habituels d’ouverture, afin de limiter autant que… pic.twitter.com/gyiwzmh6Jv
BAPS said the visit was coordinated with Eiffel Tower teams and scheduled near the beginning of normal opening hours because of the size of the delegation.
In a statement published by BAPS Paris on X, the organisation said that, to the best of its knowledge, nobody had been prevented from accessing the tower.
“Nevertheless, we sincerely apologise for any pain or inconvenience caused,” the organisation said.
The statement did not end the controversy, as French officials demanded a detailed review of how the arrangements were approved.
Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire described the employees’ anger as legitimate and announced that an investigation would be launched as quickly as possible.
Several French political leaders also criticised the reported treatment of women. Equality Minister Aurore Bergé said religious beliefs could not take precedence over French law, while National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet stressed that women could not be told to become invisible.
The BAPS delegation was in the Paris area for celebrations connected with the opening of the organisation’s first major temple in France at Bussy-Saint-Georges. A cultural procession organised by the group was also held on the River Seine.
The Eiffel Tower was expected to resume normal operations on Tuesday following discussions between employees and management. Ticket holders should check the official Eiffel Tower website and their booking emails before travelling.
This report is based on statements from Eiffel Tower employees, SETE, BAPS and Paris officials, alongside reporting by Reuters and AFP. It will be updated if the investigation produces additional findings.
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