The Eiffel Tower is in excellent condition, rust poses no threat, claims the monument's operator

Paris - The Eiffel Tower is in very good condition. Jean-François Martins, the head of the municipal company SETE that operates this symbol of Paris, stated this. He alleviated frequent concerns that the technical and architectural monument, which is nearing the completion of extensive renovations, is threatened by rust.

"It is in incredible condition," Martins said according to the DPA agency, adding that the tower is exceptionally sturdy.

During the painting works, all previous 19 layers of paint were removed in one part, and experts were surprised by how literally "ironclad" the structure is. "The metal is in perfect condition," noted Martins. The builder Gustave Eiffel chose very good material for the construction of the tower, according to him.

About a year ago, there were speculations about a problem with rusting on the Eiffel Tower, and this was not the first time. Employees of SETE even went on strike for more funds for its maintenance.

Meanwhile, work related to the 20th coat of paint on the Eiffel Tower is slowly nearing completion, expected to be finished next year. The work was interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and complications also arose from the old layers of paint that contained lead. The new coating, which began to be applied in 2019, will cost around 80 million euros (almost two billion CZK). Approximately 58 million euros were also spent to restore one of the three visitor elevators as closely as possible to its original form.

However, the realization of the intention to return the Olympic rings to the Eiffel Tower is stalled. The original rings were removed shortly after the conclusion of last year's Summer Olympics in the French capital. Paris wants to install replicas of the rings on the structure by the start of the next Olympics in 2028 in Los Angeles, but there is currently no specific timeline.

Meanwhile, visitor satisfaction at the Eiffel Tower has improved. According to a recent survey, 96 percent of respondents expressed satisfaction with their visit to the landmark, compared to 81 percent in 2019. There is very high satisfaction regarding safety on and around the tower. Theft and assaults are declining, partly due to a greater police presence, Martins said.

Last year, the Eiffel Tower was visited by 6.3 million people from 150 countries. Most visitors came from France, the USA, and Germany, reports DPA.