-
What do the different number plate colours of cars mean in France?
Standard passenger vehicles must be white, but do you know what the other colours signify?
-
Small town in Normandy attracts record visits on Wikipedia
A new ranking puts this famous coastal town in first place, followed by a medieval hilltop favourite, and three mountain resorts
-
French wine production faces sharp decline
Adverse weather conditions across France's key vineyards forecast a 22% drop in output for 2024
Eiffel Tower's lighthouse beams turned off for repairs
Lights scheduled to be switched on again in October, officials say
The 'lighthouse' beams of the Eiffel Tower that have lit up the night sky in Paris between 10pm and 1am since December 31, 1999, have gone dark for vital maintenance work.
But the work will not go on as long as the restoration of the Elizabeth Tower at the Houses of Parliament in London, which have silenced Big Ben for four years.
The 6,000 watt xenon lights, which can be seen from up to 80km away, are due to be switched on again on October 10, following 'renovation on its rotation and controls', according to a statement on the website of the popular attraction.
"After 17 years of operation and some technical interventions, it seemed necessary to renew its rotation and management systems," a spokesman told Le Parisien.
Meanwhile, visitors to the capital can still enjoy the rest of iron lady's nightly lightshow, which have not been extinguished by the repair work on the lighthouse beams.
Stay informed:
Sign up to our free weekly e-newsletter
Subscribe to access all our online articles and receive our printed monthly newspaper The Connexion at your home. News analysis, features and practical help for English-speakers in France