Several of Paris's best-known tourist attractions have shortened their opening hours as France faces its third heat wave since May.The Eiffel Tower announced that it would close early over the weekend because of dangerously high temperatures, ending public access at 4 p.m.instead of remaining open until late at night during the peak tourist season.The Louvre Museum and the Musée d'Orsay also introduced temporary early closures to protect visitors and staff from the extreme conditions.

Across mainland France, 24 departments were placed under the country's highest heat alert, affecting more than 22 million residents, while most of the remaining departments were under the second-highest warning level.The heat coincides with the start of a busy holiday weekend ahead of Bastille Day celebrations, leading to crowded roads and railways.

Authorities have also cancelled fireworks displays in many communities because of elevated wildfire risks caused by dry vegetation and persistent heat.French officials reported that wildfires have already burned significantly more land than during the same period last year.

President Emmanuel Macron urged the public to remain vigilant, emphasizing that most wildfires are caused by human activity and that even brief moments of carelessness can have serious consequences.

France has already experienced thousands of excess deaths linked to recent heat waves, including more than 2,000 during the record-breaking June event.

The government has faced criticism from opponents who argue it has not adequately prepared for increasingly frequent and intense heat events, which scientists broadly attribute to human-driven climate change.Forecasters expect the unusually hot conditions to continue through the Bastille Day holiday.