Eiffel Tower glass floor unveiled during ceremony in Paris
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Daredevil tourists with a head for heights have a new way to enjoy the Eiffel Tower's stunning views.
Paris' top attraction officially unveiled a new glass floor on Monday as part of a £24m refit that allows visitors to feel as if they are walking on air nearly 200 feet above ground.
Stephen Laine, a 48-year-old British tourist visiting with his wife and four young children, said: 'It's an incredible feeling.
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Nerves of steel: Visitors take a photo as a young woman poses on the Eiffel's Tower's new glass floor
What a view! The 200ft-high glass floor on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower officially opened today
Long way down: The glass floor was installed as part of a £24m refit aimed at luring more visitors
'We checked out the new floor last week and it was incredible - scary at first, because your brain tells you that you might be about to fall through, but you soon get used to it.'
Inaugurated by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, the first-floor refit also includes new solar panels and the opening of a museum where the history of the tower will be displayed on seven screens.
'It's an innovative development which will maintain the tower as one of the most fantastic attractions in the world,' said a member of her staff.
Super selfie: The glass floor was unveiled along with new solar panels and a museum
Stunning view: The new Eiffel Tower level will allow visitors to walk across a glass platform
Walking on air: Visitors say the new glass floor is a thrill but it takes some time to get used to it
'The Tower symbolises Paris and is famous everywhere - it is a great success story for the city, and for France.'
Built as an entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair, the iron lattice edifice, named after engineer Gustav Eiffel, whose company built the tower, was supposed to be dismantled in 1909.
But it is now the most popular paid-for tourist attraction in the world, attracting almost seven million visitors last year alone.
The Eiffel Tower was built as an entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo (centre) walks on the new glass floor with architect Alain Moatti (right)
A visitor looks through the glass safety barriers while standing on the new glass floor
I'm floating! A visitor takes a selfie after the Eiffel Tower's glass floor was officially unveiled
Because of massive queues to the top of the 1,060-ft tower, many visitors only get as far as the first floor.
Now they can all feel as if they are suspended in air, as they look out across the centre of the city, and the suburbs beyond.
In a job that involved 60 tons of paint, the three-level 'Iron Lady' has to be repainted every year.
I don't want to! A reluctant visitor is dragged onto the new glass floor at the Eiffel Tower
Strike a pose: The glass floor creates an incredible photo opportunity and has been a hit with tourists
Visitors take photos of their feet and the ground below
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