The iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris temporarily closed to the public on Wednesday due to a strike by its staff. The protest was organized by the French CGT union, citing concerns about the management of the famous landmark. The timing of the strike was deliberate, coinciding with the centenary of the death of Gustave Eiffel, the tower's creator. Gustave Eiffel, a renowned French engineer and entrepreneur, passed away on the same day in 1923 at the age of 91. Completed in 1889, the Eiffel Tower continues to be one of the world's premier tourist attractions, drawing 5.85 million visitors in 2012, with 7% coming from the UK alone.