by Natalie Paris, The Telegraph, June 6, 2017
It may be one the world’s most famous landmarks but the Eiffel Tower in Paris has this week been playing host to more daredevils than sightseers, thanks to a scarily high zipline installed on its second floor.
The zipline starts mid-way up the 324m tall building and offers riders a bird’s-eye view of the city, before whizzing them over the geometric formal gardens at Champs de Mars at speeds of up to 90km/hr (56mph). They are then safely deposited on a purpose-built platform in the park, 800 metres and around a minute later.
The ride, which gives visitors a completely new way of viewing a popular part of the city, is only open for a limited time to coincide with the French Open tennis tournament, currently taking place in the city.
It will appeal more to adrenaline junkies than to casual thrill-seekers - riders are required to wear helmets and the second-level starting point is a not to be sniffed at at 114m high - more or less the height of the Centre Point building above Tottenham Court Road tube station in London.
The ride will be open until Sunday. It is intended, by sponsors Perrier, to give people the taste of the speed a tennis ball flies at during a smash.
Not everyone will be able to have a go though - the lucky few were selected in a ballot online last week.
The zipline is one of many exciting events planned for Paris this summer. Highlights include the Paris Jazz Festival, David Hockney at the Pompidou, Paris Plages (urban beaches), outdoor film screenings, an open house weekend and the opening of the much-anticipated YSL museum.
Our Paris expert, Hannah Meltzer, has more information in her guide to summer in the city .
This article was written by Natalie Paris from The Telegraph and was legally licensed through the NewsCred publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@newscred.com.