VISITORS to Paris’s Eiffel Tower were turned away today because of a strike over poor financial management at one of the world's most visited sites.

The hugely popular 984-foot landmark in the French capital has seen soaring visitor numbers in the lead up to the Summer Olympics later this year.

But a sign was posted in English at the entrance, saying: “Due to strike, the Eiffel Tower is closed. We apologise.” The tower’s website carried warnings of disruption in multiple languages.

The Eiffel Tower is typically open 365 days a year, but is occasionally affected by strikes. 

In December, it was closed for an entire day because of a strike over contract negotiations.

Stephane Dieu of the left-wing CGT union federation, which represents a large number of the Eiffel Tower’s employees, said the strike is aimed at winning a salary increase in proportion to revenue from ticket sales and improved maintenance of the monument, owned by the Paris municipality.