Flights canceled, Eiffel Tower closed as snowstorm sweeps France, Germany

PARIS — A winter storm brought blankets of snow across Europe on Monday, forcing the closure of an icy Eiffel Tower in Paris and causing flight cancellations.

Up to four inches of snow was recorded in parts of France, the national weather service said. Most areas, including Paris, got around half that amount.

The Eiffel Tower, one of Paris' main tourist attractions, was closed because of slippery conditions.

"We can't put down salt because it's metallic," Eiffel Tower press officer Isabelle Esnous said. "We can't use sand either ... because it risks getting into the elevator (cogs)."

The cold, she said, is no problem, but snow can be dangerous.

In Germany, heavy snowfall snarled road traffic and flight delays and cancellations at the country's international airports.

Düsseldorf International Airport said no flights were allowed in or out for three hours Monday morning because clearing crews were unable to keep up with the snow.

Traffic stopped for hours on many of Germany's autobahns as snowplows struggled to clear the roads amid heavy post-holiday traffic.