The Eiffel Tower is a world-famous sight. It gets millions of tourists every year. It has been an important part of Paris for 133 years. However, it is getting old. Engineers found its metal is full of rust. They said it was "in a poor state". They said its designer Gustave Eiffel "would have a heart attack" if he was alive today. The tower needs many repairs. A report said it had 698 faults. These could put its long-term future in doubt.

The Eiffel Tower opened to the public in 1889. It was built for the 1889 World's Fair in Paris. It contains 10,100 tons of iron and 2.5 million rivets. The original plan was for it to be taken down after 20 years. The French government changed its mind and kept it. The tower is now being repainted. Engineers say paint will not make the rust go away. They say all the paint needs to be removed first. However, this would take too long.