Paris Plans Glass Wall Around Eiffel Tower

Paris authorities say they want to replace the metal security fencing around the Eiffel Tower with a more visually appealing glass wall. A statement from Paris City Hall issued Thursday said see-through panels could replace the existing fences at the north and south of the famed monument that were installed for the Euro 2016 soccer event, the AP reports.

City tourism chief Jean-Francois Martins says the glass is an aesthetic substitute for the metal fencing, which was "useful in security matters" but "spoils the view." He says the wall will give Parisians and visitors a "very pleasant view of the monument." The proposal is part of a $300 million project announced in January to modernize the 128-year-old tower. (More Eiffel Tower stories.)