Paris plans for a permanent bulletproof glass wall to surround the base of the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous architectural structures in the entire world. It is also one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world. Unfortunately, due to the harsh realities of the times in which we live, increased security measures are found at just about all of the world’s most famous tourist attractions, not only making them less accessible, but also adding unsightly walls, metal detectors, and metal fences.

The Eiffel Tower is no exception, as metal fences erected as preventive measures when Paris hosted the Euro football tournament last year surround its base. These metal fences may soon be a thing of the past, however, as a new proposal suggests replacing them with an eight-foot-high bulletproof glass walls instead, reports qz.com.

The glass wall would protect the Eiffel Tower and two adjacent ponds, causing tourists to clear security checkpoints before being allowed access. While still not ideal, the hope is that the clear glass walls will be much less noticeable and more aesthetically pleasing than the current metal fences.

The main goals of replacing the current security measures are to improve the look, make access easier, and strengthen the protection of visitors and staff, according to Paris’s Deputy Mayor Jean-François Martins. It is estimated the glass wall will cost around $21 million.

Paris has been the target of multiple terrorist attacks in the recent past, and the city is actively seeking counter-terrorism architecture and urban planning solutions that preserve the charm of the historic city.