For the second straight year a skating rink has been erected on the first (second in American parlance) floor of the tour Eiffel. Though now closed, perhaps next winter during January and parts of February you can have the unique experience of skating high up on the Eiffel Tower - presumable skates are available for rental.

Have you seen the rink? It's pretty laughable. I saw it Dec. 04 and it is tiny. There was a line a mile long for kids to get the opportunity to skate for a few minutes. They don't groom the ice at all so it's a real mess. Here's a couple of images of it...

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...&y=-qew9e0

Wow pretty tiny - however the picture from the French newspaper article on this clearly shows a bigger ice rink in 2005 - or appears to - they even have wheelchairs on skates in the picture. But i don't know - just seemed a novel thing.

I agree, it is a great idea. We were really excited about the thought of going up there and skating. Obviously disappointed when we got there and found that. Maybe they've improved it.

The skating is still on at the Hotel de Ville. There's an igloo where you can rent skates.