Greece temporarily closed its world-class tourist attraction on Friday as temperatures topped 40 degrees Celsius.

Authorities in Athens briefly shut down the Acropolis Hill, home to the Parthenon temple, to protect visitors from the heatwave that is hitting Europe.

Rescue workers treated tourists who were suffering from the heat and Red Cross staff handed out bottles of water.

Local media say temperatures reached 38.8 degrees in southern Germany on Saturday.

The European Space Agency warns that Italy, Spain, France, Germany and Poland will continue to face extreme conditions. It says temperatures in Sicily in southern Italy could reach 48 degrees next week, breaking the current European record.

Officials are urging people to protect themselves from the heat.