One of the most famous landmarks in the world, the Eiffel Tower (la Tour Eiffel) symbolizes Paris. Before arriving here, visitors have a vivid image of this monument as seen in a postcard, movie, or on a keychain, yet the Eiffel Tower still manages to amaze.
This masterpiece of architectural achievement soars to a height of 324 meters. A feat of ingenuity, the structure of 18,000 iron parts is held together by 2.5 million rivets.
Despite its massive weight, the Eiffel Tower has an airy lattice construction with the seeming lightness of a ballerina on point. The graceful tower is also known as the “Iron Lady.”
Eiffel Tower History
The Eiffel Tower was designed for the World Fair in 1889. A wager was set to erect a square-based tower on the Champ-de-Mars. The design we know today is the work of entrepreneur Gustave Eiffel, the winner selected from 107 submissions.
Pillars of the Eiffel Tower
The esplanade at the base of the Eiffel Tower is dominated by four massive pillars, which support the entire weight of the 10,100-ton monument. Gustave Eiffel’s engineers Emile Nouguier and Maurice Koechlin worked on mathematical principles to ensure stability.
Because the tower’s weight is so well-distributed throughout the framework, the curved base succeeds at securing the structure even in extreme winds. At the ground level, the pressure exerted is only four kilograms per square centimeter, roughly the same weight distribution of a normal-sized adult on the seat of a chair.
The gigantic pillars provide a striking first impression–they are much larger than one would expect and are spacious enough to hold ticket offices, staircases, and elevators.
RANDOM FACTS
- The Tower is named after Gustave Eiffel which was the company in charge of building the structure. Gustave Eiffel had an apartment at the top of the tower; these days there is a recreation and Manikin of the man himself.
- The Eiffel Tower Paris took 2 years, 2 months, and 5 days to build
- It is 324 meters tall (approx. the height of an 81 story building).
- When it was first built the Eiffel Tower was once the tallest structure in the world.
- There were 2,500,000 rivets and 18,000 pieces of metal used to build the tower
- The Eiffel Tower is made of pure iron and weighs around 10,000 tonnes.
- Every 7 years around 50 tones of paint are added to the Eiffel Tower; to protect it from rust. It is painted 3 different colours dark grey on top, lightest on the bottom; why? this is so that when you look up; to the eye it looks like it is the same colour.
- There are 20,000 light bulbs, 5,000 on each side. They sparkle 5 minutes at the start of every hour, from nightfall to 1 AM.
Visitors can choose to ride the elevator or walk up 360 steps to the first level. At an altitude of 57 meters, the first floor floats just above the Paris monuments and provides the perfect viewing platform to appreciate the city’s architecture.
Designed with a transparent floor and glass pavilions, the first level features more than 2,000 square meters of outdoor space. There is terrace seating, where visitors can relax and take in the sensational panoramas.
This level has public restrooms; a souvenir shop with many products that are made in France; and a cafeteria that serves sweets, snacks, and quick meals. There is even a post office that will stamp your mail with a special postmark.
The brasserie on the first floor is currently undergoing renovations and is set to reopen in 2022.
Second Floor
At an altitude of 125 meters, the second floor offers awe-inspiring vistas of the Paris cityscape. The buildings along the Seine River can be easily distinguished, whereas the first level has less perspective, and on the top of the Eiffel Tower, the sights appear small in the distance.
Visitors can take the elevator or take the stairs from the ground level or first level. The second level has public restrooms, two gift shops, and a cafeteria. The viewing platform includes telescopes for admiring the scene of Paris.
The second level draws many gourmands to Le Jules Verne, a Michelin-starred gastronomic restaurant with unforgettable views. Blending classic French culinary heritage with a contemporary twist, the restaurant presents tantalizing multi-course menus. When arriving at the Eiffel Tower, guests may take the private elevator from the South Pillar that leads directly to the restaurant.
The Top
Not for the faint of heart or for those with a fear of heights, the top level of the Eiffel Tower stands at a dizzying altitude of 276 meters. (The summit with its radio antenna is several meters higher.) To arrive at the top level, visitors must take the elevator from the second level.
There is a small viewing area inside under a roof and another viewing platform in the open air. From this thrilling vantage point, the astonishing panoramas extend as far as 70 kilometers on a clear day. Paris’ monuments look small from this height.
The top level includes Gustave Eiffel’s Office, which has been restored to its original condition. Wax models show Gustave Eiffel and his daughter Claire meeting with Thomas Edison.
Also on display is the 1:50 scale model of the Eiffel Tower’s top level, which was created in 1889 and shows a previous version of the floor plan.
The Eiffel Tower at Night
In the evening, the Eiffel Tower is among the most magical places to visit in Paris. The landmark is at its most enchanting at night when it is illuminated with Golden Lighting that glows from lamps placed inside the tower’s framework. The effect is truly magical. The Golden Lighting was created by electrician and engineer Pierre Bideau in 1985.
Since the year 2000, the tower has featured a dazzling light show that is superimposed on the Golden Lighting. Every night, on the hour from sundown until 1am in the morning, a Beacon light is cast in a 360-degree rotation, and Sparkling Lights glitter for five minutes.
The Sparkling Lights system is made up of 20,000 light bulbs and required 25 mountain climbers to install over a five-month period. Efficient six-watt light bulbs reduce the energy consumption, making the show more sustainable.
Best Places for Photos Ops
For those who want the perfect photo of themselves with the Eiffel Tower in the background, there are two excellent options: Across the river from the Eiffel Tower, the Place du Trocadero offers a gorgeous viewpoint.
Closer to the tower, the Champ de Mars allows tourists to take photos right next to the monument or a little farther away, depending on where the snapshots are taken in the park.
From either of these locations, it is easy to take photos that will become much-cherished memories of the visit. The ideal time to take a photo in front of the Eiffel Tower is in the morning or late afternoon.
