Paris - the Eiffel Tower

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Eiffel Tower story

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     For 41 years, from its inauguration in 1889 until 1930, the Eiffel Tower was the world's tallest man-made structure.
     That was just one of the many records it has held, or still holds. Others include the most visited paid-entrance tourist attraction in the world; and also one of the most recognised - if not the most recognised - structure in the world. As a symbol of Paris, it is known the world over.
    The Eiffel tower was designed by one of France's greatest 19th century engineers, Gustave Eiffel, as a gateway to the Paris Universal Exhibition, marking the centenary of the French Revolution (1789).
     It was originally put up on a 20-year lease, and should have been dismantled in 1909; but by then it had become such a landmark, and so popular, that the Paris city hall decided to keep it open – a decision that it has surely never regretted.
     The tower is built of 7300 tons of pig iron - remarkably little considering the height of the structure. When designing it, Eiffel - who was creating a structure like none other before - was particularly attentive to wind forces; sceptics thought that the tower was too high, and would be blown over in the first gale. Eiffel proved them wrong, and his design was so successful that even in the strongest wind, the top of the tower only moves by about 7 centimetres. This is less than it moves under the effect of strong summer sunshine which causes the metal on the south side to expand more than on the north.
     The Tower has three levels, and there are restaurants on the first and the second. Most visitors use the elevators (lifts) to the first and second levels, though there are stairs for the very energetic. Access to the top is by elevator only. Though elevators were part of the original structure, those in use today are modern replacements, and fully compliant with twenty-first century safety standards.
     The Eiffel Tower stands on the left bank of the Seine (the south bank) in a garden known as the Champ de Mars - or field of Mars, between the Seine and the Ecole Militaire. Obviously, on account of its height, the Eiffel Tower can be seen from places all over Paris, and notably from the heights of Montmartre or from the top of Notre Dame or from the Arc de Triomphe; but one of the best places to view it from a distance is just across the Seine, from the Esplanade of the Trocadero, right opposite.


To save time and avoid queues for other Paris monuments, check out the Paris City Pass , the best value among the different Paris passes, providing access to most museums plus  a Seine cruise and other attractions.