The architect of the Eiffel Tower is Stefan. The Eiffel Tower is the steel heart of the French capital

The Eiffel Tower, the symbol of Paris, has a complicated history. At first they categorically did not accept it, then they got used to it, and now it is impossible to imagine the capital of France without this amazing structure.

Location

The famous symbol of Paris, which gives the city a familiar look throughout the world, is located on a former military parade ground, which has been turned into a beautiful park. It is divided into alleys decorated with small ponds and flower beds. Opposite the tower is the Jena Bridge. The elegant openwork structure is visible from many points in Paris, although this was not Eiffel's original intention. The tower was supposed to fulfill one function - to become an unusual entrance to the World Exhibition.

The Eiffel Tower illuminated at night and looks great from anywhere in Paris. Late evening is a great opportunity to get to know the spirit of the Latin Quarter. The team that formed the Tower consisted of Gustav Eiffel, owner of the construction company, Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier, engineers, and Steven Soustre, who was the architect. The reputation that has endured in history is that the first idea for the Tower was written by Eiffel's assistant Maurice Koechlin, and not by himself. The two of them worked together to build the metal frame of the Statue of Liberty.


Project approval and design assignment

The history of the Eiffel Tower began at the end of the 19th century. In 1889, the World Exhibition was to be held in the capital of France. This event was of great importance for the country. It was timed to coincide with the centenary of the day and was supposed to last for 6 months.








In the hundred years following the revolution, France experienced strong political conditions. Three republics and two monarchies were interchangeable with state power, while there were no serious conflicts, either abroad or within the country. This is also justified by the dual nature of the Fair's character.

One of the objectives of the exhibition is to demonstrate technical innovations, so the creators of the pavilions competed to see whose project would most reflect the future. The entrance to the exhibition was supposed to be an arch. The architects were given the task of preparing a design for a structure that would demonstrate the technical power of the country and the achievements of engineering.

Regarding socio-economic conditions, France went up in the "train of industrialization" even before the revolution, the products of this development are constantly growing: high growth of urban population with the simultaneous emergence of new social groups, the train to Paris and turning points in the economy, such as the stock market and banking system.


The first, in the third decade of the 19th century, opened up new avenues, tree plantations, sidewalks and infrastructure such as bridges and railway stations. The above, and in combination with other improvement measures that were mainly associated with the new concept of the modern city, were a remedy for the troubled urban network in the face of industrial encroachment and its unexpected consequences.

An offer to participate in the competition from the Parisian administration was sent to all engineering and design bureaus of the city, including Gustave Eiffel. He had no ready-made solutions, and decided to look for something suitable in projects that had been postponed. It was there that he found a sketch of the tower created by Maurice Keshlin, his employee. With the help of Emile Nouguier, the construction project was finalized and submitted to the competition by Eiffel. The prudent engineer first received a patent for it together with the creators of the project, and then bought it from Keshlen and Nouguier. Thus, ownership of the tower drawings passed to Gustave Eiffel.

Among the latter there were no privileged residential areas. However, we cannot say that we have achieved a reduction in inequality. In a city that is subject to a new design and organized according to certain values, the Eiffel Tower comes to stir the waters. As mentioned earlier, several years before it was built in Paris, changes were made that gave it a magnificent appearance, a sense of comfort in space and a classic aesthetic. Inside this landscape is such a large-scale structure, entirely made of metal material, which was in no way used for the star.


Many interesting and controversial projects were proposed for the competition, and the story of the Eiffel Tower might never have begun. The engineer made changes to the design to make it more decorative, and of the four remaining applicants at the end of the competition, the commission chose him.

The list of Parisian attractions, palaces, museums, temples, gates, etc. a scaffold tower 300 meters high is added. Reactions were violent, as public opinion perceived this new structure as a monstrous structure that referenced the factory bomb, sacrificing French art and history. Three hundred famous Parisian artists and intellectuals signed a protest manifesto, which they published during the construction of the Tower.




The Eiffel Tower, thanks to its great height, served especially in the fields of technology and science. His value was quickly recognized by the radio station. Over the years, many physicist researchers have taken advantage of this design to conduct experiments.

Eiffel Tower - year of construction and stages of construction

Construction of the gigantic structure began on January 28, 1887. It lasted for two years, two months and five days. At that time this was an unprecedented speed. Everything was explained by the highest accuracy of the drawings, in which the size of more than 18 thousand structural parts was scrupulously accurately indicated. In addition, in order to speed up the pace of work as much as possible, Eiffel used pre-fabricated parts of the tower. Two and a half million rivets were used to connect all the structural parts. In the pre-prepared parts, the holes for the rivets were already drilled and most of them were installed, which significantly speeded up assembly.

During World War I, the French managed to steal information from their opponents through radio by invading a wireless communications system. Today there are more than 100 broadcasters installed at the summit. Although the Eiffel Tower seemed like a "metal monster" to many during its era, the influence directly or indirectly affecting architectural production cannot be denied. Getting rid of the place itself undoubtedly changed the whole scale of the city. He really enjoyed the famous 5th façade of Paris, a viewpoint that had never existed before.


Eiffel provided that none of the pre-prepared beams and other parts of the structure weighed more than 3 tons - this would make them easier to lift with cranes. When the height of the tower outgrew the size of the lifting devices, mobile cranes designed by the architect specifically for this purpose came to the rescue, moving along rails created for future elevators.

Thus, all the large parks, the river and the buildings acquired a new way of perception. Already from his time, but mainly at the beginning of the 20th century, the use of metal as a building material began to spread. At first the metal skeleton might overlap with other materials, but over time the metal became noticeable and prominent. By no means can it be said that the Eiffel Tower unilaterally influenced architecture, but it certainly contributed to the charm of the metal structure and its ability to be a monument, and not just a technical work, as it was before.


The most difficult thing for us was not the work at the very top, at a 300-meter height, but the construction of the first platform of the tower. Sand-filled metal cylinders supported the weight of four inclined supports. By gradually releasing the sand, they could be installed in the correct position. When this was done, the first platform was installed strictly horizontally.




This section of the design can only be copied throughout the world. Such examples are. Watkin Tower, in Wembley, London, an observation tower with an expected height of 358 m after ultimately not being completed.




Tokyo Tower in Tokyo, telecommunications and observation tower.




Long Ta in Harbin, China, Telecommunications and Observation Tower, the second highest level in the world.


At his inauguration the Tower was a brownish-red color, but a decade later it was yellow. It went through many shades of coffee until its current color was established. Every 7 years he takes 60 tons of paint for the overall picture, in which the color becomes more and more open at the height of the tower.


The cost of construction of the tower amounted to almost 8 million francs. Construction costs were recouped during the exhibition period (6 months).

Weight and size of the structure

How many meters high was the Eiffel Tower at first? It was 300 meters long and was much more impressive in its size (93 meters including the granite pedestal).

How many meters tall is the Eiffel Tower now? After installing the new antenna, it became 24 meters higher. The total weight of the tower is 10 thousand tons. With each painting, the weight of the building increases by another 60 tons.

The fate of the tower after the exhibition and the attitude of Parisians towards it

According to the agreement concluded with Eiffel, the tower was to be dismantled 20 years after its construction. Its success was deafening - during the exhibition, more than two million people wanted to look at the ingenious structure, which had no equal in the world. Within a year, we managed to recoup most of the construction costs. But the admiration of the exhibition visitors was not shared by the creative intelligentsia of Paris. The Eiffel Tower (France did not know a more controversial opinion about any other structure) caused indignation and irritation among artists and writers. They considered it ugly, like a factory chimney, and were afraid that it would disrupt the unique appearance of Paris, which had developed over centuries.


The history of the Eiffel Tower could have ended with its dismantling if not for the advent of the radio era. Radio antennas were installed on the building, and the building acquired significant strategic value. Demolition of the tower was now out of the question. In 1906, a radio station was placed in the Eiffel Tower, and in 1957 a television antenna appeared on its top.

Description of the Eiffel Tower and the reasons for its design features

The lower floor of the structure is a pyramid. It is formed by four inclined supports. The first square (65 meters in diameter) platform of the tower rests on them. The supports are connected by arched tracery vaults. Above, on four supports, lies the second platform. The next four columns of the tower begin to intertwine and connect into a huge column. There is a third platform on it. Above it there is a lighthouse and a small platform a little more than a meter in diameter.

On the first site, as planned by the architect, there was a restaurant. On the second there was another restaurant and containers with machine oil for servicing elevators. The third site was given over to laboratories (astronomical and meteorological).

Eiffel was criticized at one time for the unusual shape of the tower. In fact, the brilliant engineer and architect understood perfectly well that for such a tall structure the main danger was strong wind. The design and shape of the tower are designed to withstand high wind loads.

Eiffel Tower: interesting things about the famous symbol of Paris

Adolf Hitler visited Paris during the occupation of France by German troops and expressed a desire to climb the Eiffel Tower. But right before his arrival, the elevator drive was seriously damaged, and it was not possible to repair it under military conditions. The German leader was never able to climb the tower. After the liberation of the French capital, the elevator began operating within a few hours.

The architect of the Eiffel Tower was very concerned about safety issues, since the work was carried out at a very high altitude. In the entire history of construction, not a single worker died - this is a real achievement for those years.

Unpleasant events are also associated with the Eiffel Tower - in 2009 it was awarded the third place in popularity among suicides.

In order to repaint the tower, it will take a year and a half of work and 60 tons of paint.

On a daily basis, the tower consumes as much electricity as a small village of one hundred houses.

The famous symbol of Paris has its own patented color - “Eiffel brown”. It is as close as possible to the real bronze shade of the structure’s structures.

There are more than 300 copies of the famous tower in the world. Several of them are located in Russia: in Moscow, Krasnoyarsk, Perm, Voronezh and Irkutsk.

Eiffel Tower in culture

The famous building has more than once become an object of interest for artists, poets, writers and directors.

The history of the Eiffel Tower is recorded in documentary sources, and its possible future has been shown more than once in apocalyptic films. One of the most interesting films is the documentary “The Future of the Planet: Life After People.” It shows that without maintenance, the Eiffel Tower will not be able to withstand its main enemies for long: rust and wind. In about 150-300 years, its upper part at the level of the third platform will collapse and fall.

But most often the Eiffel Tower can be seen on the canvases of artists. Jean Béraud, known for his genre works depicting everyday life in Paris, created the painting “Near the Eiffel Tower”, in which a Parisian woman gazes in amazement at the huge structure. Marc Chagall dedicated a lot of works to Eiffel's creations.

Conclusion

One of the most recognizable buildings in the world is the Eiffel Tower. France is rightfully proud of this amazing symbol of Paris. The view of the city from the top of the tower is magnificent.


You can admire it any day - the brilliant creation of Gustave Eiffel is open to visitors on weekends.

What should you learn before visiting the Eiffel Tower? Unexpected, but true - take pictures at night! When the big city lights come on, the Eiffel Tower looks especially attractive, and every tourist will confirm this!

So, as you already understand, you need to visit the Eiffel Tower at night. The beautiful illumination of the tower is not only its decoration and a chic background for photography. In the evening, every hour a light show begins here - illumination. You can watch every hour after turning on the main backlight until 01:00. The show lasts 5 minutes and is best watched from the observation deck on Trocadéro Square.


The view of the city at night is unforgettable. But, if you still want to visit it during the daytime, then you must appear here twice, once at night - watch the show, take photos, and the second time - climb to the very top to feel the power of the structure itself, the height of which reaches 300 meters and see Paris within a radius of 70 kilometers!

How to get to the Eiffel Tower

    The best way to get here is by public transport.
  • Metro:
    Bir-Hakeim (M6 – metro line 6)
    Trocadéro (M9 – metro line 9)
  • By train RER:
    Champs de Mars - Tour Eiffel (RER C)
  • By bus:
    Tour Eiffel stop: No. 82, 42;
    Champ de Mars stop: No. 82, 87, 69

Schedule

The Eiffel Tower's opening hours vary depending on the season. The tourist season begins in mid-June and ends in early September; it is during this period that the tower operates longer than usual.

  • elevator and stairs 9:00 - 00:45, open until 24:00, last lift to the third level at 23:00.
  • elevator 9:30 - 23:45, last session at 22:30 - to the second level, at 23:00 - to the third level. 9:30 – 18:30
  • staircase last session at 18:00.

Eiffel Tower levels

The Eiffel Tower is divided into 4 levels: ground level and three floors with observation platforms.

  1. At the ground level there are ATMs, an information board, souvenir shops (in the supports of the tower), a buffet with snacks, hydraulic machines dating back to the foundation of the structure (which can only be seen during the tour), as well as a bust of G. Eiffel, which is located on the corner of the North Pillar .
  2. At an altitude of 57 meters, reconstruction recently took place. Now you can walk along the first floor and see the ground under your feet; the floors here are glass and transparent. Modern computerized information stands have also been added along the terrace. Here you can see the remnant (4.30 meters high) of the staircase that originally led to the very top, to the office of G. Eiffel. Children will be interested in watching the light show, which will tell about the Eiffel Tower in an interesting way. All entertainment services are located in the Ferrié pavilion. A buffet, a relaxation area, a souvenir shop, G. Eiffel's room, which is used for various events, as well as The 58 Tour Eiffel restaurant - all this is located on the first level of the tower.
  3. The second level of the tower, at an altitude of 115 meters, will be no less interesting. In addition to the observation deck, there is a souvenir shop, a buffet with organic snacks, information stands, as well as the Jules Verne restaurant.
  4. At an altitude of more than 276 meters there is an observation deck of the Eiffel Tower, which offers a gorgeous view of the capital. This is where advanced tourists tend to come, so that, impressed by what they see, they can drink a glass of champagne in the Champange bar (by the way, it’s not a cheap pleasure!) In addition, here you can see the recreated office of Gustave Eiffel with wax figures, look at panoramic photographs taken from different observation platforms, as well as get acquainted with the model of the original tower built in 1889 on a scale of 1:50.

Panoramic views from the Eiffel Tower

Separately, I would like to emphasize that you should dress practically here. Bring a windproof jacket as it is windy on the upper areas. Many who have visited the tower in windy weather (which occurs quite often here) claim that the tower sways slightly. Therefore, take care of comfortable clothes and go to conquer the Eiffel Tower.

Photo of the Eiffel Tower



Eiffel Tower Tickets

Ticket prices vary depending on how you go up: on foot or by elevator. If your plans do not include visiting the upper platform, then you can save money by climbing on foot. But if you want to visit the third level, you will have to pay for an elevator that will take you from the first to the third level and back.

Ticket prices up to the second level (115 meters):

  • Walking adult: 7 euros
  • Walking youth (12-24 years): 5 euros
  • Walking for children (4-11 years old): 3 euros
  • By elevator adult: 11 euros
  • By youth elevator: 8.50 euros

Ticket prices up to the third level (276 meters):

  • Adult: 17 euros
  • Youth (12-24 years): 14.50 euros
  • Child (4-11 years): 8 euros

Skip the line to the Eiffel Tower

Near the Eiffel Tower there is always a crowd of tourists and giant queues. Those who don’t know how to avoid a three-hour standstill stand in a general queue at the ticket office, and then stand in line for the elevator, which takes you to all levels of the tower. The activity is tedious and brings little pleasure, isn’t it?


The way out of the situation is extremely simple - you need to buy a ticket in advance for a certain date and day. This can be done via the Internet. Since the method is known to many, it may happen that tickets for the day you need may be sold out. In rare cases it may work, but it is unlikely. Therefore, you need to look for tickets three months before your planned visit to Paris. Such tickets go on sale at 8:30 am local time and are sold out in the first hours.


If the date is not important, then you can find a ticket a month before the visit. By printing your ticket, you will be able to enter the Eiffel Tower without queuing, as long as you are not more than 30 minutes late from the visiting time indicated on your ticket. Therefore, it is better to be in the tower lobby 10 minutes before the indicated time.

The second way is to buy a tour, the price of which includes a skip-the-line visit to the Eiffel Tower.

Panoramic restaurants

It is worth briefly mentioning the restaurants of the Eiffel Tower. Prices are very high, and they grow exponentially with each level.

From the windows 58 Tour Eiffel(first level) offers a magnificent view of the Seine and the famous Trocadero. The cozy spacious rooms of the restaurant are ideal for both a romantic dinner and a gala reception (up to 200 guests).


Lunch, which costs about 50 euros, consists of three courses and a drink. The menu may include seafood, truffles, lamb and vegetables, salmon fillet with chestnut puree, dessert and a good wine list. Dinner provides a more interesting menu. For example, an appetizer of the client’s choice, a glass of champagne, a main course, an original dessert and coffee will cost about 140 euros per person. A table must be reserved in advance.

Having booked a table at Le Jules Verne(second level) the window offers a panoramic view of Paris from a 124-meter height. The luxurious interior is furnished with antique furniture, and first-class service, pleasant music and an impressive collection of wines justify such an impressive price tag on the menu.


A lunch of onion soup and cold foie gras with fig jam plus pistachio cakes will cost 90 euros, and a lobster dinner will cost at least 200 euros.

Located on the top level Champagne Bar, where you can buy a glass of real French champagne. 100 ml of champagne will cost from 13 to 22 euros.

In a word, if you don’t go broke, you can reduce the thickness of your wallet by eating at the Eiffel Tower and drinking a glass of champagne. Decide, as they say, whether you need it or not.

History of the Eiffel Tower

In 1889, with the celebration of the centenary of the revolution, the government of the Third Republic planned to shock the public. The next world trade and industrial exhibition was timed to coincide with the anniversary of democracy. Innovations in production technologies and the emergence of new types of products required widespread advertising. The exposition was a symbol of industrialization and an open platform for demonstrating the achievements of industry. This type of presentation of products and technologies began to be carried out on an ongoing basis.

Architects, wanting to look into the future and capture the imagination of visitors, proposed various options for the appearance of the pavilions. One of the original structures was a 115-meter indoor gallery of machines.

Particular attention was paid to the design of the entrance portal. The organizers organized a special competition. More than a hundred projects were proposed for consideration. Among them was a structure in the form of a huge guillotine - a symbol of the French Revolution. The main requirements were the following:

  • originality of architectural appearance;
  • economic efficiency;
  • Possibility of dismantling after the end of the exhibition.


The proposal of G. Eiffel’s company, which designed a steel tower 300 m high, could not have come at a better time. There were no precedents for this structure in the world. However, engineering calculations were based on significant experience in the construction of railway bridges, the complexity and responsibility of the structures was not inferior to the planned tower. Well, the futuristic design was beyond competition.

These arguments persuaded the commission members in favor of Eiffel's proposal, and he was granted the privilege of the invention. Company engineers Maurice Koehlen and Emile Nugier took part in the creation of the project.

Parisians did not share the optimism of the exhibition organizers. The general public, fearing that the cyclopean structure would spoil the special architectural appearance of the capital, was seriously up in arms against both Eiffel himself and the organizing committee. Shortly after the publication of the results of the competition, the Parisian newspaper “Le Temps” (Time) published a protest by prominent art figures, including Guy de Moppasant, E. Zola, A. Dumas (the younger). Writers, artists, and sculptors expressed outrage over the construction of the useless and “terrible Eiffel Tower.” The church did not stand aside either.

Clerics, maintaining general hysteria, predicted the imminent fall of the tower and the subsequent end of the world. The inertia of the clergy, bordering on ignorance, is a very characteristic phenomenon when creating revolutionary projects. Eiffel’s brainchild was branded with all sorts of offensive labels: an iron monster, the skeleton of a bell tower, a sieve in the form of a candle.

But progress and common sense cannot be stopped. The exhibition organizing committee, having approved the construction, provided only less than a quarter of the necessary funds. Eiffel offered to finance the project from his own company if he was given the exclusive right to make a profit during the entire life of its operation. An agreement was reached and the author was given one and a half million francs in gold. The miracle tower was built. The costs were recouped in just a year.

After 20 years of operation, according to the agreement, the tower was to be dismantled. Only the intervention of a powerful lobbyist could save it from demolition. And one was found in the person of the military department. Back in 1898, a transmitter was installed on the upper platform and the first radio communication session was carried out. Eiffel proposed to the Ministry of Defense to use the tower as an antenna to transmit radio signals over long distances. Thus, he was not only the builder, but also the savior of a unique structure, which became the most striking symbol of France.


The "Iron Lady", which glorified its creator, overshadowed his talent as a bridge builder and a brilliant engineer. Few people know that Gustav Eiffel designed the interior structure of the Statue of Liberty in 1885. The engineer himself said with humor that he should be jealous of the tower: the brainchild of a more famous creator.

The new building was not only the personification of creative enthusiasm, but also the embodiment of a technological breakthrough in metallurgy. The material for the tower was a special type of soft iron. It was produced through the puddling process, during which cast iron was converted into low-carbon iron. Strength characteristics allowed architects to realize the most daring plans. Thanks to its lightness and strength, it became possible to build large structures.


Construction began on January 26, 1887 on the Champ de Mars with excavation work to construct a foundation pit. To prevent groundwater from penetrating into the recess, a system of caisson devices used during the construction of bridges was used, which created excess pressure in the working space and prevented the penetration of moisture.

At the same time, continuous production of metal frame parts was launched at the Eiffel plant in the Paris suburb of Lavallois-Parre. The total number of load-bearing and shaped elements reached 18 thousand; two and a half million rivets were made for their assembly. The designers, using the techniques of shipbuilding technologies, meticulously outlined the geometry of each type of segments and the attachment points of riveted and bolted connections down to the micron. Technological holes were drilled at the factory. Already manufactured parts for other structures were also put into use. Each set of metal elements was supplied with detailed drawings and installation recommendations.

To improve the aesthetic appearance of the structure, architect Stefan Sauvestre proposed lining the metal supports of the first tier with decorative stone, as well as constructing arched structures to decorate the main entrance to the exhibition. If this solution had been implemented, the tower would have been deprived of a coherent architectural exterior.

To facilitate installation at high altitudes, the largest fragments of the structure weighed no more than three tons. When the height of the structure being built outgrew the stationary cranes, Eiffel designed original lifting mechanisms that moved along the rail guides of future elevators.



High production standards made it possible to achieve unprecedented rates of construction. During large-scale assembly on a construction site, the need to adjust individual elements was reduced to almost zero - defects in work were eliminated. Only about 300 engineers, craftsmen and installation workers were simultaneously involved in construction. The construction work was completed after two years, two months and five days. Eiffel paid special attention to safety. During the construction period, accidents were avoided; only one person died. This tragic incident had nothing to do with the production process.

On March 31, 1889, Gustav Eiffel invited officials to climb the steps to the top of the tallest structure in the world.

The curvilinear shape of the tower caused a lot of criticism from specialists contemporary to the author of the project. However, Eiffel's daring decision was dictated by the need to withstand significant wind loads and linear expansion of the metal during the hot season. Life has confirmed that the engineer was right: in the entire history of observations, during the most severe hurricane (wind speed reached almost 200 km/h), the top of the tower deviated by only 12 cm.


The structure is an elongated pyramid formed by four inclined columns. The columns, each of which has a separate foundation, are connected at two points: at a height of 57.6 m and 115.7 m. The lower connection is arranged in the shape of an arch. The first platform rests on the vault - a square with a side of 65 m. There is a restaurant of the same name and a souvenir shop. On the second tier - the side of the platform is 35 m - there is also the Jules Verne restaurant and an extensive observation deck. Initially, reservoirs for the hydraulic system of elevator mechanisms were located here. The uppermost platform measures 16 by 16 m. A separate system of passenger elevators lifts visitors to each of the tiers. Two original elevators, installed back in 1899, have survived to this day. If anyone decides to climb to the highest platform on foot, they will have to overcome 1,710 steps.

The main parameters of the tower are as follows:

  • total weight of the structure is 10,100 tons;
  • metal frame weight 7,300 tons;
  • the initial height of the structure is 300.6 m, after the construction of a new antenna in 2010 - 324 m;
  • height of the observation deck 276 m;
  • the longest side length of the base is 125 m.

If all the metal used is melted and poured onto the base area, the height of the array will be only six meters. This indicates the exceptional ergonomics of the design. Every seven years all metal surfaces are painted. This work requires up to 60 tons of material. The tower was painted in different colors in different eras. In recent decades, an original color scheme called “Eiffel brown” has been used.

The opening of the world exhibition was accompanied by the bright, for those times, illumination of the tower. 10 thousand acetylene lamps were used. The lighthouse installed on the top was illuminated with three colors of the French tricolor. At the beginning of the 20th century, an electric lighting system began to be installed on the structure.

In the mid-20s, the famous automobile tycoon Henri Citroen turned the tower into the world's tallest advertisement. Using 125 thousand light bulbs along the entire height, he staged a light show that alternately depicted ten images: shooting stars, the silhouette of the structure, the date of construction and the name of the concern of the same name. This event lasted nine years until 1934. In 1985, Pierre Bidault came up with the idea of ​​illuminating the tower structure from below with spotlights. More than three hundred custom-made lighting fixtures were installed at various levels. At night, sodium lamps painted the metal giant a golden color.


Modern technologies in the lighting industry have made it possible to give the world-famous monument a new look. In 2003, a team of 30 industrial climbers installed a forty-kilometer electrical wiring system, including 20 thousand light bulbs, in a few months. The cost of this update was four and a half million euros.

In May 2006, in honor of the twentieth anniversary of the European Union, the tower was illuminated in blue for the first time. And in 2008, when France presided over the Council of Europe, for six months the building was distinguished by its original illumination: a blue background with gold stars. It should be noted that the lighting system of the main symbol of France is an original design and is protected by copyright law.

How to get there

Address: 5 Avenue Anatole France, Paris 75007
Telephone: +33 892 70 12 39
Website: tour-eiffel.fr‎
Metro: Bir-Hakeim
RER train: Champ de Mars - Tour Eiffel
Working hours: 9:00 - 23:00; 9:00 - 02:00 (summer)

Ticket price

  • Adult: 17 €
  • Reduced: 14.5 €
  • Child: 10 €