Show the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The Eiffel Tower (Paris) is a symbol of France. Caring for the Iron Lady

In the 4th arrondissement of Paris there is a site included in the UNESCO World Heritage List - the Saint-Jacques Tower. It was built in 1523 in true Gothic style, financed by the butchers' guild. In the past, the tower was the bell tower of the ancient, still Romanesque church of Saint-Jacques-la-Boucherie, where “boucherie” means butcher’s shop. Since the church belonged to the people, the top of the revolutionary government in 1797 decided to dismantle it, giving the stones for construction to those in need, but the bell tower remained untouched.

The height of this structure is impressive - 52 meters, which was the reason why the tower was then rented by a shot caster for hunting. Melting, the lead fell from a great height through special sieves into barrels of cold water and turned into balls of the required size. Since this area is on the way to the holy Spanish site of Santiago de Compostela to the tomb of the Apostle James, many pilgrims pass through it every year.

The famous French physicist Blaise Pascal, in 1648, used the Saint-Jacques Tower for scientific purposes, namely, he first began to measure and compare the atmospheric pressure at the highest point of the building. In memory of the scientist, in this tower, the residents of Paris installed his marble statue, where 19 statues of revered saints were already kept. In 1981, a meteorological station was installed in the tower on its roof.

Observation deck of the Montparnasse Tower

The Eiffel Tower is far from the only place from which it is convenient to admire Paris, looking down on it. The Montparnasse Tower in Paris is at least a good observation deck, and its popularity in this role is steadily growing.

Montparnasse, although not the largest building in the city, provides its visitors with a wonderful opportunity to explore Paris from a height of two hundred meters, with a view open to all four corners of the world. Since the platform is glazed, nothing interferes with the contemplation of the majestic views of Paris, even if bad weather is raging around. The observation deck closes late in the evening, which gives its visitors an excellent chance to enjoy the views of evening Paris, gradually plunging into twilight and lighting up its colorful lights.

For those who dream of viewing Paris from above, the observation deck on the fifty-sixth floor of the Montparnasse Tower is an excellent choice.

Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is an elegant silhouette of France that has captured the hearts of the whole world (the tower is the most visited and most photographed landmark in the world). The tower was erected on the Champ de Mars (in 1889) opposite the Jena Bridge over the Seine River. The symbol of Paris was conceived as a temporary structure - Eiffel's creation served as the entrance arch to the Paris World Exhibition of 1889. The tower was saved from planned demolition (20 years after the exhibition) by radio antennas installed at the very top.

The height of the tower is 322 meters and the landmark is supported by four huge pylons with a cement base.

The tower is divided into three levels: the first is at a height of 57 m, the second is 115 and the third is 274. On the first two platforms there are restaurants and bars. On platform 3 there is a lighthouse with a dome, above which there is an observation deck at an altitude of 274 meters. "See Paris and die."

Locals consider the famous metal structure an inappropriate curiosity for tourists, but you must agree: there is definitely something in it!

Montparnasse Tower

The Montparnasse Tower is the only skyscraper in the city limits of Paris. Construction lasted three years, from 1969 to 1972, on the site of the old Montparnasse station. After the appearance of such a defiantly modern building in the historical center of the city, a ban was imposed on the construction of such skyscrapers.

The size of the tower is quite impressive: 209 meters above the ground and almost 70 meters underground. Its 52 floors are dedicated to offices, and the remaining 7 are intended for tourists. There are cafes, observation decks and even a mini-gallery of paintings illustrating the history of Paris. Here you can see copies of unique maps of the French capital from almost a century ago and compare them with the city spread out outside the window.

In good weather, visibility from the top platform of the skyscraper (which is essentially an equipped helipad) reaches forty kilometers. Moreover, the view from Montparnasse is considered better than from the Eiffel Tower, because the building is located closer to the historical center of Paris.

Another highlight of the Montparnasse Tower is the high-speed elevators - the fastest elevators in Europe. They will take you to a height of 200 meters in just 38 seconds.

Tower Saint-Jacques

The bell tower of Saint-Jacques, built in the Flaming Gothic style, is all that remains of the Church of Saint-Jacques de la Boucherie, built with money from the butchers' guild in the name of the Apostle James in 1523. In the Middle Ages, pilgrims gathered at its walls going to Spain to Santiago de Compostella, where, according to legend, the tomb of the apostle was located.

The height of the tower is 52 meters. Its upper corners are completed by figures symbolizing the four evangelists: an eagle, a lion, a calf and - the tallest - an angel. There are 19 sculptures of saints in the outer niches on the walls. They were installed during a large-scale restoration in the second half of the 19th century.

The names of two great people are associated with the Saint-Jacques Tower: Nicolas Flamel and Blaise Pascal. Nicolas Flamel was spoken of as the only alchemist who understood the secret of the philosopher's stone and learned to turn lead into gold. He made a pilgrimage to Spain from here, and was buried in the church of Saint-Jacques de la Boucherie, which was demolished during the revolution.

In 1648, the French scientist Blaise Pascal conducted experiments on measuring atmospheric pressure at the Saint-Jacques Tower. The French honored the memory of Pascal by erecting a monument to him here.

Tower TF1

Tower TF1 is located in France. In the western suburbs of Paris is the commune of Boulogne-Billancourt, the most densely populated area of ​​the French capital. Boulogne is an industrial area, one of the economic centers of the Paris region.

Among a large number of different enterprises and offices, the TF1 tower is located - the headquarters of the French television channel TF1. This is a fourteen-story skyscraper, 59 meters high and with a total area of ​​45,000 square meters, which is located on the Point du jour promenade. The skyscraper was erected in 1992, according to the drawings and plans of the architect Roger Sobo, known for the construction of several other high-rise buildings.

The television channel TF1 is very popular in France. It was he who stood at the origins of the nascent French television. Back in 1948, with the popularization of television, a directorate of television programs was created. It began to be called: “Radio-Television-Française” (RTF), then the organization became known as ORTF, which emphasized the state monopoly. In 1974, the state dissolved ORTF and divided it into three television companies, one of which was TF-1. Gradually it was privatized and in 1987 it completely came under the control of the new owners. TF-1 has a strong image of a channel that corresponds to the mood of “middle France”.


Sights of Paris

A visit to the Eiffel Tower is on the priority to-do list of every self-respecting tourist. For some, it is enough to take a photo against its background, for others it is important to go up to the observation deck, and others rush here at night to see the hourly light show - illumination and take a few pictures when the contours of the tower are up to 01: 00 are illuminated by backlight.

How to get to the Eiffel Tower

  • By metro: Bir-Hakeim (M6), Trocadéro (M9)
  • By train RER C: Champs de Mars - Tour Eiffel
  • By bus: Tour Eiffel: No. 82, 42; Champ de Mars: No. 82, 87, 69

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: 10.20 euros
  • Walking youth (12-24 years): 5.10 euros
  • Walking children (4-11 years): 2.50 euros
  • By elevator adult: 16.30 euros
  • By youth elevator: 8.10 euros
  • Child: 4.10 euros

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

  • Adult: 25.50 euros
  • Youth (12-24 years): 12.70 euros
  • Child (4-11 years): 6.40 euros

Combination ticket to the third level (stairs + elevator)

  • Adult: 19.40 euros
  • Youth (12-24 years): 9.70 euros
  • Child (4-11 years): 4.90 euros

Schedule

The rest of the year:

  • 9:30 - 23:45 - elevator; last session at 22:30 - to the second level, at 23:00 - to the third level.
  • 9:30 - 18:30 - stairs; 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



  • (price: 43.00 €, 2.5 hours)
  • (price: 25.00 €, 3 hours)
  • (price: 45.00 €, 3 hours)

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.

  • (62.50 €)
  • (43.00 €)

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 €
Updated: 04/04/2019

The Eiffel Tower is a symbol of France. To build this beauty, we had to win a lot of arguments, because when creating the plan for such a structure, there were a large number of people who were unhappy with the construction and considered the idea a failure.

Location:

Located on what was previously a military parade ground. Now the field is divided into alleys, which are decorated in the same style: fountains, flower beds, walking paths.

Construction project approval:

1889 An exhibition was held in France, where technical innovations were to be demonstrated. The exhibition was dedicated to the centenary of the storming of the Bastille. Letters were sent to all architects in France stating that a competition was being announced for the best structure that would be suitable for the exhibition. The authorities reported that this building should be an arch. The letter arrived and Gustave Eiffel, but since he did not have a ready-made drawing, he began to look for old works. I found a drawing that was created by Eiffel employee Maurice Cachelin. With the help of Emile Nouguier, the project was finalized and presented at the competition. During the competition, Eiffel and Nouguier received a patent for the Eiffel Tower, after which he bought the patent from Keshlin and Nouguier, thereby becoming the only architect.

The competition was coming to an end and only 4 works remained, one of which was the work of Eiffel. The commission took his side.

Eiffel Tower

Construction.

Construction of the Eiffel Tower began on January 28, 1887. The creation of this structure took two years, two months and five days. For that time, these were short deadlines, and all because the plan had no inaccuracies, everything was thought out. The weight and length of each beam were thought out in advance. The tower was assembled from previously manufactured parts, like a construction set. Holes for screws and rivets were drilled before delivery to the construction site. In total, about two million rivets were used during construction.

French Commune: the first working class government in France

One of the most difficult tasks during construction was the construction of platforms on each floor. Metal cylinders filled with sand held the weight of 4 supports. While removing sand from the cylinders, the platform could take the desired position.

Expert opinion

Knyazeva Victoria

Guide to Paris and France

Ask a question to an expert

8 million francs were allocated for the construction of the Eiffel Tower. This amount was earned during the six-month exhibition.

Main characteristics

The height of the Eiffel Tower is 300 m, and after the antenna appears on it, it is 324 meters. Compared to the Statue of Liberty, it was much larger in size. Weight reached 10 thousand tons

Expert opinion

Knyazeva Victoria

Guide to Paris and France

Ask a question to an expert

After the tower is painted, its weight increases by 60 tons

The fate of the symbol of France.

An agreement was concluded with Eiffel according to which the tower should be demolished 20 years after construction.

Why wasn't the Eiffel Tower demolished?

  • popularity
  • had no analogues or competitors in size and appearance
  • with the advent of radio, it was of strategic importance (there was a radio studio there and an antenna was installed on the tower, which transmitted a radio signal throughout France)

There were also opponents of the Eiffel Tower: artists and writers.

These people believed that the tower looked like a chimney, which spoiled the individual appearance of Paris.

Design

It has the shape of a pyramid. Consists of three sites. On the first two there are restaurants, and on the third there is a laboratory for studying meteorology. The pyramidal structure most actively protects the tower from strong winds, because at an altitude of 300 meters the wind moves at high speed.

Eiffel Tower (France) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.

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Nowadays no one can imagine Paris without the Eiffel Tower, and most Parisians, if they didn’t fall in love with it, at least managed to come to terms with it. But this was not always the case - after its construction, it caused strong dissatisfaction among many townspeople, who found it extremely awkward. Hugo and Maupassant, for example, repeatedly insisted that the tower should be removed from the streets of Paris.

Initially, the structure was planned to be dismantled in 1909, 20 years after its construction - but after stunning commercial success, the tower received “eternal registration.”

However, most tourists always admire the Eiffel Tower. Even after 120 years, it remains the tallest building in Paris and the fifth tallest in all of France. Despite its majestic dimensions, its total weight does not exceed 10 thousand tons, it exerts pressure behind the ground equal to the pressure of a person sitting on a chair, and if all the metal of the tower is melted into a single block, it will occupy an area of ​​25 by 5 m and will be only 6 cm in height! However, in our time, the construction of a similar structure would require three times less metal - technology does not stand still.

France will be the only country to have a 300-meter flagpole!

Gustave Eiffel

The most patriotic Parisian

During the German occupation, Hitler visited Paris and wanted to climb the Eiffel Tower. However, the Fuhrer’s wish did not come true: the elevator broke down just in time, and Hitler left with nothing. After such an embarrassment, the Germans spent 4 years trying to repair the ill-fated lift. In vain - the German craftsmen could not figure out the mechanism, and the French just shrugged their shoulders - there are no spare parts! However, in 1944, literally a few hours after the liberation of Paris, the elevator miraculously started working and has been working without interruption to this day.

"Eiffel Brown"

It is curious that the Eiffel Tower is probably the only building in the world that has its own patented color - Eiffel Brown, which gives the tower a bronze tint. Before that, she changed several colors - she was yellow, red-brown, and ocher. Recently, the tower has been repainted every 7 years, and in total this procedure was carried out 19 times. Each painting requires about 60 tons of paint (as well as about 1.5 thousand brushes and 2 hectares of protective mesh), so over time the tower still continues to gain weight. And not only in weight - due to new antennas, its height is gradually increasing: today it is 324 m, and this is far from the limit.

In fact, the Eiffel Tower is not at all monochromatic, as it might seem at first. It is painted in three different shades of bronze - from the darkest on the first level to the lighter on the third. This is done so that the tower looks more harmonious against the sky.

Everyone can buy a piece of the Eiffel Tower, and we are not talking about souvenirs with its image, but about the original itself - since the time of Gustave Eiffel, the “Iron Lady” has belonged to a private company, and its shares are traded on the stock exchange.

8 Paris attractions you can visit for free:

Perhaps, if you conduct a survey among travelers about which landmark is the most recognizable in the world, the main symbol of Paris, the Eiffel Tower, will undoubtedly win.

Eiffel Tower of Paris - world famous landmark of France

Like many unusual attractions, the construction of the Eiffel Tower in Paris was assessed extremely ambiguously by residents. During the period of its construction (late 19th century: 1887-1889), many residents, and especially the intelligentsia of Paris, objected to its construction, arguing that a metal tower towering over the capital of France would disrupt its appearance and would not fit into the architectural ensemble of Paris. Among those who opposed the construction of the Eiffel Tower were Guy de Maupassant and Alexandre Dumas fils (in particular, calling it a “factory chimney”).

It is noteworthy that it was originally planned that the tower would last only twenty years and then be dismantled (there were objections to the construction of the tower even when the authorities promised to dismantle it in 20 years).

However, after the metal monument was built and opened to visitors, it was an incredible success among residents and visitors of Paris. In just the first six months, more than 2 million people visited it. The best hotels in Paris have begun to be located near the Eiffel Tower. This trend in the tourism business of Paris continues in our time - many consider it a great success to book a hotel with a view of the Eiffel Tower.

In less than two years, profits from tourists compensated for all costs associated with construction (money was invested in construction by Parisian banks, as well as by the architect Eiffel himself, the designer and creator of this majestic structure).

Therefore, it is not surprising that the life of the tower was extended for seventy years, after which no one would dare to raise the question of dismantling the tower.

The square in front of the Palais de Chaillot with the Eiffel Tower, every Parisian tourist must see this!

The cost of entry to the Eiffel Tower depends on several points. If you want to take the elevator to the very top, then you will have to part with the amount of 15 euros, and if you are content with traveling only to the second floor - 9 euros. If you strain yourself and walk up the stairs, the ticket price will become completely unburdensome - only 5 euros. Entrance to the tower floor is every thirty minutes.

Eiffel Tower photo

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Tower in Paris

At the end of the 19th century, it was unheard of for Gustave Alexandre Eiffel to conceive a 300-meter tower made of metal. At that time it was the tallest building. Many of his contemporaries were against this, as they believed that the “monstrous and useless” iron structure would disfigure the exquisite appearance of the capital. But the country's leadership and government wanted to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Great French Revolution and the World Exhibition in 1889 dedicated to this event.

Winter. Metal. Class!

Construction has begun. The pits were dug five meters below the level of the Seine, blocks ten meters thick were laid in them, and hydraulic presses were installed into these foundations to precisely adjust the vertical position of the tower. The estimated mass of the tower was 5 thousand tons. At first, Eiffel wanted to decorate his creation with sculptures and decorations installed on platforms, but in the end, all that remained of all this were openwork arches. And at the beginning of the century, the fate of the tower was again under threat, everything was moving towards dismantling. But with the advent of radio, the tower began to perform practical functions, then it “worked” for television, then it began to perform radar functions.

The structure has three different platforms, at heights of 60, 140 and 275 meters, and can be reached by five elevators, which were once hydraulic but have now been electrified. In each “leg” of the tower, elevators will take you to the second platform, and the fifth of them can lift you to a height of all 275 m. Mysterious fact: Eiffel himself designed these elevators, and for fifty years they worked properly until the Nazis entered Paris in 1940. They broke unexpectedly and exactly for the period while the German occupation continued. The entrance to the tower was closed. The enemies never had to look down on the city. No Berlin engineers could fix the mechanisms, but the French technician managed it in half an hour. The tricolor flag once again rose over the city on the Eiffel Tower.

The first platform at the base is more than 4 thousand meters, the second - 1.4 thousand, the third is a small two-story square platform 18x18 meters, one of the floors is open. At the very top there is a small laboratory where Eiffel also worked, and above it there is a gallery where the lantern is turned on. After all, the tower's floodlights are a guide for aircraft and ships; it also houses a special weather station that studies atmospheric electricity, environmental pollution and radiation.

Interesting facts about the Eiffel Tower in Paris

In what year was the Eiffel Tower built, the height of the Eiffel Tower and other background information

  • How long did it take to build the Eiffel Tower?: Construction of the Eiffel Tower begins: January 28, 1887. Construction lasted a little over 2 years and 2 months. Date: completion of construction is considered March 31, 1889.
  • How old is the Eiffel Tower: in 2014, the symbol of Paris celebrated 125 years. Over the years, any inhabitant of the Earth can no longer imagine France without a light lace tower rushing upward.
  • How many meters is the Eiffel Tower: tower height 324 m to the tip of the antenna spire. The height of the Eiffel Tower in meters without antenna is 300.64 m.
  • Which is taller: Eiffel Tower or Statue of Liberty: The height of the Statue of Liberty from the ground to the tip of the torch is 93 meters, including the base and pedestal. The height of the statue itself, from the top of the pedestal to the torch, is 46 meters.
  • How much does the Eiffel Tower weigh?: Metal structure weight - 7,300 tons (total weight approximately 10,100 tons). The tower is completely made of 18,038 metal parts, for the fastening of which 2.5 million rivets were used
  • Who built the Eiffel Tower: Gustave Eiffel is the head of the engineering office that won the patent for the design and construction of the tower. The developers and architects of the project were: Maurice Kechelin, Emile Nouguier, Stéphane Sauvestre.