What is the name of the tower in Paris? The Eiffel Tower (Paris) is a symbol of France. Facts about the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is not just a symbol of Paris or France. This is a world famous landmark. The structure, called by the author a “300-meter tower,” is today one of the must-see sites for tourists.

More than 7 million people visit the tower every year. It is undoubtedly the most famous man-made object in Paris. If you ask people who have never been to the French capital what they know about the city, most will confidently answer: “The Eiffel Tower is there.”

Eiffel Tower: monument to the hundredth anniversary of the French Revolution

The main symbol of the French capital is today considered the most popular “commercial” (that is, one whose visit is paid for) attraction in the world. But during design and construction, this structure not only received no attention, but was also an object of ridicule for the townspeople. The design did not fit into the architectural ensemble of the city so much that its construction caused a wave of criticism.

Gustave Eiffel, by the way, is not the sole “father” of the tower. The World Exhibition of 1889, timed to coincide with the hundredth anniversary of the French Revolution, caused widespread excitement. On the Champ de Mars, in the center of Paris, the organizers decided to erect a monument in honor of a significant event in the history of the country. It was also supposed to serve as the entrance to the exhibition. A consulting and construction company owned by Eiffel, a famous bridge builder at the time, presented its own concept among others.

The author of the idea was an employee of the company with whom the owner of the engineering office had previously collaborated - Maurice Keshlen. Together they had worked several years earlier to create metal fittings for the equally famous Statue of Liberty in the United States. Keshlen's drawings were finalized by another hired architect, Emil Nurie (by the way, he also took part in the creation of the original sketch, developed back in 1884).

107 works took part in the competition announced by the government, many of which were worthy of attention. After Eiffel's design was approved as the winning design, architect Stéphane Sauvestre made a number of changes to ensure the design's "artistic value".

The initially presented version of the Eiffel Tower did not have much sophistication and represented a transfer of bridge building principles to the vertical plane. Before the design changes were made, the drawings showed a pyramidal column, the four supports of which, rising upward, were gradually united. Thanks to Sovestre, the tower received decorative elements, arches, glass halls, stone cladding of supports, etc.

The fate of a unique project

It is interesting that in the first half of the 19th century. metal construction was just beginning to gain popularity, winning the “field” from stone architecture. Durable cast iron, which appeared in the middle of the century, became one of the key stages in the transformation of construction. It is worth understanding that Eiffel, who chose this material, was also an entrepreneur, one of whose tasks was the intention to demonstrate the suitability of the material for large-scale work. Let us note that all participants in the competition had two goals set by the organizers: self-sufficiency of the project and the possibility of demolition after the end of the exhibition.

Eiffel was a very enterprising man, so he was able to competently assess the prospects of the project. As a result, having received a patent together with Keshlen and Nurie, he then bought all the rights to the design from them.

Looking ahead, let's say that they tried to make money on the Eiffel Tower in very original ways. For example, for nine whole years (until 1936) the building was used as a giant billboard: 125 thousand multi-colored light bulbs, flashing alternately, at Christmas 1925, formed an image of the building itself, star rain, zodiac signs and, finally, turned into the inscription “Citroën ”, which flared up regularly after sunset in subsequent years. The automaker's name was displayed on three sides of the tower.

From pillars to flagpole: the “birth” of the Eiffel Tower

It would seem that the construction of such a significant facility for an event that was planned to attract millions of guests from all over the world should have been financed by the government. But no, the Executive Committee of the Exhibition allocated only 25% of the required amount for the work. As a result, with a budget of 7.8 million francs, 2.5 million were personally invested by Eiffel. A significant portion of all funds were raised and loans.

Eiffel was not a man willing to make sacrifices to his own detriment. He entered into an agreement with representatives of state authorities and the capital municipality, according to which the building was given to him for an operating lease for 25 years. During this period, the architect received all income from the work of the Eiffel Tower.

The construction itself, which was quite complex for the end of the last century, was carried out at an accelerated pace. Thanks to the involvement of 300 workers, as well as an original solution for the preparation of structural parts, the work was completed on time. The construction of the Eiffel Tower was reminiscent of assembling a construction kit: rivets were prepared in advance, holes for them were drilled in the beams, and the beams themselves were of such a size that their weight did not exceed 3 tons. This made it possible to use mobile cranes that moved along the rails of future elevators. Of the 18 thousand parts, there was not a single one that had not been calculated in advance to the nearest millimeter. As a result, in two years and two months (and another five days), the construction was completed. Even today, this result looks impressive, given the scale: the metal elements of the Eiffel Tower alone weigh 7.3 thousand tons, and the weight of the entire structure reaches 10 thousand tons.

The first walk to the top of Eiffel's brainchild was made by Parisian officials. Among them, several of the most physically resilient were selected - the visit to the top was not easy, because they had to climb 1,710 steps.

Of course, such a test was not offered to ordinary citizens - an elevator had to take guests upstairs. The first lifting structure was very inconvenient: it worked thanks to hydraulic pumps. The pressure in them was created using two large containers of water. In winter they could not work, which created difficulties in getting to the upper tiers. Currently, electric motors for elevators are installed on the Eiffel Tower, but the old structures have also been preserved, and those interested can inspect them.

Eiffel Tower - construction
Eiffel Tower - After opening

Above are only the stars

The three-hundred-meter structure, built between January 26, 1887 and March 31, 1889, was considered the tallest building in the world until 1930. The author himself called his project “the tallest flagpole.” Overall height at 300 m at that time it was almost twice the “record” of the previous giant - the 169-meter Washington Monument. 31 years after the opening of the Iron Lady, the New York Chrysler Building rose 304 m, ahead of the French Lady. The status quo was restored in 1957, when a television antenna appeared on the top of the Eiffel Tower. The total height of the structure reached 320.75 m. But by that time, the Empire State Building, which had grown up in Manhattan, had already captured the championship. Meanwhile, the “growth” of the Eiffel Tower is still very impressive - it can be compared to an 81-story skyscraper.

It should be noted that from the first years of the tower’s existence, this height attracted extreme sports enthusiasts, some of whom paid with their lives for crazy stunts on one of the most recognizable landmarks in Europe. Already in 1912, Franz Reichelt, a tailor, died here when he tried to take off from the first floor using the “cloak parachute” he invented. And 14 years later, pilot Leon Collot died here when he tried to fly an airplane under the tier of the Eiffel Tower, but caught the antenna.

It is surprising that with its enormous height, the Eiffel Tower is almost unaffected by even the strongest winds. Thus, during the hurricane of 1999, a 12-centimeter tilt of the structure was recorded. This figure is actually an excellent indicator for such an original building. It shows the skill of the architect, who was able to ensure the mobility of the structure due to storms by no more than 15 cm. Achieving safety under wind loads was a very important point, since the world still remembered the collapse of the longest bridge at that time, Tay Bridge. This crossing, unable to withstand the gust of wind, fell along with the train on it. But we must not forget that Eiffel demonstrated with his tower the reliability and promise of metal frames for high-rise construction.

At the same time, it is very interesting that the sun has a much greater impact on the Eiffel Tower. The side of the structure facing the luminary expands from heating, which leads to a deviation of the top to the side by up to 18 cm.

The Eiffel Tower is a symbol of Paris, the main attraction of France

The first critics of the Eiffel Tower

Not everyone was inspired by the construction plans. Today we consider the Eiffel Tower one of the symbols of romance. A century ago, Parisians were very wary of an alien element in the ensemble of urban architecture. Even before the construction work began, 300 representatives of the French intelligentsia prepared a manifesto in which they expressed their outrage at the appearance of the “useless and monstrous” Eiffel Tower in the capital. Sculptors, architects and simply “passionate admirers of beauty” noted that Parisian art and the history of the city were under threat. The “pearl” of world urban planning, Paris, according to the authors of the manifesto, was supposed to lose its elegance. The “giant black factory chimney” was expected to depress buildings so dear to the hearts of the residents of the capital, such as Notre Dame and the Palace of the Invalids. The message was published in the newspaper Le Temps on St. Valentina.

The fact that the Eiffel Tower was still built, despite the protest, which was joined by eminent citizens of the French Republic, shows how high the authority of the author of the project was in the eyes of the authorities. And he turned out to be right - the result of the courageous work of hundreds of workers over the course of two years became known to almost the whole world within a few days.

Despite the comments of contemporaries who called the structure “the tallest lamppost,” “an iron monster,” and “the skeleton of a bell tower,” time has put everything in its place. Already in the first year of operation, the structure was visited by more than 2 million people. At the same time, construction costs were fully recouped within 10 months; in 1989 alone, tourists returned 2/3 of all costs. And today the Eiffel Tower is not inferior in popularity to tourists to the famous hill.

Practical significance of the Eiffel Tower

The design turned out to be so successful that literally from the first years it was used for various kinds of experiments. The Parisian government planned to receive its share of the benefits from the existence of the Eiffel Tower after its dismantling by dismantling the structure for scrap metal. But Eiffel himself saved his brainchild from possible destruction, inviting the city to use the most high building cities as a radio antenna.

And even earlier, General Ferrier used the upper tier for his experiments with wireless telegraphy. By the way, it was here that one of the first telephone sessions in the country took place - between the Eiffel Tower and, in 1898. At the same time, Eiffel, who understood that he needed to find arguments in favor of the continued preservation of the building, financed experiments with wireless telegraphy with his own money. As a result, the ability to send and receive messages was highly appreciated by city officials. Understanding the importance of this method of communication, they extended the concession with the architect, although the contract expired in 1909.

Today, the Eiffel Tower serves not only as a place of pilgrimage for tourists, but also as a support for dozens of different antennas, including television ones. More than 100 of them provide reception and transmission of signals around the world. The antennas on the tower brought practical benefits to the armed forces. The French military used them to intercept enemy communications from Berlin during the First World War. It was thanks to them that the French were able to carry out a counter-offensive at the Battle of the Marne, when it became known that the Germans had stopped their advance in this direction.

In 1917, a coded message between Germany and France detailing the "Operative H-21" was intercepted from the Eiffel Tower. This message became one of the proofs of the guilt of Mata Hari, who was accused of spying for Germany and later executed.

Eiffel Tower - first level
Interior of Jules Verne restaurant
Eiffel Tower - elevator and stairs

Eiffel Tower: Historical facts

By the way, about Germany. Perhaps the only person who visited the Eiffel Tower and was unable to climb it was a “tourist” who did not experience any health problems. During the war, right before this guest’s visit, the elevator cable “accidentally” broke, so Adolf Hitler was never able to see Paris from a height of 300 meters. It was Hitler who wanted to end the existence of the structure: during the retreat of the German army, the Parisian military commandant was given the order to blow up this structure, like many other landmarks of Paris. Fortunately, he had enough prudence not to carry out the Fuhrer’s order.

The Eiffel Tower has long served as an object of scientific research. At the top of the structure, a laboratory was organized in which French scientists and the author of the tower himself conducted experiments and studied astronomy, meteorology, aerodynamics and physiology. In 1909, a wind tunnel was installed at the foot of the building, in which thousands of tests were carried out. Including the Wright brothers' planes and Porsche cars.

In memory of the French scientists and engineers, under the first balcony the names of the “List of 72” were engraved on the metal, which mainly included representatives of the exact sciences. By the way, a very loud scandal was associated with it on the part of representatives of feminist movements: among the names immortalized there is not a single woman. At the beginning of the 20th century. the names were painted over, but the Société Nouvelle d’exploitation de la Tour Eiffe company restored the inscriptions in 1986.

Eiffel Tower - evening illumination
Eiffel Tower - illuminated in the colors of the EU flag

Caring for the Iron Lady

Once every seven years, this gigantic structure undergoes painting. Over its history, it has been repainted in different colors. The first paint that was applied to the structure was reddish-brown. In subsequent decades, the Iron Lady was successively covered in yellow, tan and chestnut. For the last few decades, the tower has been painted in a specially developed and patented shade of “Eiffel Brown” - similar to the natural shade of bronze. This color was mixed in 1968 and has not changed its composition since then. During the painting of the Eiffel Tower, up to 60 tons of dyes are used, and the time required for their application is from 15 to 18 months.

Since the Eiffel Tower is open to tourists 365 days a year, it is not surprising that regular cleaning is carried out here: to clean all tiers of debris and traces of the presence of guests, 4 tons of cleaning cloths, 400 liters of detergent, 25 thousand garbage bags are required. All this is done to make visiting the main attraction of the French capital both interesting and pleasant. By the way, people with disabilities are also taken care of here. Thus, guests confined to a wheelchair can take the elevator to the second level. However, there are no restrictions on movement. Surprisingly, each of the elevators travels more than 100 thousand km per year. common path.

Today the Eiffel Tower belongs to the city, and is managed by a special company hired by the Paris City Hall. In 2010, a new antenna was installed on the top, and the height of the structure reached 324 meters.

Thousands of Eiffel Tower lanterns

At the time the tower was built, its lighting consisted of two floodlights at the top and 10 thousand gas lamps. In 2003, the lighting of the structure was once again modernized. Today, the Eiffel Tower is shrouded in almost 40 kilometers of wires that power 20 thousand lamps specially designed for the tower. The new lighting cost 4.6 million euros. The Eiffel Tower's illumination turns on at nightfall, and at the beginning of every hour, for three minutes, the tower sparkles with a stunning radiance - flashing silver lights. A lighthouse shines from the top of the tower, rotating around its axis and emitting two powerful light beams.

By the way, lighting is often used during festive or, on the contrary, tragic events. Then the illumination is completely turned off as a sign of solidarity with those affected by terrorist attacks, or the flag of the country in which the tragedy occurred is projected onto the structure.

What to see inside the Eiffel Tower?

On the first floor of the Eiffel Tower, which is relatively low above the ground (only 57 m), guests will experience the incredible sensation of walking on a glass floor. There is no need to be afraid, it is completely safe. But an unforgettable experience is guaranteed. There is a buffet, a modest museum with exhibits from the history of the Iron Lady, and a cinema showing a film about the tower. In a special store you can stock up on souvenirs, admire the view of Paris from the seating area and see part of the old staircase that once led to Eiffel’s office. On the ground floor there is also a restaurant - the famous “58 Tour Eiffel ».

The second floor is located at a level of 115 m above the ground. You can also climb it by elevator or stairs. Hikers should be prepared for 674 steps. Almost the same number of steps need to be climbed to climb to the 25th floor in standard high-rise buildings. There is also a restaurant, a buffet and a souvenir kiosk here. But the observation deck with panoramic windows deserves special attention. History buffs can visit the “historical window,” an exhibition that tells the story of the stages of construction of the Eiffel Tower, as well as the peculiarities of its elevators.
Access to the third floor is limited to guests only by a glass elevator (although there are stairs here too). Here, at an altitude of 300 m, there is a unique observation deck, second in height in Europe only to its “rival” in the Ostankino Tower. Since the floor area is very modest, only 250 sq.m., there are few objects on it: Eiffel’s office with a restored interior and wax figures, a bar, a model of the floor with a design from 1889 and panoramic maps. Using the latter, you can determine where other attractions are located relative to the Eiffel Tower.

Eiffel Tower: Visit

When visiting the Eiffel Tower, it is worth considering its popularity among tourists. Waiting times in lines at the ticket office and then in the elevator can reach several hours. At the same time, you can get to the first floor on foot by climbing a staircase of 347 steps, which is good for your health and wallet - an elevator ticket will cost 1.5 times more.
Despite the fact that 500 employees (including staff of restaurants, museums, etc.) regularly monitor the comfort and convenience of visitors, the large number of people wishing to visit the attraction practically does not allow the queues to shorten.

On the official site tower, you can purchase tickets online in advance for the desired time and date. Tickets are available 90 days before the date of visit, but most often tickets sell out quickly several days before the planned visit they may not be available.

There are two restaurants in the Eiffel Tower "58 Tour Eiffel" " and "Jules Verne " When booking a table, you will ascend to the desired tier via a separate elevator, without queuing.

Lifehack
The most physically prepared visitors can try to save time in queues by climbing the stairs to the first tier of the tower. Usually the line at the ticket office to go up the stairs is much shorter than at the elevator ticket office. The ticket office and entrance to the staircase are located on the far right pillar of the tower when looking at it from the river.
Having climbed the stairs, already on the first level you can buy a ticket to go to the upper tier by elevator (the queues here may be shorter).

Eiffel Tower Opening hours and cost of visiting:

Opening hours:
In winter 9:00 - 23:00
In summer 9:00 - 00:00

Price:

From 3 to 17 euros depending on the floor and age of the visitor.
Check the price on the official website Eiffel Tower.

The most grandiose, famous, shocking building in Paris is, of course, the Eiffel Tower. Since its appearance in 1889 as an arch for the World Exhibition dedicated to the storming of the Bastille, it has been the center of attention to this day. It was also recognized as an important link in the French economy and a valuable asset of Europe.

The history of the tower!

Although the engineer Gustave Eiffel proposed dismantling the tower after the twenty-year period of its construction, as we see, it continues to rise majestically on the Champs de Mars to this day.

Book a table at a restaurant at the Eiffel Tower

The most interesting thing is that the idea of ​​the design did not belong to Eiffel, but to Maurice Koechlin, his colleague in the engineering bureau. It was in Maurice's old drawings that the leading engineer found the sketch of the tower that interested him.

Together with other employees, Eiffel refines the idea, files a joint patent, sends the drawings to the competition, and wins. Subsequently, he buys the ownership rights and becomes their sole owner.

The amazing fact is that while working on the construction scheme, the research of Hermann von Mayer, a Swiss professor of paleontology of the 19th century, was taken as a basis. He studied the structure of the femur, namely its head at the point of bending and joining the joint at an angle.

He concluded that thanks to the many small processes of strict geometric shape with which it is covered, the weight of the body is distributed evenly, preventing fractures.

It was these studies by Mayer that, 20 years later, inspired the designers of the famous tower to give it such a stable shape. Even with a strong wind, the top deviates by only 12 cm, and if it is hot in the sun - by 18 cm due to the expansion of the metal.

Working on the image

The original appearance of the steel lady was purely an example of the technological progress of its time, and looked too conservative. To win the competition, it was necessary to refine the design with decorative elements and make it more refined.

Gustave made a proposal to decorate the tower supports with stone, make the arches a connecting link between the supports and the lower floor, and also turn them into the main entrance to the exhibition. The levels also had to be transformed and become functional thanks to the glazed halls, and the top had to take on a rounded shape along with other decorations.

When the scheme acquired all these innovations, the jury approved Eiffel's plan, and he received the green light for construction. Feeling a surge of enthusiasm after the first victory, he exclaimed that France would now become the only owner in the world of a 300-meter flagpole.

To be or not to be - the opinion of bohemians

The delight, however, was not shared by the creative elite, who considered the future structure offensive to the eye. The city's mayor's office has repeatedly received letters demanding that they not allow the construction of such a monstrous structure, arguing that the Eiffel Tower in Paris would be a huge mistake, a repulsive stain hanging over the city, and not compatible with other architecture.

About three hundred painters, architects, musicians and writers drew up a protest, sending it to the city authorities, where in colorful expressions they convinced the commission to come to their senses: “For 20 years we will be forced to look at the disgusting shadow of the hated column of iron and screws, stretching over the city like an ink blot".

The petition was signed by Charles Gounod, Dumas fils, and the famous short story writer Guy de Maupassant. However, Maupassant subsequently visited the restaurant, which is now called Jules Verne, several times. When the novelist was asked why he came there if he disliked the Eiffel Tower so much, he said that there was no longer a place in Paris from which this damn thing could not be seen.

However, not everyone was so ardently opposed to her. It made a completely different impression on Thomas Edison, and in the guest book he wrote a greeting to its creator.

Construction details: numbers and facts

It all started in 1887 on January 28, and the last day to complete construction was December 31, 1889. For such a colossal project, this was a record time, considering that the height of the Eiffel Tower was 300 meters.

Tower construction!

There was no technology capable of lifting parts weighing up to 3 tons to this height, and therefore Eiffel had to additionally invent special mobile cranes. Also, to speed up the work, most of the elements were made in advance, and holes were drilled in them, into which connecting rivets were installed.

Eiffel demonstrated unique precision in drawing up drawings. There were 1,700 general ones and 3,629 detailed ones, and their accuracy was 0.1 mm (3D printers print with such precision today). This is comparable to jewelry work or magic, worthy of admiration, especially in our age of high technology.

Inner world

Once in Paris, it is difficult to avoid the temptation to look at the city of love from the height of the most famous Parisian woman. On the initial two platforms, which are located at the peaks of 57.63 and 115.73 m; you can visit restaurants, drink a glass of sparkling wine or order lunch.

On the third level, located at 276.13 m, visitors will find a bar and an astronomical and meteorological observatory. The tower is crowned by a lighthouse with a dome, the light of which reaches 10 km.

Rising to the 3rd level

There are 1,792 steps leading up to the top, but you are unlikely to want to make such a serious climb, especially since back in 1899 two Fives-Lill elevators were built for this purpose, and passengers, having risen to the 175 m mark, moved to another cabin .

Elevator to the 2nd floor

The first machines ran on hydraulic pumps, but since their use was impossible in winter, Otis electric motors replaced them in 1983, and the hydraulics are shown as an exhibit to tourists.

Gustave Eiffel Apartment

At the very top there is another room - an apartment that was built especially for Eiffel. Although the square is quite spacious, it is furnished simply, but with the taste of a man of the 19th century. It has separate rooms, furniture, carpets, and even a piano - a must-have item for the elite of that time.

When the apartment became known in the city, there were people who wanted to buy it or at least spend the night there, offering substantial sums, but Eiffel always refused such offers.

While in Paris, the engineer often arranged meetings with the rich and famous people. Edison also visited, and for ten hours the pair of inventors, over cognac and cigars, found many fascinating topics for discussion, including the phonograph, the latest invention of the famous American.

In captivity, but with his head held high

Eiffel Tower, 1940 – the lift mechanism suddenly breaks down. This trouble happened just before the arrival of Adolf Hitler. Since the war was going on, there was nowhere to get new parts for it, and the Fuhrer could only trample at the feet of the obstinate Parisian woman. On this occasion, the poets did not miss the opportunity to say: “Hitler conquered France, but could not conquer the Eiffel Tower.”

Hitler planned to transmit radio signals from the lighthouse to his military units and broadcast propaganda in Paris, but he was especially excited by the idea that the flag flying on the spire of the top would be clearly visible in all corners of the city.

At the end of the summer of 1944, Hitler, annoyed that he was unable to climb to the top, gives Colonel General Dietrich von Choltitz the order to destroy the unsubdued proud mountain along with the rest of the sights of Paris.

However, the order was never carried out, and when the occupiers left the city, the elevators, which had stopped for several years, started working again after a couple of hours, and the news about this was broadcast by radio from the tower.

The height of the Eiffel Tower!

For 40 years, the Eiffel Tower had no competitors in height in the whole world, and only in 1930 it lost the palm to the Chrysler Building in New York. Today its height reaches 324 m due to the antenna installed in 2010.

Height

In reality and in the photo, the tower looks slender, sophisticated, and charmingly beautiful. Like a true Frenchwoman, she loves to radically change her image from time to time, and has already tried on several outfits. It was painted in different colors, which ranged from yellow to reddish brown.

Now a unique “brown-Eiffel” tone, closest to a bronze hue, has been developed and patented especially for it. Every 7 years it is repainted to protect the metal from corrosion, and old parts are also replaced with new ones made of a lighter but more durable alloy.

Night beauty

The Iron Lady also loves to shine, and at the time of her premiere in 1889 she sparkled with tens of thousands of gas lamps, a pair of searchlights and a lighthouse, the rays of which had three colors national flag. Just a year later, electric lights sparkled on it, and in 1925 it became the most ambitious advertising platform for Andre Citroen.

The advertisement was called: “The Tower is on Fire,” and thanks to 125 new light bulbs, the silhouette first lit up, then it was replaced by a shower of stars, which smoothly turned into the flight of comets and zodiac symbols, followed by the year of birth of the tower, the current year, and finally the surname appeared Citroen. Advertising ran until 1934.

The Parisian fashionista received her golden dress on the last day of 1985, and in 2003 silver lights were added to this noble shine. This required 4.6 million €, 20 thousand light bulbs, 40 km of wires, 30 people and several months of work. The tower wore another memorable outfit from the beginning of July to the end of December 2008, which looked like the flag of Europe - a circle of 12 gold stars on a blue background.

The brainchild of Gustave Eiffel remains a beautiful wonder of the world today. A copy of the Eiffel Tower stands in many cities: Copenhagen, Las Vegas, Varna, Chinese city Guangzhou and Aktau in Kazakhstan.

Exact copy in Las Vegas

In the first 12 months of its existence, it fully recouped its construction costs thanks to visitors, and remains the most popular, most visited attraction. Millions of people come on dates with her every year, and by 2002 this number exceeded 200 million.

Observation deck

City of dreams and champagne bubbles

To maximize your time in the company of the Eiffel Tower, tour and restaurant tickets can be booked in advance. Several buffets, a bar and a couple of cozy restaurants will allow you to enjoy delicious dishes, drinks and views of Paris.

On the ground floor you can visit the 58 Tour Eiffel restaurant, eat a sandwich, fries, croissant, drink juice or coffee, paying only 18 € for lunch. In the evening there are several main courses and desserts to choose from, but the price rises to 82 € per person.
At the same level there are also regular buffets, where a glass of juice and a slice of pizza will not exceed 7-8 €.

Restaurant "Jules Verne"

But, if you find yourself in the very romantic place on earth, you do not intend to skimp on pleasures, then visit the luxurious restaurant “Le Jules Verne” on the second level. Lunch here will cost at least 85 € per person, and dinner with lobster – at least 200 €.

View from the tower at night

Night Paris with observation deck

Eiffel Tower on the map

However, you can have fun without visiting such expensive establishments. Having risen to the third level, in the Champagne Bar, take a glass of champagne, take a bird's eye view of Paris, and feel the exclusivity of this moment.

Video

The exact address: Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris

Working hours: From 9:30 to 23:00, in summer from 9:00 to 00:00

Tickets

Entrance to the lift (up to 2nd floor): adults - 11€, 12-14 years old - 8.5€, children and disabled people - 4€.

To the top: adults - 17 €, 12-14 years old - 14.5 €, children and disabled people - 8 €.

By stairs to the 2nd floor: adults - 7 €, 12-14 years old - 5 €, children and disabled people - 3 €.

Photo

Photo gallery Eiffel Tower!

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Eiffel Tower at night photo

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Eiffel Tower (Paris) - detailed description with photos, opening hours and ticket prices, location on the map.

Eiffel Tower (Paris)

The Eiffel Tower is the main attraction of Paris, a real symbol of the capital of France. This huge metal structure, over 320 meters high (exact height 324 meters), was built in 2 years and 2 months in 1889. Named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel who built it. Eiffel himself simply called it a “three hundred meter tower.” Interestingly, the Eiffel Tower was built as a temporary structure for the World Exhibition held in Paris. But not only was it not dismantled, but it also turned into a real symbol of Paris and the most visited paid attraction in the world.

When darkness falls, the Eiffel Tower turns on with beautiful lighting.

Story

For the World Exhibition of 1889, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Great French Revolution, the city authorities wanted to build architectural structure, which would become the pride of France. For this purpose, a competition was established among engineering bureaus. An offer was made to Eiffel to take part in it. Gustave himself had no ideas. He rummaged through old sketches and dug up a design for a high-rise steel tower made by his employee, Maurice Keshlen. The project was finalized and sent to the competition.

From 107 diverse projects, 4 winners were selected. Among them, of course, was the Eiffel project. After changes were made to the project to improve its architectural appeal, it was declared the winner. In January 1887, an agreement was concluded between the Eiffel Bureau and the municipal authorities of Paris for the construction of the tower. At the same time, Eiffel was provided not only with a cash payment, but also with a lease of the tower for 25 years. The agreement provided for the tower to be dismantled after 20 years, but it became so popular that it was decided to preserve it.

1. More than 5 million people visit the Eiffel Tower every year. Over the entire period of its existence, the tower was visited by more than 250 million people. A colossal number!
2. The construction cost amounted to 7.5 million francs and was paid off during the exhibition period.
3. More than 18 thousand metal parts and 2.5 million rivets were used to build the tower.
4. The weight of the structure is more than 10 thousand tons.
5. The creative people of Paris reacted negatively to this building, believing that it did not fit into the architecture of the city. They have repeatedly sent petitions to the mayor's office calling for the construction to be stopped or dismantled. For example, one of her famous opponents, Guy de Maupassant, often dined at a restaurant located in the tower. When asked why he eats here so often? He replied that this is the only place in Paris where it (the tower) is not visible.

Eiffel Tower opening hours

The Eiffel Tower's operating hours are as follows:

• From 9.00 to 12.00 from June to September.
• From 9.00 to 23.00 in other months.

Ticket prices

To the 2nd floor by elevator

• Adults - 11 euros.
• Youth from 12 to 24 years old - 8.5 euros
• Children under 12 years old - 4 euros

To the 2nd floor via stairs

• Adults - 7 euros.
• Youth from 12 to 24 years old - 5 euros
• Children under 12 years old - 3 euros

To the top by elevator

• Adults - 17 euros.
• Youth from 12 to 24 years old - 14.5 euros
• Children under 12 years old - 8 euros

How to get there

• RER - line C, Champ de Mars - tour Eiffel
• Metro - line 6, Bir-hakeim, line 9, Trocadero.
• Bus - 82, 87, 42, 69, tour Eiffel or Champ de Mars

The Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel) is one of the most famous landmarks in the world. She is called an object of discord, desire and fascination. The Eiffel Tower is especially popular among lovers. Many consider it one of the most romantic things to do is to propose marriage at the top of the tower. Although the Eiffel Tower was erected as a symbol of industrialization and aspiration to the future.

Tour Eiffel is recognized as a true architectural masterpiece. Many similar structures have been created around the world. The Eiffel Tower replica in Las Vegas is the tallest among such replicas. Moreover, the Eiffel Tower is the most recognizable landmark of the French capital. She has repeatedly inspired artists, musicians, writers, filmmakers, photographers and other creators. Among the famous artists who use the image of the Eiffel Tower in their drawings are Seurat, Signac, Chagall, Delaunay; among the writers who mentioned her in their works are Apollinaire, Cocteau, Maupassant. And in modern creativity this image never ceases to be relevant: in 2017 the single “Voyage” by the group “Leningrad” was released. The chorus begins with the words: “With the Eiffel Tower in the background.”

Tourists strive not only to take photos of the Eiffel Tower, but also to climb it to capture the panorama of the city. From observation platforms you can enjoy beautiful views and see other attractions of the city. Unfortunately, due to its height, the Eiffel Tower quite often becomes a place for suicides. However, not all attempts are successful.

A visit to the Eiffel Tower is a must-do for travelers in Paris. You can see this structure at any time of the year. During the day, the Eiffel Tower is accessible for climbing, and late at night you can look at it from the side - this is an equally impressive view.

The French themselves call the structure “the iron lady” (“La Dame de Fer”). This name of the Eiffel Tower is due to the material of which it is composed - metal.

Dimensions

The height of the Eiffel Tower is 324 m. This is the data for today, but initially the height of the Eiffel Tower in Paris was 312 m. The current figure has increased due to the new antenna. Interestingly, the creator of the structure simply called it a “300-meter tower.” At the time of construction, the steel Eiffel Tower in Paris was taller than all the buildings in the world. To roughly imagine its size, the height is usually compared to an 81-story building.

What's taller than the Eiffel Tower? The Paris building remained the tallest in the world until 1930, when the Chrysler Building appeared in New York. Today, even more towers have been built that exceed the height of the Tour Eiffel Paris: for example, the famous Burj Khalifa in the United Arab Emirates, and in Russia - .

The mass of the Eiffel Tower is 10,100 tons, the metal frame weighs 7,300 tons. Considering how huge the structure is, the weight of the Eiffel Tower is not considered very large. The number of different iron parts is 18,038 pieces. The dimensions of the Eiffel Tower are taken into account in the design features, so vibrations of the structure during hurricanes and winds reach no more than 15 cm.

The area of ​​the Eiffel Tower, or rather the space on which it rests on the ground, is 500 sq.m (one side between the columns is 125 m).

How long does it take to climb the Eiffel Tower? The ascent to levels 1 and 2 will take approximately 15 minutes on foot. There is only an elevator to the top; the trip lasts several minutes.

Eiffel Tower Tickets

Tickets are available with the option to ascend to different levels. The price depends on this, as well as on how you climb the Eiffel Tower. The cost is also determined taking into account the age of visitors:

• ticket to the Eiffel Tower of Paris with access to the stairs to the second level: 10.2€ for adults; 5.1€ for youth 12-24 years old; 2.5 € for children 4-11 years old and disabled people;
• elevator ticket to level 2: 16.3€ for adults; 8.1€ for youth 12-24 years old; 4.1€ for children 4-11 years old and disabled people;
• ticket with stairs to level 2 and elevator to the top: 19.4€ for adults; 9.7€ for youth 12-24 years old; 4.9€ for children 4-11 years old and disabled people;
• ticket with elevators to level 2 and to the top: 25.5€ for adults; 12.7€ for youth 12-24 years old; 6.4 € for children 4-11 years old and disabled people;
• children under 4 years old are admitted free of charge.

Prices at the Eiffel Tower increase every year. You can buy tickets for the Eiffel Tower on the website or on the spot. Please keep in mind that tickets for taking the stairs to level 2 and then taking the elevator to the top can only be purchased at the ticket office near the tower. In other cases, tourists recommend buying Eiffel Tower tickets online.

Queues for the Eiffel Tower are common, so many people prefer to purchase online. Tickets for the Eiffel Tower on the website are available approximately 2 months in advance for the elevator ride or 7 days in advance for the staircase ride. In July-August and on weekends there are always a lot of visitors, so you need to look for tickets for the desired date in advance. In the calendar on the website, the days for which the last places on sale remain are highlighted in orange.

Online tickets for the Eiffel Tower do not need to be printed, just show them on the screen of your mobile device. In order to distribute the number of visitors and not create crowds at the observation decks, when purchasing tickets for the Eiffel Tower on the official website, you must select not only the date, but also the time of your visit. The most popular type of tickets is to the very top by elevator. You can buy tickets to the Eiffel Tower on the website for a maximum of 9 people per order.

Excursions to the Eiffel Tower are organized by many travel companies. This option is suitable for those who want to hear the stories of the guide during the climb and observation from the observation decks. The guide will also tell you about other sights of Paris that can be seen from the Eiffel Tower.

(GetYourGuide["https://www.getyourguide.ru/eiffel-tower-l2600/"|"Tickets and tours to the Eiffel Tower"])

Story

The history of the Eiffel Tower began with the 1889 World Exhibition. It took place in the capital of France and was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille. Several years before the exhibition, an architectural competition was announced in the country for a project demonstrating high technological capabilities.

Why the Eiffel Tower? The building is named after its creator, Gustave Eiffel.

The company of engineer Gustave Eiffel submitted a design for a tall iron tower to the competition. In fact, there is more than one designer at the Eiffel Tower, it is: Eiffel himself, the engineers of his company Maurice Koechlen (Kochlen) and Emile Nouguier, as well as the specially hired architect Stephane Sauvestre.

Sauvestre was brought in to make the tower's appearance more aesthetically pleasing and attractive. He proposed pedestals at the base and arches connecting the columns to the first level. His idea also included halls with glass walls on different levels.

What year is the Eiffel Tower? It dates back to 1889, but Nouguier and Koechlen developed the first design back in 1884, they wanted to create a very high tower made of metal beams on 4 columns. By the time of preparation for the World Exhibition, the idea had been finalized.

The Eiffel Tower of 1889 was a very bold and innovative proposal. In 1884, G. Eiffel registered a patent for a new configuration that made it possible to build metal supports and pylons at a height of more than 300 m. When creating the Eiffel Tower, special attention was paid to details and technologies that create wind resistance.

Construction of the Eiffel Tower was carried out at a very fast pace according to a strict schedule. Elements for the structure were manufactured at the Eiffel factory in Levallois-Perret. Every detail is designed and calculated with an accuracy of one tenth of a millimeter. Workers connected these parts using rivets.

The Eiffel Tower was built by 1889 in 2 years, 2 months and 5 days.

The concrete foundation was installed several meters underground on top of the gravel. It took 5 months to build the foundation. The metal parts were assembled in 21 months. The Eiffel Tower celebrates its birthday on March 31, when all work was completed.

For that time, the construction of the Eiffel Tower was completed in record time. Moreover, it was built with incredible precision in every detail. At the same time, they did not express themselves in the most flattering words about the Eiffel Tower. Many artists expressed an “artists’ protest” against this building in 1887. For example, among the dissatisfied were: Guy de Maupassant, Alexandre Dumas Jr., Charles Garnier and others. They did not like the artistic component of the design, which violated the beauty of Paris. The tower has been called a bell tower, a street lamp, a tangled and deformed mast, a skinny pyramid of iron ladders, a clumsy skeleton, etc. Therefore, one should not be surprised why the Eiffel Tower was called ugly. However, in defense of the design it was said that it represents art in the age of science and technology. Over time, the drawing of the Eiffel Tower itself began to be considered an example of grace.

The Eiffel Tower project also became famous on the positive side - during construction there was not a single death of workers. Safety in the rather difficult conditions of working at high altitude was given utmost importance. The only death was not related to the production process.

Eiffel Tower at the World's Fair

The tower created a sensation at the World Exhibition. After its opening, the Eiffel Tower was visited by about 2 million people. The exhibition ran from May 6 to October 31. The bold design of the Eiffel Tower delighted visitors. In the first week, the elevators were not yet working, but this did not stop many people climbing the stairs to the monument. In addition to the unusual design, many were attracted by the opportunity to enjoy panoramic view Paris. Evening lighting appeared on the Eiffel Tower, the projectors lit up blue, white and red - the colors of the French flag. Restaurants and shops opened at different levels. On the second level of the Eiffel Tower, the printing house produced special newspapers for tourists, where you could insert your name. An unusual attraction was sending letters in small balloons.

The Eiffel Tower was built as a site for the World's Fair, and more specifically its entrance arch. It was planned that after 20 years the structure would be dismantled. However, it turned out that it became a symbol of the country. In 1898, the tower was used to establish telegraph communications; subsequently, its preservation was explained by military purposes. In 1906, a radio station was located here, and a year later - an electric clock. In 1910, Eiffel extended the lease of the tower by 70 years. Radio programs began to be transmitted from the tower, and then television broadcasts (regularly since 1935).

During the occupation of Paris by German troops in 1940, the elevator drive was damaged. That's why Hitler couldn't climb the Eiffel Tower. In 1944, as Allied forces approached, Hitler ordered the tower to be destroyed along with other landmarks, but the order was not carried out because the military commandant, a former German general, refused to carry it out.

The significance of the Eiffel Tower today is undeniable: it is one of the most recognizable buildings in France. For everyone, she became a symbol of Paris.

Who sold the Eiffel Tower

A funny incident happened in 1925. Fraudster Victor Lustig, who had been inventing various scams all his life, came to Paris and learned that famous tower dilapidated and in need of renovation. He gathered dealers from the secondary metal market and introduced himself as the Deputy Minister of Posts and Telegraphs. Lustig told them that the Eiffel Tower was going to be dismantled and sold for scrap, but all this was being kept secret. Some time later, businessman Andre Poisson bought the right to recycle the landmark from Victor. Realizing the deception, Andre did not go to the police, so the scammer Lustig did the same thing again, returning to Paris. So, he became the man who sold the Eiffel Tower twice. And these are not the only cases of fraud with the famous Parisian “Iron Lady”.

Eiffel Tower levels

The Eiffel Tower is made of metal, namely, of steel beams connected with rivets. In total, the structure has 3 floor levels. The Eiffel Tower was built in stages: the first level was one of the most difficult sections, since here the scaffolding needed to support four inclined supports and large beams. The history of the creation of the Eiffel Tower counts from 150 to 300 workers working on its construction in different time.

Floors of the Eiffel Tower:

• esplanade - lower platform;
• the first floor is 57 m high;
• second floor - 115 m;
• third floor - 276 m.

Lower level (esplanade)- This is a pyramid on 4 columns, which are connected at the top by arched vaults. There is an information desk and a bust of G. Eiffel. Below, the hydraulic mechanisms that raised the first elevators of the tower have been preserved; you can see them during a guided visit.

On the arch arch of the Eiffel Tower there is the 1st platform. First level The Eiffel Tower with observation area occupies an area of ​​260 sq.m. The total area of ​​the 1st floor is 4,415 sq.m. There is no observation deck here, but another popular attraction is the glass floor. On the 1st level of the Eiffel Tower, you have the opportunity to take a break before climbing further, you can have a snack, go to a cinema with projections of a film about the tower, buy souvenirs, and learn more about the structure using interactive stands. There is also the Gustave Eiffel Hall with panoramic windows, where you can book an event. Among the historical monuments, a fragment of the spiral staircase along which Eiffel climbed to his office at the top has been preserved. On the 1st floor there is a skating rink in winter.

Level 2 The Eiffel Tower is the second pyramid on 4 columns with a vault. The total area of ​​this level is 1,430 sq.m. The first observation deck of the Eiffel Tower is located here; its area is 140 sq.m. From here you will be able to see the main Parisian attractions, including:, etc. You can go to a chic restaurant or souvenir shops.

Level 3 The Eiffel Tower is one large column consisting of interlacing 4 main columns. The total floor area is 250 sq.m. The square-shaped platform of the Eiffel Tower at a height of 276 meters has a side of 16.5 m. The most impressive views of the city open from here. Even higher, there is a lighthouse, above which at an altitude of 300 m there is a small platform (1.4 m - side length). On level 3, G. Eiffel's office was restored, where the scene of the engineer's meeting with the great inventor T. Edison is reproduced. There is also a model of the Eiffel Tower, or rather its top, as it was in 1889. The model is painted in the original color of the tower. Please note that it is usually quite windy at the top.

Some people call the Eiffel Tower apartment the office that Gustave Eiffel created for himself at the top.

You can read more about the floors on the official website of the Eiffel Tower. There are 5 elevators from the esplanade to the 2nd level, two of which are preserved original models, they are located on the eastern and western supports. These are unique mechanisms that have no analogues. The first elevators on the Eiffel Tower moved using hydraulic pumps; now they use electricity and motors. At the time of the appearance of the “Iron Lady,” such elevators were a real technical triumph.

Only by elevator you can get to the observation deck of the Eiffel Tower at the very top. Two elevators take visitors to the top of the tower. They are made using the duolift system: each mechanism is two cabins that act as a counterweight to each other, that is, if one cabin goes up, then the second goes down. Thanks to modern technologies, the Eiffel Tower elevators now operate during the cold season.

Steps on the Eiffel Tower: 1792 steps lead to the top.

Under the balconies of the first level you can see the inscriptions on the Eiffel Tower. These are the names of scientists of the 18th-19th centuries from France, famous for their achievements, and those people who contributed to the construction of the Eiffel Tower. They were not made immediately, but at the beginning of the 20th century.

The style of the Eiffel Tower is constructivism. Many agree that it perfectly conveys the spirit of the 19th century, when the cult of the progress of science and technology reigned. The shape of the Eiffel Tower - a pyramid on columns, at the time of its creation looked very futuristic and innovative. She demonstrated the best engineering solutions. The material of the Eiffel Tower is steel, which also looked very modern and unusual.

View from the Eiffel Tower observation deck:

Color

La Tour Eiffel has changed colors several times throughout its history. Painting of the object is carried out regularly, once every 7 years, and is important event. Paint is applied not only to maintain a beautiful appearance, but also to protect the structure from oxidation.

At different historical times, one could see the red Eiffel Tower, and the colors of ocher, and chestnut-brown, and golden.

Eiffel Tower color Today the special shade “Eiffel Tower Brown” has been chosen. Towards the top the color changes to ensure the entire structure has the same feel.

To get the colored Eiffel Tower, 25 painters are hired to work by hand. They apply anti-corrosion agent and layers of paint. All workers are specialists in working with metal at high altitudes. During the work, the architectural monument is not closed to tourists, although painting lasts about 18 months.

The surface area for painting on the Paris Eiffel Tower is 250,000 sq.m.

Flower chronology:

• 1887-1888: "Venetian Red". The parts were painted in this shade in the workshop before assembling the tower.
• 1889: thick red-brown.
• 1892: ocher brown.
• 1899: 5 shades used from yellow-orange at the base of the Eiffel Tower to light yellow at the top. A 7-year dyeing cycle is adopted.
• 1907-1917-1924-1932-1939-1947: yellow-brown.
• 1954-1961: brown-red.
• Since 1968: the color that best harmonizes with the Parisian landscape has been officially chosen. 3 tones are used: the darkest at the top and the lightest at the bottom.

Eiffel Tower illumination

The Eiffel Tower at night is no less beautiful and also attracts tourists. On December 31, 1985, engineer and electrician Pierre Bidault invented the illumination lighting of the “Iron Lady” of Paris. It consists of 336 yellow-orange light bulbs that create a golden effect. Thanks to this idea, viewing an architectural monument at night has become very popular. Beams of light illuminate the structure inside the Eiffel Tower so that the beams that make it up are clearly visible. Special sensors react to darkness and the lights turn on.

In 1999, in anticipation of the year 2000, an additional decoration was invented. The lighthouse on the Eiffel Tower at night began to send light signals with a range of 80 km. The second innovation is sparkles, flickering lights along the golden illuminated tower. These ideas for illumination on landmarks have survived to this day.

Golden Eiffel Tower - this kind of lighting can be seen every evening in Paris after dark. For the first 5 minutes of every hour, you can see not just the glowing Eiffel Tower, but a shimmer running throughout the entire structure. It resembles sparkles scattered throughout the monument. This flicker comes on every hour until 01:00 at night. According to reviews, this is a must see if you want to appreciate the beauty of the tower's illumination.

At various times, in honor of significant events and holidays, special illumination of the Eiffel Tower was turned on. For example, lights were lit on it, duplicating the flag of the European Union, when the country presided over the EU.

Eiffel Tower at night:

Why you shouldn't photograph the Eiffel Tower at night

There is information on the Internet about certain restrictions for photographing a light show. So, many people are interested in the question of why you can’t photograph the Eiffel Tower. The fact is that the ban applies only to backlighting with flickering, since this illumination is subject to copyright. In accordance with European law, in order to take photographs of such objects, written permission must be obtained. It is more likely that we are even talking about a ban on publishing such photographs. Many people do not know about this fact; some are outraged by it. However, there are no known cases of prosecution against those who photographed the Eiffel Tower at night.

Cafes and restaurants

There are places at the Eiffel Tower where you can eat for different budgets.

On the lower platform (esplanade), 1st and 2nd floors there are also kiosks that sell a variety of light snacks and drinks.

To get there by taxi, you can call a car using the Uber or Le Cab services.

From Charles de Gaulle Airport to the Eiffel Tower

You need to go to the stop near terminal No. 1 and take bus No. 2 to the “Tour Eiffel” stop 300 m from the tower. Many people write that the most convenient and fastest way to get from the airport to the Eiffel Tower is to take the high-speed commuter train RER line B. From there you need to transfer to another transport, there are several options:

• get off at Luxembourg station and take bus number 82 to the Tour Eiffel stop;
• Get off at Denfert-Rochereau station and change to metro line no. 6 to Bir Hakeim station.

Trip to public transport It will take an hour - an hour and 15 minutes. The journey from Charles de Gaulle to the Eiffel Tower by car will take about 50 minutes.

Video about the Eiffel Tower in Paris:

general information

Originally conceived as a temporary structure, the Eiffel Tower has become a symbol of France and an object of admiration. However, the history of the creation and construction of the impressive structure was dramatic. For many Parisians, the tower evoked only negative emotions - the townspeople believed that such a tall structure would not fit into the appearance of their beloved capital or would even collapse. But over time, the French came to appreciate the Eiffel Tower and fell in love with it. Today, thousands of people take pictures against the backdrop of the famous landmark; all lovers strive for it to spend unforgettable moments. Every girl who has a date at the Eiffel Tower hopes that it is there, taking all of Paris as a witness, that her beloved will propose marriage to her.

History of the Eiffel Tower

1886 In three years, the World Industrial Exhibition EXPO will begin in Paris. The exhibition organizers announced a competition for a temporary architectural structure that would serve as the entrance to the exhibition and personify the technical revolution of its time, the beginning of grandiose transformations in the life of mankind. The proposed construction had to meet the following requirements - generate income and be easily dismantled. More than 100 competitors took part in the creative competition, which started in May 1886. Some of the designs were quite bizarre - for example, a huge guillotine reminiscent of the revolution, or a tower built entirely of stone. Among the competition participants was engineer and designer Gustave Eiffel, who proposed a project for a 300-meter metal structure that was completely unusual for that time. He drew the very idea of ​​the tower from the drawings of his company’s employees, Maurice Koechlen and Emile Nugier.

Construction of the Eiffel Tower, 1887-1889

It was proposed to make the structure from malleable cast iron, which at that time was the most progressive and economical building material. Eiffel's project was among the four winners. Thanks to some changes made by the engineer to the decorative design of the tower, the organizers of the competition gave preference to his “Iron Lady”.

The artistic appearance of the Eiffel Tower was developed by Stéphane Sauvestre. To add more sophistication to the cast-iron structure, the architect proposed adding arches between the supports of the first floor. They symbolized the entrance to the exhibition and made the structure more elegant. In addition, Sauvestre planned to place spacious glazed halls on various floors of the building, and slightly round the top of the tower.

The construction of the tower required 7.8 million francs, but the state allocated only one and a half million to Eiffel. The engineer agreed to contribute the missing amount from his own funds, but in return demanded that the tower be leased to him for 25 years. At the beginning of 1887, the French authorities, the mayor's office of Paris and Eiffel entered into an agreement and construction began.

Old photos of the Eiffel Tower

All 18,000 structural parts were manufactured at Gustave's own factory in Levallois, near the French capital. Thanks to carefully verified drawings, work on installing the tower progressed very quickly. The mass of individual elements of the structure did not exceed 3 tons, which greatly facilitated its assembly. At first, tall cranes were used to lift the parts. Then, when the tower became taller than them, Eiffel used small mobile cranes, specially designed by him, moving along elevator rails. After two years, two months and five days, with the efforts of three hundred workers, the construction of the structure was completed.

From 1925 to 1934, the Eiffel Tower was a giant advertising medium

The Eiffel Tower instantly attracted thousands of curious people - in the first six months of the exhibition alone, more than two million people came to admire the new landmark. The appearance of a new huge silhouette against the backdrop of Paris caused fierce controversy in French society. Many representatives of the creative intelligentsia were categorically against the appearance of a tower equal in height to an 80-story building - they feared that the iron structure would destroy the style of the city and suppress its architecture. Critics of Eiffel’s creation called the tower “the tallest lamppost”, “a grill in the form of a bell tower”, “an iron monster” and other unflattering and sometimes offensive epithets.

But, despite the protests and dissatisfaction of a certain part of French citizens, the Eiffel Tower almost completely paid for itself in the first year of operation, and further operation of the structure brought solid dividends to its creator.

Hitler with the Eiffel Tower in the background

By the end of the lease period, it became clear that dismantling the tower could be avoided - by that time it was actively used for telephone and telegraph communications, as well as for placing radio stations. Gustave was able to convince the government and generals of the country that in the event of war, the Eiffel Tower would be indispensable as a radio signal transmitter. At the beginning of 1910, the lease of the tower by its creator was extended for 70 years. During the German occupation in 1940, French patriots broke all the lifting mechanisms to cut off Hitler's path to the top of the tower. Due to non-functioning elevators, the aggressors were unable to plant their flag on the iron Frenchwoman. The Germans even called their specialists from Germany to repair the elevators, but they were unable to get them working.

Gustave Eiffel

With the development of television, the Eiffel Tower becomes in demand as a place to place antennas, of which there are currently several dozen on it.

The designer, who initially used his structure for profit, subsequently transferred the rights to it to the state, and today the tower is the property of the French people.

Eiffel could not imagine that his creation would become a tourist magnet along with other “wonders of the world.” The engineer simply called it a “300-meter tower,” not expecting that it would glorify and perpetuate his name. Today, the openwork metal structure towering over the French capital is recognized as the most photographed and visited landmark in the world.

Replicas of the Eiffel Tower can be found in more than 30 cities: Tokyo, Berlin, Las Vegas, Prague, Hangzhou, London, Sydney, Almaty, Moscow and others.

Description

The base of the Eiffel Tower is a pyramid formed by four pillars. At a height of about 60 meters, the supports are connected by an arch, on which a square ground floor platform with sides of 65 meters is located. From this lower platform rise the next four pillars, forming another vault at a height of 116 meters. Here is the second floor landing, a square half the size of the first. The supports, soaring up from the second platform, gradually connect to form a giant column 190 meters high. On this colossal rod, at an altitude of 276 meters from the ground, there is a third floor - a square platform with sides of 16.5 meters. On the third platform there is a lighthouse, topped with a dome, above which, at a height of three hundred meters, there is a small one and a half meter platform. The height of the Eiffel Tower today is 324 meters thanks to the television antenna installed on it. In addition to television and radio equipment, the structure houses cellular communication towers, as well as a unique weather station that records data on atmospheric pollution and background radiation.

At the foot of the Eiffel Tower

At the foot of the Eiffel Tower there are ticket offices and an information desk with free booklets and brochures. There is a souvenir shop in each support of the structure, and there is also a post office in the southern column. There is also a snack bar on the ground level. Here is also the entrance to the premises where you can see outdated hydraulic lifting mechanisms. But access here is open only to organized excursion groups.

On the ground floor, visitors are greeted by the 58 Tour Eiffel restaurant, another souvenir shop and the Cineiffel center, where films about the construction of the Eiffel Tower are shown. Little visitors will be delighted to meet Gus, the tower's mascot and the hero of the guide book. In addition, on the first level there is a fragment of an old spiral staircase leading to the next floors, as well as to the office of Eiffel himself.

Visitors approaching the tower from the north side are greeted by a gilded bust of its creator with a simple inscription: “Eiffel. 1832-1923".

The second level is an observation deck. On this floor there is the Jules Verne restaurant and another souvenir shop. Many interesting details about the construction of the tower can be gleaned from the information stands located on this level. In winter, a small skating rink is installed on the second floor.

The main goal of the overwhelming number of visitors is the third level. Elevators ascend to it, through the windows of which you can admire Paris. On the top floor, those who wish can celebrate their ascent to the tower with champagne at the Champange Bar. A glass of pink or white sparkling drink costs 10-15 €. On the third floor site there can be 800 people at the same time. Previously, on the upper platform there was an observatory and the office of Eiffel himself.

You can climb to the top of the structure by elevator or by stairs consisting of 1,792 steps. The Eiffel Tower is served by 3 elevators, but they are never operational at the same time due to safety reasons and due to constant maintenance of the structure.

During its existence, the tower was both yellow and red-brown. Today, the bronze color of the structure is officially patented and is called “Eiffel brown.” Redecoration of the Eiffel Tower is carried out every 7 years, this process takes one and a half years. Before applying fresh paint, the old layer is removed using high pressure steam. Then the entire structure is carefully inspected, unusable parts are replaced with new ones. After this, the tower is covered with two layers of paint, which requires 57 tons for this procedure. But the color of the tower is not uniform everywhere; it is painted in different shades of bronze - from dark at the base of the structure to lighter at the very top. This method of painting is used to ensure that the structure looks harmonious against the sky. Interestingly, even today paint is applied with brushes.

In the 80s of the last century, the tower was reconstructed - some of the parts were replaced with stronger and lighter ones.

Eiffel designed his creation in such a way that it is not afraid of storms - during the strongest winds, the tower deviates from its axis by a maximum of 12 centimeters. An iron structure is much more susceptible to the sun - iron elements expand so much when heated that the upper part of the tower sometimes deviates sideways by up to 20 centimeters.

Visitors first saw the tower illuminated in 1889, on the opening day of the World Industrial Exhibition. The structure was illuminated by 10,000 gas lamps, two large searchlights and a lighthouse, whose blue, white and red rays symbolized the country's national colors. In 1900, the tower was equipped with electric light bulbs. In 1925, the owner of the Citroen company placed a grand advertisement on the structure - with the help of 125,000 light bulbs, images of the tower, zodiac constellations and products of the famous French automobile concern appeared on it. This light show lasted 9 years.

In the 21st century, the lighting of the Eiffel Tower has been modernized several times. In 2008, when France held the EU presidency, the structure was illuminated in blue to represent the European flag. Nowadays the lighting of the tower is golden. It turns on for 10 minutes at the beginning of every hour, in the dark.

In 2015, the tower's light bulbs were replaced with LED ones to save energy and financial costs. In addition, thermal panels, two windmills and a rainwater collection system were placed on the structure.

Views from the Eiffel Tower

• The Eiffel Tower is the emblem of Paris and a high-altitude antenna.
• There can be 10,000 people on the tower at the same time.
• The project was drawn up by the architect Stéphane Sauvestre, but the tower was built by the engineer Gustave Eiffel (1823-1923), better known to the public. Other works by Eiffel: Ponte de Dona Maria Pia, Viaduct de Gharabi, iron frame for the New York Statue of Liberty.
• Since the tower appeared, about 250 million people have visited it.
• The weight of the metal part of the structure is 7,300 tons, and the weight of the entire tower is 10,100 tons.
• In 1925, the rogue Victor Lustig managed to sell the iron structure for scrap, and he was able to pull off this trick twice!
• In good weather, from the top of the tower, Paris and its surroundings can be viewed within a radius of up to 70 kilometers. It is believed that the optimal time to visit the Eiffel Tower, providing the best visibility, is an hour before sunset.
• The tower also holds a sad record - about 400 people committed suicide by throwing themselves down from its upper platform. In 2009, the terrace was fenced with protective barriers and now this place is very popular with romantic couples kissing in front of the whole of Paris.

Champ de Mars Paris Statue of Liberty and Eiffel Tower

Tower address: Champ de Mars (Field of Mars). Metro stations: Bir Hakeim (line 6), Trocadero (line 9).

The bus numbers running to the tower are: 42, 69, 72, 82 and 87.

Operating mode. From June 15 to September 1 - opening at 09.00. The elevator to the 2nd floor stops working at midnight; ascent to the 3rd floor (top) is carried out until 23.00; the stairs to the 2nd floor close at 00.00; the entire tower is accessible until 00.45.

From September 2 to June 14, the Eiffel Tower welcomes visitors from 09.30. The elevator to the 2nd floor is open until 23.00; the elevator takes guests to the top until 22.30; the stairs to the 2nd floor are open until 18.00; the entire tower is open until 23.45.

During the spring and Easter holidays, access to the tower is open until midnight.

Sometimes the climb to the top of the tower is temporarily suspended due to dangerous weather conditions or too many visitors on it.

Prices entry tickets. Until September 1: elevator to the 2nd floor - 9 € (for adults), 7 € (for visitors from 12 to 24 years old), 4.5 € (for children from 4 to 11 years old). Lift to the top - 15.50 € (for adults), 13.50 € (for visitors from 12 to 24 years old), 11 € (for children from 4 to 11 years old). Stairs to the 2nd floor - 5 € (for adults), 4 € (for visitors from 12 to 24 years old), 3.50 € (for children from 4 to 11 years old).

After September 1: elevator to the 2nd floor - 11 € (for adults), 8.50 € (for visitors from 12 to 24 years old), 4 € (for children from 4 to 11 years old). Elevator to the top - 17 € (for adults), 14.50 € (for visitors from 12 to 24 years old), 10 € (for children from 4 to 11 years old). Stairs to the 2nd floor - 7 € (for adults), 5 € (for visitors from 12 to 24 years old), 3 € (for children from 4 to 11 years old).

Visitors with disabilities can access the second floor of the Eiffel Tower using an elevator.

In order to quickly get to the first and second platforms of the tower, it is better to use the stairs on the south side, since the elevators almost always have long queues.

If you want to get to the top of the Iron Lady without the queue, then you should buy electronic tickets in advance on the official website of the tower - www.tour-eiffel.fr. The ticket must be printed and paid for using a credit card. You need to approach the tower 10-15 minutes before the time indicated on the ticket, bypassing the queue. Those who are more than half an hour late for sightseeing will not be allowed in; in this case, tickets will be cancelled. You need to worry about pre-purchasing tickets as early as possible, since their sale for a specific day begins 3 months in advance at 08.30 Paris time, and there are a lot of people who want to get to the tower without a queue.

A table at the Jules Verne restaurant must be reserved several months in advance; the average check for lunch at an altitude of 175 meters is 300 €.