What is the eiffel tower. The idea for the Eiffel Tower. Where is the Eiffel Tower in Paris

- a metal 300-meter tower, which is located in the center of Paris. The most famous French and world landmark, which, only by the will of circumstances, was not dismantled, as was intended during its construction.

The fate of the Eiffel Tower is quite interesting. Its construction was completed in 1889, the year France hosted the World Exhibition, and the tower was the winner of the competition for projects that were supposed to determine the appearance of the exhibition complex and decorate it. According to the original plan, 20 years after the exhibition, this metal structure was to be dismantled, since it did not fit into the architectural appearance of the French capital and was not conceived as a permanent building, the development of the radio saved the most popular attraction in the world.

Facts about the Eiffel Tower

• The height of the tower is 300.65 meters to the roof, 324.82 meters to the end of the spire;
• Weight - 7300 tons tower and 10000 tons of the whole building;
• Year of construction - 1889;
• Construction time - 2 years 2 months and 5 days;
• Creator - bridge engineer Gustave Eiffel;
• Number of steps - 1792 to the lighthouse, 1710 to the platform of the 3rd level;
• The number of visitors is more than 6 million per year;

About the Eiffel Tower

Eiffel tower height

The exact height of the tower is 300.65 meters. This is exactly what Eiffel conceived of it, who even gave it the simplest name: “three-meter tower” or simply “three-hundred-meter”, “tour de 300 mètres” in French.

But after the construction, a spire-antenna was installed on the tower and now its total height from the base to the end of the spire is 324.82 meters.

At the same time, the third and last floor is located at a height of 276 meters, which is the maximum available to ordinary visitors.

The Eiffel Tower looks like an unusual pyramid. Four columns rest on a concrete foundation, and as they rise they intertwine into a single square column.

At a height of 57.64 meters, the four columns are connected for the first time by the first square platform, a 4,415-square-meter floor capable of accommodating 3,000 people. The platform lies on an arched vault, which largely forms the recognizable appearance of the tower and which served as a kind of gateway to the World Exhibition.

Starting from the platform of the second floor, the four columns of the tower are intertwined into a single structure. On it, at a height of 276.1 meters, the third and last floor is located, its area is not as small as it might seem - 250 square meters, which allows you to receive 400 people at the same time.

But above the third floor of the tower, at a height of 295 meters, there is a lighthouse, now it is controlled by software. The tower is crowned with a spire, which was added later and which was modified several times. It acts as a flagpole and holder for various antennas, radio and television.

Eiffel Tower construction

The main material of the tower is pudding steel. The weight of the tower itself is approximately 7,300 tons, and the entire structure with the foundation and auxiliary structures weighs 10,000 tons. In total, 18,038 individual parts were used in the construction, which were held together with 2.5 million rivets. At the same time, each of the details of the tower weighed no more than three tons, which removed most of the problems with their lifting and installation.

During the construction, many fairly innovative engineering methods were used, which its creator, Gustave Eiffel, learned from his experience in bridge building. The tower was built in just 2 years by 300 workers, and thanks to the high level of safety measures and structures that simplified assembly, only one person died during the construction.

The high speed of work was achieved, firstly, by the very detailed drawings that were created by the engineers of the Eiffel bureau, and, secondly, by the fact that all parts of the tower were delivered to the construction site ready for use. There was no need to drill holes in the various elements, adjust them to each other, and 2/3 of the rivets were already in place. So the workers could only assemble the tower as a constructor, using ready-made detailed drawings.

Eiffel tower color

The question of the color of the Eiffel Tower is also interesting. Now the Eiffel Tower is painted in the patented color "Eiffel Tower Brown", which imitates the color of bronze. But at different times, it changed its color and was both orange and burgundy, until the current color was approved in 1968.

On average, the tower is repainted every seven years, with the last painting taking place in 2009-2010, on the landmark's 120th anniversary. All work was carried out by 25 painters. Old paint is removed with high pressure steam. At the same time, an external inspection of structural elements is carried out, worn ones are replaced. Then paint is applied to the tower, which requires approximately 60 tons, including 10 tons of soil and the paint itself, which is applied in two layers. An interesting fact: the tower has different shades at the bottom and at the top, so that the color is uniform for the human eye.

But the main function of paint is not decorative, but purely practical. It protects the iron tower from corrosion and environmental influences.

Reliability of the Eiffel Tower

Of course, a building of this size is greatly influenced by wind and other weather phenomena. At the time of its construction, many people believed that engineering aspects were not taken into account in the design, and an information campaign was even raised against Gustave Eiffel. But the experienced bridge builder was well aware of the possible risks and created a completely stable structure with recognizable twisted columns.

As a result, the tower resists the wind very effectively, the average deviation from the axis is 6–8 centimeters, even a hurricane wind deflects the tower's spire by no more than 15 centimeters.

But a metal tower is greatly influenced by sunlight. The side of the tower facing the sun heats up and, due to thermal expansion, the top can deviate even by 18 centimeters, much more than under the influence of a strong wind.

Tower lighting

Another important element of the Eiffel Tower is its illumination. Already during the creation, it was clear that such a grandiose object needed to be illuminated, therefore 10,000 gas lamps and searchlights were installed on the tower, which shone into the sky with the colors of the French tricolor. In 1900, electric lamps began to illuminate the contours of the tower.

In 1925, a huge advertisement appeared on the tower, bought by André Citroën. Initially, on three sides of the tower there was a vertically written surname and the name of the Citroen concern, which was visible for 40 kilometers around. Then it was slightly modernized by adding a clock and pointers. This lighting was dismantled in 1934.

In 1937, the Eiffel Tower began to be illuminated with light beams, and modern lighting based on gas discharge lamps was installed in 1986. Then the lighting was changed and modified several more times, for example, in 2008 the tower was illuminated with stars in the shape of the EU flag.

The last upgrade of the backlight was carried out in 2015, the lamps were replaced with LEDs in order to save energy. In parallel, work was carried out to install thermal panels, two windmills, a system for collecting and using rainwater.

In addition, the Eiffel Tower is used to launch fireworks during various holidays - New Year's Eve, Bastille Day, etc.

An interesting fact: the image of the Eiffel Tower is public property and can be used freely, but the image and appearance of the tower with the lights on is copyrighted by the management company and can only be used with their permission.

Floors of the Eiffel Tower

As already mentioned, the Eiffel Tower has three levels, not counting the area with the lighthouse, which can only be accessed by workers and the squares at the base. Each floor is not just an observation deck, there are souvenir shops, restaurants, and other objects, so each level of the Eiffel Tower should be mentioned separately.

As already mentioned, it is located at an altitude of 57 meters from ground level. Most recently, this level of the tower underwent a renovation, during which individual elements on the floor were updated and a transparent floor was built. There are a large number of different objects here:

• Glass balustrades and a transparent floor, which give an unforgettable experience of walking through the void at a height of more than 50 meters from the ground. Fear not, the floor is perfectly safe!
• Restaurant 58 Tour Eiffel. Not the only one in the tower, but the most famous.
• Buffet if you just want a bite to eat or a drink.
• A small cinema hall in which a film about the Eiffel Tower is broadcast by many projectors on three walls at once.
• A small museum with interactive screens that tells the history of the tower.
• Fragment of the old spiral staircase that led to the personal office of Gustave Eiffel.
• A seating area where you can just sit and watch Paris from a bird's eye view.
• Souvenir shop.

You can get to the first floor both on foot, overcoming 347 steps, and by elevator. At the same time, an elevator ticket costs 1.5 times more, so walking is not only useful, but also profitable. True, in this case, the third, highest platform will not be available to you.

The height of the second floor of the tower is 115 meters. The second and first floors are connected by stairs and an elevator. If you decide to climb the second level of the Eiffel Tower on foot, then get ready to overcome 674 steps, this is not an easy test, so soberly assess your strength.

In terms of area, this floor is two times smaller than the first, because there are not so many objects here:

• Jules Verne restaurant where you can treat yourself to gourmet French cuisine while looking at the city from a great height. Interestingly, this restaurant has a separate direct access from the ground via an elevator in the southern column of the bridge.
• The Historical Window is a gallery that tells about the construction of the Eiffel Tower and the operation of its elevators, both the first hydraulic and modern ones.
• Observation deck with large panoramic windows.
• Buffet.
• Souvenir kiosk.

The last, third floor of the Eiffel Tower is the most interesting part of it. Of course, restaurants at a bird's eye view are interesting, but nothing compares to the panorama of Paris from a height of almost 300 square meters.

Visitors can only get to the third floor of the tower by ascending in a glass elevator, although a staircase leads here, which originally had 1665 steps, but was later replaced by a safer 1710 steps.

The last floor of the tower is quite small, its area is only 250 square meters, so there are few objects here:

• Observation deck.
• Champagne bar.
• Eiffel's study with original interior and wax figures.
• Panoramic maps that allow you to determine the direction to other cities and attractions.
• Scale model of the floor in its original form from 1889.

The main thing on this floor, of course, is panoramic windows that allow you to see Paris from a great height. To date, the observation deck of the Eiffel Tower is the second highest in Europe after the site of the Ostankino TV tower in Moscow.

Where is the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is located in the center of Paris, on the Champ de Mars. From the Champs Elysees to the tower about two kilometers.

Walking around the center on foot, it is impossible to miss the tower, just look up and you will see it, and then just go in the right direction.

Nearest metro station: Bir-Hakeim, 6th line - from it to the tower you need to walk only 500 meters. But it can also be reached from Trocadero stations (crossing of lines 6 and 9), Ecole Militaire (line 8).

Nearest RER station: Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel (line C).

Bus routes: 42, 69, 72, 82, 87, stop "Champ de Mars" or "Tour Eiffel"

In addition, near the Eiffel Tower there is a pier where boats and pleasure boats stop. There is also parking for cars and bicycles near the tower.

Eiffel Tower on the map

Information for those wishing to visit the Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower opening hours:

Mid-June to end of September:

• Elevator - from 9:00 to 0:45 (entry until 0:00 on the 1st and 2nd floor and until 23:00 on the 3rd floor)
• Stairs - from 9:00 to 0:45 (entry until 0:00)

Rest of the year:

• Elevator - from 9:30 to 23:45 (entry until 23:00 on the 1st and 2nd floor and until 22:30 on the 3rd floor)
• Stairs - from 9:30 to 18:30 (entry until 18:00)

There are no days off, the Eiffel Tower is open all days of the year, and on holidays (Easter and spring break) it has an extended work schedule.

Ticket prices for the Eiffel Tower:

• Elevator with access to the 1st and 2nd floor - 11 €;
• Staircase with access to the 1st and 2nd floor - 7 €;
• Elevator to the 3rd observation deck - 17 €;

Ticket prices are for adults. Group tours, as well as tickets for children (4-11 years old), youth (12-24 years old) and people with disabilities are cheaper.

Important: schedule and ticket prices may change, we recommend checking the information on the official website of the tower toureiffel.paris

It is located on the Champ de Mars near the Jena bridge over the river Seine. The Eiffel Tower is known to any person on earth, and since its construction, more than 250 million people have visited its observation decks.

How to get to the Eiffel Tower

• Bir-Hakeim metro station (line 6) or Trocadero station (line 9).

Eiffel Tower levels

• The ground floor area is located at a height of 57 meters. This area can be reached on foot and by lift. Tickets for the first level are the cheapest. There are souvenir shops and a restaurant here, you can also see a fragment of a spiral staircase that used to connect the second and third floors.
• The second floor is located at a height of 115 meters and offers a beautiful panorama of Paris. There are souvenir shops and a restaurant.
• Tourists can get to the third level in two stages: first, the elevator goes to the second level. Here you need to find an elevator that goes from the second to the third level. From a height of 276 meters offers an unforgettable view of the capital of France. In a small bar you can buy and drink a glass of champagne for 12-21 euros.
• There are toilets on the second and third levels.

Opening hours of the Eiffel Tower in 2019

• June 21 - September 2
  • Elevator access from 9:00 to 0:45, last visit to the upper level starts at 23:00
  • Stair access from 9:00 to 0:45, last visit at 0:00
• September 3 - June 20
  • Elevator access from 9:30 am to 11:45 pm, last visit to the upper level starts at 10:30 pm
  • Stair access from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm, last visit at 6:00 pm

Ticket prices for the Eiffel Tower 2019

Tickets for the Eiffel Tower can be bought directly at the box office at the foot of the tower or on the official website. Buying tickets at the box office is the last option if there are no seats online or for some other reason. In this case, you will have to stand in two lines - at the cash desk, and directly in front of the elevator. Tickets are sold online for certain time slots. You will need to arrive a little earlier and show a printout of the ticket. When buying online, the queue will consist only of those who bought tickets for the same time. It is strongly not recommended to visit the Eiffel Tower on weekends and holidays - crowds of tourists are intensified by the French from all over the country and residents of neighboring countries. If your visit still falls on holidays, then you need to buy a ticket in advance, for example, a month in advance.

• Third level (on two elevators)
  • Adults - 25.5 euros
  • Children 12-24 years old - 12.7 euros
  • Children 4-11 years old - 6.4 euros
• Third level (stairs + lift)
  • Adults - 19.4 euros
  • Children 12-24 years old - 9.7 euros
  • Children 4-11 years old - 4.9 euros
  • Children under 4 accompanied by adults - free of charge
• Second level by elevator
  • Adults - 16.3 euros
  • Children 12-24 years old - 8.1 euros
  • Children 4-11 years old - 4.1 euros
  • Children under 4 accompanied by adults - free of charge
• Second level stairs
  • Adults - 10.2 euros
  • Children 12-24 years old - 5.1 euros
  • Children 4-11 years old - 2.5 euros
  • Children under 4 accompanied by adults - free of charge

History of the Eiffel Tower

The history of the construction of this unusual building began in 1889, when the World Exhibition dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution was held in Paris.

The city authorities decided to build a temporary structure in the form of an arch as an entrance to the exhibition. On May 1, 1886, a design competition began, the winner of which was the work of Auguste Eiffel, who proposed a variant that was not only interesting in terms of engineering, but also beautifully designed. Upon learning of his victory in the competition, the designer exclaimed: “France will be the only country with a 300-meter flagpole!”

It should be noted that the very idea of ​​the building belongs to the designers Maurice Koechlen and Emile Nougier, and the artistic appearance of the building was created by the architect Stefan Sauvestre. He proposed sheathing the basement supports with stone and creating majestic entrance arches, placing glazed halls on the floors, and making the top of the structure round. To assemble such a huge structure in a short time allowed the method of construction proposed by Eiffel.

An agreement was signed between Auguste Eiffel and the state, according to which the tower was leased to the engineer for 25 years.

The attitude towards the tower was very different. So Maupassant said that he feels good only at its top when he does not see this monster, at the same time, the French writer Jean Cocteau and the poet Apollinaire Guillaume admired the monster. Vladimir Mayakovsky talked to the Eiffel Tower and persuaded her "Come, tower, to us."

The attitude to the Eiffel Tower was a test of readiness to enter the 20th century. If you don’t like it, then, grandpa, it’s time for you to go to the Père Lachaise cemetery in Paris, but if you like it, welcome to the 20th century.

The construction of the tallest building at that time cost 7.8 million francs, with 1.5 million gold francs reimbursed to the Eiffel as a subsidy.

26 months after the start of construction on March 31, 1889, the work was completed and Gustave Eiffel and the hardiest officials climbed up the 1710 steps. And in just the first six months, more than 2 million visitors climbed to the top of the Eiffel Tower.

Upon completion of construction, the Eiffel Tower had a height of 300.65 meters and surpassed the tallest buildings of that time - the Pyramid of Cheops in Egypt with a height of 137 meters, Cologne and Ulm Cathedral in Germany with a height of 157 and 161 meters, respectively. At the same time, the height of the Chrysler Building, a skyscraper built in New York in 1930, was 319 meters and at that time it became the tallest building in the world.

According to the contract concluded at the end of construction, the building was to be dismantled after 20 years. But the "iron lady" was saved by radio antennas installed at the top. It was a period of development of radio communications, and on January 1, 1910, the contract was extended for another 70 years.

The world-famous symbol of France, the most famous landmark of Paris, filmed in hundreds of films, sung in verse, reproduced millions of times in souvenirs and postcards, an object of admiration and ridicule, captured in paintings and caricatures - all this is the Eiffel Tower. Caused at first a lot of controversy and mass discontent, it has become a favorite meeting place for Parisians and an integral part of the image of Paris. More than 6 million people visit the tower every year, and by popularity it ranks first in the world among paid attractions. In total, during its existence, the Eiffel Tower was visited by over a quarter of a billion people.

History of the Eiffel Tower

“There is nothing more permanent than temporary” is a common expression with good reason to apply to the Eiffel Tower. In 1889, the World Industrial Exhibition was planned to be held in Paris, at which it was supposed to present all the latest achievements of mankind in science and technology. The year of the exhibition was not chosen by chance - France was preparing to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille.

As conceived by the organizing committee, the symbol of the exhibition was to be a building that embodies scientific and technological progress and demonstrates the achievements of the country. A competition was announced for which 107 projects were submitted. Among them were very peculiar ones, for example, a huge model of a guillotine, a sad attribute of the Great French Revolution. One of the requirements for the project was the ease of dismantling the future structure, since it was intended to be removed after the exhibition.

The winner of the competition was the French engineer and industrialist Gustave Eiffel, who presented a project for an openwork structure made of ductile iron 300 meters high. Eiffel's full partners were his employees Maurice Koechlen and Emile Nougier, who proposed the very idea of ​​a metal frame tower.

In the original version, the future construction had a too “industrial” look, and the Parisian public actively opposed the appearance of such a structure, which, in its opinion, destroyed the aesthetic appearance of Paris. The artistic processing of the project was entrusted to the architect Stefan Sauvestre, who proposed to decorate the lower supporting part of the tower in the form of arches and arrange the entrance to the exhibition under them. The supports themselves were supposed to be overlaid with stone slabs, glazed halls were built on some floors and a number of decorative elements were added.

The project was patented by Eiffel and two of his co-authors. Later, Eiffel bought out the shares of Köschelin and Nouguier and became the sole owner of the copyright.

The estimated cost of the work was 6 million francs, but in the end it rose to 7.8 million. The state and municipality could allocate only 1.5 million francs, and Eiffel undertook to find the missing funds, provided that the tower was leased to him for 20 years until dismantling. After signing the contract, Eiffel created a joint-stock company with a capital of 5 million francs, half of which was contributed by the engineer himself, half by three Paris banks.

The publication of the final draft and terms of the treaty caused a flurry of protests from the French intelligentsia. A petition was sent to the municipality, which was signed by more than three hundred artists, architects, writers and musicians, including Maupassant, Charles Gounod, Alexandre Dumas son. The tower was called "lamppost", "iron monster", "hated column", urging the authorities to prevent the appearance in Paris of a structure that would disfigure its architectural appearance for 20 years.

However, the mood changed rather quickly. The same Maupassant subsequently liked to dine in one of the tower's restaurants. When they pointed out to him the inconsistency of his behavior, he calmly replied that the Eiffel Tower was the only place in Paris from where it was not visible.

The entire structure consisted of 18,000 elements that were manufactured at the Eiffel's own machine-building plant in the town of Levallois-Perret near Paris. The weight of each part did not exceed three tons, all mounting holes and parts were carefully adjusted to make assembly as easy as possible and avoid rework. The first tiers of the tower were assembled using tower cranes, then they switched to the use of small cranes of Eiffel's own design, which moved along rails designed for elevators. The elevators themselves were supposed to be driven by hydraulic pumps.

Thanks to the unprecedented accuracy of the drawings (the error was no more than 0.1 mm.) And the filigree fitting of the parts to each other already at the factory, the pace of work was very high. 300 workers took part in the construction. Working at height was very risky, and Eiffel paid special attention to safety, so there was not a single fatal accident at the construction site.

Finally, 2 years and 2 months after the laying, Eiffel invited municipal officials to inspect the tower. The elevators weren't working yet, and the unfortunate employees had to climb a flight of 1,710 steps.

The 300-meter tower, which became the tallest building in the world, was a resounding success. During the first six months of the exhibition, about 2 million visitors visited the tower, dubbed the "iron lady" for its graceful silhouette. Income from ticket sales, postcards, etc. by the end of 1889 covered 75% of construction costs.

By the time of the planned dismantling of the tower in 1910, it became clear that it would be better to leave it in its place. It was actively used for radio and telegraph communications, in addition, the tower fell in love with the general public and became a recognizable symbol of Paris in the world. The lease was extended for 70 years, but subsequently Eiffel renounced both the contract and his copyright in favor of the state.

A number of technical breakthroughs in the field of communications are associated with the Eiffel Tower. At the beginning of the 20th century, experiments were carried out on it with a wireless telegraph, and in 1906 a permanent radio station was installed. It was she who allowed in 1914, during the battle on the Marne, to make a radio interception of a German transmission and organize a counteroffensive. In 1925, the first TV signal was broadcast from the tower, and 10 years later, permanent TV broadcasting began. Thanks to the installation of television antennas, the height of the tower increased to 324 meters.

The case of Hitler's arrival in occupied Paris in 1940 is widely known. The Fuhrer was about to climb the tower, but right before his arrival, the workers who were involved in the maintenance of the elevators put them out of action. Hitler had to limit himself to a walk at the foot of the tower. Subsequently, specialists were sent from Germany, but they failed to get the elevators working, and the German flag never flew at the top of the symbol of Paris. The elevators started working again in 1944, a few hours after the liberation of the city.

The history of the tower could have ended in the same 1944, when Hitler ordered to blow it up along with many other sights, but the commandant of Paris, Dietrich von Choltitz, did not comply with the order. This did not have unpleasant consequences for him, since he immediately surrendered to the British.

"Iron Lady" of Paris

Today, the Eiffel Tower is one of the most popular places in the French capital, both among tourists and among the Parisians themselves. According to statistics, the largest number of tourists who come to Paris for the first time go to the Eiffel Tower. As for the inhabitants of the city, it is a common tradition among young Parisians to declare their love or make a marriage proposal on the Eiffel Tower, as if calling all of Paris to witness.

Eiffel himself, by the way, never called his brainchild the Eiffel Tower - he said "three hundred meters".

The metal structure weighs 7,300 tons and is highly durable and stable. Its deviation in a strong wind is 12 cm, at high temperatures - 18 cm. It is interesting that in working on the designs of the mounts, Eiffel was guided not only by technical calculations, but also by the work of the paleontologist Hermann von Mayer, who studied the structure of the joints of humans and animals, their ability to carry big load.

The lower floor is formed by four converging columns, connected by an arched vault at a height of about 57 m. On the platform they support, there are also four columns carrying a square platform with a side of 35 m. It is located at a height of 116 m. The upper part of the tower is a powerful column on which there is a third site (276 m.). The topmost platform (1.4 X 1.4 m) is located at a height of 300 m. You can climb the tower by elevator or stairs in 1792 steps.

Between the third and fourth sites, television and radio equipment, cellular antennas, a lighthouse and a weather station are installed.

Initially, the tower was illuminated by gas lamps, of which there were 10,000. In 1900, electric lighting was installed on the tower. In 2003, the lighting system was modernized, and in 2015, LED lamps began to be used. Light bulbs (there are 20 thousand of them) are easily replaced, which allows, if necessary, to arrange multi-colored illuminations.

The color of the tower itself has changed several times. Now it has a bronze tint, specially patented specifically for the Eiffel Tower. They paint it every 7 years, spending 57 tons of paint each time. At the same time, all parts of the tower are inspected, which, if necessary, are replaced with new ones.

Souvenir shops are open for visitors of the tower in the columns of the first tier, and there is also a post office in the southern pillar. Here, in a separate room, you can see the hydraulic mechanisms that once lifted the elevators.

On the first platform there is the 58 Eiffel restaurant, a souvenir shop and a cinema center, which shows films about the construction of the Eiffel Tower. The old spiral staircase also begins here, along which it was once possible to climb to the upper tiers and to the apartments of Eiffel himself, located on the third platform. On the parapet you can read the names of 72 famous scientists, engineers and industrialists of France. In winter, there is a small skating rink on the ground floor for skate lovers.

Eiffel's apartment was his favorite place to hang out when he visited the capital. It is quite spacious, furnished in the style of the XIX century, there is even a piano. In it, the engineer repeatedly received guests of honor who came to look at the tower, including Edison. The Parisian rich offered Eiffel a lot of money for apartments, or at least for the right to spend the night in them, but he refused every time.

On the second platform is Maupassant's favorite restaurant "Jules Verne", an observation deck and a permanent souvenir shop. Here you can also see the exposition telling about the construction of the tower.

The rise to the third floor is carried out with the help of three elevators. Previously, an observatory and a meteorological laboratory were located here, but now the third platform is a magnificent observation deck with a fantastic view of Paris. In the center of the site there is a bar for those who want to admire the view of the city with a glass of wine in hand.

Now it is impossible to imagine that the Eiffel Tower was once going to be demolished. On the contrary, it is the most copied landmark in the world. In total, more than 30 copies of the tower of varying degrees of accuracy are known, how many of them, known only to local residents, in fact, no one will say.

Eiffel Tower (Paris) - detailed description with photo, 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 with a height of more than 320 meters (the exact height is 324 meters) was built in 2 years and 2 months in 1889. It is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, who built it. Eiffel himself called it simply "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.

With the onset of darkness, the Eiffel Tower turns on beautiful light illumination.

Story

For the World Exhibition of 1889, timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution, the city authorities wanted to build an architectural structure that would become the pride of France. For this purpose, a competition among engineering bureaus was established. There was an offer to participate in it and Eiffel. Gustave himself had no ideas. He rummaged through old sketches and dug up a design for a high-rise steel tower, made by his collaborator Maurice Queschelin. The project was finalized and sent to the competition.

Out of 107 different projects, 4 winners were selected. Among them, of course, was the Eiffel project. After making changes to the project aimed at increasing the architectural appeal, it was declared the winner. In January 1887, an agreement was signed between the Eiffel Bureau and the municipal government of Paris to build the tower. At the same time, Eiffel was provided not only with a cash payment, but with a lease of the tower for 25 years. The contract provided for the dismantling of the tower after 20 years, but it became so popular that it was decided to keep it.

1. More than 5 million people visit the Eiffel Tower every year. More than 250 million people have visited the tower since its inception. A colossal number!
2. The cost of construction amounted to 7.5 million francs and 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 negatively perceived this building, believing that it does not fit into the architecture of the city. They repeatedly sent petitions to the mayor's office calling for the construction to be stopped or dismantled. So, 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 opening hours of the Eiffel Tower are as follows:

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

Ticket price

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

2nd floor stairs

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

To the top in an 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

For 100 years, the Eiffel Tower has been the undisputed symbol of Paris, and, perhaps, the whole of France. While in Paris, anyone strives to see this "triumph of the technical thought of the XIX century."

In horizontal projection, the Eiffel Tower rests on a square of 1.6 hectares. Together with the antenna, its height is 320.75 meters, and it weighs 8600 tons. According to experts, 2.5 million rivets were used in the process of its construction in order to get a smooth bend. 12,000 parts for the tower were made according to the most accurate drawings. In addition, the tallest tower in the world at that time was assembled by 250 workers in an amazingly short time.

Location of the Eiffel Tower

The main attraction of Paris is located on the Champ de Mars - a former military parade ground, later transformed into a beautiful park. At present, the park, the layout of which was changed by the architect Formiger in 1908-1928, is divided into wide alleys, decorated with flower beds and small ponds.

The Eiffel Tower is located next to the central embankment of the Seine, near the Pont de Jena bridge. The tower is visible from many points in Paris. Now it is considered an ornament of the city. Although it is worth recognizing that the tower was not specially decorated during construction. Eiffel at first had the idea to place decorative statues at the corners of each platform, but then he abandoned this idea, leaving only openwork arches, as they fit into the strict image of the structure.

The acceleration of technological progress in the 19th century led to revolutionary changes in architecture. In various projects, grandiose high-rise structures arise. At this time, radical transformations took place in architecture: glass and steel became a new building material, the most appropriate for the task of making any building light, dynamic, modern. Figuratively speaking, the engineer finally replaced the architect.

The government of the Third Republic decided to amaze the imagination of its contemporaries by building a structure the likes of which the world has not yet seen. The exhibition was supposed to demonstrate the achievements of technological progress. In 1886, a competition was announced in Paris for the best architectural project for the World Exhibition of 1889, timed to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. The plan of the Eiffel Tower was designed by Maurice Koechlin in 1884. Gustave Eiffel (he is also known for building the frame for the famous one) was interested in this project, and he decided to put it into practice. The plan of the future tower was substantially supplemented and adopted by the commission in June 1886. True, an unrealistically short time was allocated for the construction of the structure - only 2 years, and the tower was supposed to rise 1000 feet (304.8 meters). But this did not stop Eiffel. By this time he was quite a strong professional in his field. He built a large number of railway bridges, and the peculiarity of his style was that he was able to find extraordinary engineering solutions to complex technical problems. In November 1886, funds were allocated for the construction of this miracle of modernity.

On January 28, 1887, construction began on the left bank of the Seine. A year and a half was spent on laying the foundation, and it took just over eight months to assemble the tower.

During the laying of the foundation, a deepening was carried out up to 5 meters below the level of the Seine, blocks of 10 meters thick were laid in the pits, because nothing could be neglected to unconditionally guarantee stability. Hydraulic presses with a lifting capacity of up to 800 tons were installed in each of the four foundations for the tower legs. The 16 legs that support the tower (four in each of the four "legs") were equipped with hydraulic lifting devices in order to ensure an absolutely accurate horizontal level of the first platform.

Elevators were installed during construction. Four elevators inside the legs of the tower go up to the second platform, the fifth goes from the second to the third platform. Initially, the elevators were hydraulic, but at the beginning of the 20th century they were electrified. Only once, during 1940, was the tower completely closed, as all the elevators failed. Due to the fact that the Germans entered the city at that time, no one cared about the repair of the tower. The elevators were repaired only after 4 years.

On March 31, 1889, the Eiffel Tower was inaugurated. To the patriotic sounds of the Marseillaise, Gustave Eiffel climbed 1792 steps and hoisted the flag. The Eiffel Tower was built on time, within 26 months. Moreover, the accuracy of its design was simply amazing, everything was measured out to the smallest detail. Until 1931 (the date the Empire State Building was built), the tower was even considered the tallest building on our planet.

Of course, the project was grandiose, but at one time it met with a lot of sarcasm and censure. The Eiffel Tower was called the "monster in nuts." Many believed that it would not last long and would soon collapse. In the distant XIX century, the Parisians terribly did not like the tower, Hugo and Verlaine were indignant. Great cultural figures wrote long angry letters demanding that this "lightning rod" be removed from the streets of Paris immediately.

Maupassant regularly dined at the restaurant at the very top of the tower. When asked why he does this, if he really doesn’t like the tower, Maupassant replied: “This is the only place in all the vast Paris from where it is not visible.” Prominent artists were indignant: “In the name of genuine taste, in the name of art, in the name of the history of France, which is now under threat, we - writers, artists, sculptors, architects, passionate admirers of the still impeccable beauty of Paris, protest with deep indignation against the construction in the heart of our capital, the useless and monstrous Eiffel Tower."

Even some members of the commission, who gave the go-ahead for the construction of the tower, said that this building would not stand idle for more than 20 years, after this period it had to be demolished, otherwise the tower would simply collapse on the city. It is worth noting that even today, despite the fact that the Eiffel Tower has long been recognized as a symbol of France, some disdain this achievement of modern construction.

Many times in history, the question of demolishing the tower was discussed for various reasons (including the fact that some ministers believed that this was an extra investment of money). A serious threat to the tower existed in 1903, when money was even allocated for dismantling. The tower was saved only by the advent of radio. She became the mainstay of antennas for, then television and radar services.

Now, of course, there is no doubt about the need for the Eiffel Tower. On the tower there is a unique one, where daily fluctuations in electricity, the degree of pollution and the level of atmospheric radiation are being studied. From here the Parisian broadcasts its programs. A transmitter is installed on it, which provides communication between the police and firefighters. The highest platform has a diameter of 1.7 meters. It has a lighthouse. The light of its searchlights is visible at a distance of 70 kilometers.

Eiffel Tower today

The base of the Eiffel Tower is a square with sides of 123 meters. Its lower tier, which looks like a truncated pyramid, consists of four powerful pillars, the lattice structures of which, connecting with each other, form huge arches.

The tower has three floors. The first is at a height of 57 m, the second at 115 m and the third at 276 m. In addition to being noticeable due to its considerable height, the tower stands out due to its intense illumination. In 1986, the exterior night lighting of the tower was replaced by an internal lighting system, so that after dark it looks simply magical.

The Eiffel Tower is very stable: a strong one deflects its top by only 10 - 12 centimeters. In the heat from uneven heating by the sun's rays, it can deviate by 18 centimeters. 1910, which flooded the pylons of the tower, did not damage it at all.

Initially, the tower was a symbol of the Revolution. It was supposed to show the technical achievements of France over the past 10 years. The tower has never been just decoration. So, immediately after the opening of the Eiffel Tower, a restaurant began to operate here, which had an unprecedented success. 10 years later, another restaurant was opened. On the second, at a height of 116 meters, the Le Figaro newspaper equipped its editorial office. During the Empire and during the Revolution, numerous and crowded festivities were held on the Eiffel Tower. There are observation decks on the tower, which are extremely popular with tourists. In a particularly clear view, it can cover a distance with a radius of up to 70 km. And in 2004, an ice skating rink was opened here. It was mounted on the 57-meter height of the first floor of the tower within a week and a half. On an area of ​​200 square meters, 80 guests of the tower will be able to ride at the same time.

More than 6 million people visit the Eiffel Tower every year. Modern elevators deliver them to viewing platforms with spyglasses, restaurants, souvenir shops and the Tour Eiffel Museum. Many inhabitants of the planet still dream of seeing this miracle with their own eyes.