The Eiffel Tower (Paris) is a symbol of France. Eiffel Tower - a symbol of France When was the Eiffel Tower built in Paris

Category: Paris

Just as it is difficult to imagine Moscow without the Kremlin, so Paris is not Paris without the Eiffel Tower. Of all the architectural sights of the French capital, it is the most famous. It was designed by Gustav Eiffel, after whom the building is named. Moreover, the Eiffel Tower is not only a symbol of the city on the Seine, but also a calling card of the whole of France. Millions of tourists from all over the world are eager to see the “tall” beauty. There is no exaggeration here, since according to official statistics, about 5-6 million people visit the tower every year, and over the entire history of its existence, more than 250 million visitors have visited here. Only one thing follows from this: the named attraction is the most visited not only in Paris and France, but throughout the world.

The Eiffel project was said yes!

In 1889, it was the hundredth anniversary of the Great French Revolution (in Soviet historiography it was also called bourgeois). The date is epoch-making, so the city administration of Paris decided to coincide with the World Exhibition. The authorities wanted the event to have its own original architectural appearance. They turned to Gustave Eiffel for advice and help. At first he was confused - what to offer? But chance helped. The designer completely unexpectedly discovered in his drawings a sketch of a three-hundred-meter metal tower, which he had once shoved into a long drawer and almost forgot about it. The municipality liked the drawings and in September 1884 he was awarded a patent for the construction of this colossus.

In the spring of 1886, a competition was announced for the best architectural and engineering projects. It was they who were to determine the appearance of the future “revolutionary” exhibition. 107 competing architects presented their projects. Each of them - coincidentally - had a little in common with the project that Eiffel outlined. There were also alternative proposals. For example, build a stone tower. At first I liked the idea, but later abandoned it. They thought that it would be problematic to build a building made of stone, and such a tall one at that. Experts knew with what enormous efforts the Americans had erected the Monument in Washington (169 m) several years earlier. And the overseas “feat” is unlikely to be repeated in Paris.

As a result, the organizing committee said “yes” to G. Eiffel’s project. Its members were confident that the eminent engineer would erect such a tower in the optimal time frame, within two years, since he used a special construction technique. The only thing that was confusing was that the future tower would not be distinguished by its great sophistication of forms. Architect Stefan Sauvestre helped here, taking care of the aesthetic appearance of the structure. He came up with the idea of covering the basement supports with stone, connecting them to the ground floor platform using large arches. The arches were intended to be the main entrance to the World's Fair. The floors of the tower were also not supposed to be empty. The architect proposed to equip them with large halls with glass display cases. He did not forget about the top of the tower, considering it necessary to round the shape of the top, using a variety of elements for its decoration.

“Treaty of Three” and the price of the issue

By the beginning of 1887, all organizational aspects of construction were successfully settled. An agreement was scheduled to be signed in January to provide Eiffel with the right to personally operate the tower for 25 years. The document was signed by the architect himself, a representative of the French government and an authorized person from the capital municipality. The document also provided for the allocation of a special subsidy to Eiffel in the amount of one and a half million gold francs. This was a lot of money, 25% of the total budget for the construction of the tower.

Meanwhile, there was a catastrophic lack of funds to continue the work. To get things moving, they decided to organize a joint stock company. The authorized capital amounted to 5 million. Half of the amount was contributed by three large banks, the rest by Eiffel personally. Thus, the cost of constructing the tower was about 7.8 million francs. These investments paid off quickly, even during the exhibition. The subsequent operation of the structure also turned out to be a profitable business.

Gustave Eiffel did not disappoint expectations and completed the construction really quickly. It lasted from January 28, 1887 to March 31, 1889. That is, two years, two months and five days. In total, 300 workers were involved in the construction of the facility. But not only their professionalism and dexterity became the key to success. The record-breaking short construction period was made possible thanks to high-quality drawings. Eiffel pointed out with utmost precision - just think! – dimensions of more than 18 thousand metal parts that were assembled using – there is no limit to admiration for the craftsmanship! - two and a half million rivets.

How was the construction carried out?

Meeting deadlines became a matter of honor for Eiffel. Therefore, the first thing he did was prepare most of the tower fragments, and only then they were fastened together with rivets. The holes for them were drilled in advance so as not to mess around with them later. The architect also made sure that the prepared beams were not too heavy: this would have made construction very difficult. The optimal weight was no more than 3 tons, which made it easier to lift the fragments to the intended height.

The parts of the future attraction were lifted up using ordinary cranes. But the structure was methodically growing upward, and the lifts could no longer reach the right places. The prudent Eiffel was ready for such a development of events. He designed special mobile cranes that moved along the rails of elevators that were not yet available. This had its difficulties. After all, the lifting device had to move along the tower masts not just along a curved path, but also with a constantly changing radius of curvature. As for the elevators themselves, the very first of them were driven by hydraulic pumps. The Fives-Lill elevators, which were installed in both pillars of the tower in 1899, are still in working order today. Only since 1983 have they been driven by an electric motor. And the “retirement” hydraulic pumps remain safe and sound and can be seen by anyone who wishes.

Impressive tower dimensions

The dimensions of the Eiffel Tower can impress the most sophisticated imagination. Let's start with weight: the whole mass the structure is 10,100 tons, and the metal structure of the tower is 7,300 tons. Concrete masses form its foundation. Eiffel's brainchild is not afraid of any storms; its fluctuations under the influence of strong air currents are no more than 15 cm. In Paris, a strong gust of wind was once recorded, 180 km per hour. However, he deflected its top only by 12 cm. But the sun is a big “pest”. The side of the iron structure facing it becomes very hot under its rays and expands. Accordingly, she leans to the side. And by as much as 18 cm.

You can climb the tower not only by elevators, but also by stairs. There are “not many” steps in it – 1792. And now let’s mentally go down to the lowest floor. Let's take a closer look. It has the appearance of a pyramid. At the base, each side is 129.2 m. This “pyramid” is formed by four columns. At a height of 57.63 meters they are connected by an arched vault. The first platform of the tower was located on it. It has the shape of a square, the size of which is 65 m in diameter. From this platform the second floor, a “pyramid,” rushes upward. It is also formed by four columns. They are also connected by a vault. It houses a second square platform. It is slightly smaller and its diameter is 35 m. The height at which platform No. 2 is located is 115.73 m. There are four platforms on it, which come together like pyramids and, step by step, intertwining, form one huge column, also of a pyramidal type (190 meters). She herself, at a height of 276.13 m, carries the third platform. The shape is also square, 16.5 m in diameter. On this platform there is a lighthouse with a dome, and above it (height - 300 m) there is a platform 1.4 meters in diameter. The lighthouse reaches a distance of 10 km with its light.

What is on these platforms? The first one contains restaurant halls. The second is used for storage of containers with machine oil necessary for the operation of the elevator. There is also a restaurant here, in the glass gallery. Well, the third platform was allocated for two laboratories (meteorological and astronomical) and a physics room.

The designer was harshly criticized for the shape of the tower, accusing him of creating something “unartistic”. Eiffel responded to such criticism with reason, giving an interview to the newspaper Le Temps in February 1887. The “strange” shape of the tower, according to him, is dictated by the need to prevent wind loads. Therefore, together with his assistants, the architect scrupulously calculated the possible impact of atmospheric flows. Hence the tower has such an unusual shape.

The pits for the tower supports were built by Eiffel according to the method he used in the construction of bridges. The foundation of the structure had 16 caissons. Each of them had a workspace. And in each, according to the instructions of the architect, air was pumped under pressure. The pressure prevented the penetration of groundwater, allowing workers to excavate unhindered. The designer resorted to this method due to the proximity of the Seine.

When creating the tower, no one, including Eiffel, could have imagined that it would stand for more than a hundred years. The project was originally planned for 20 years, and then only as an exhibit for the World Exhibition.
As of 1889 (the date of its opening), the Eiffel Tower was the tallest building in the world. It rose to 300.65 m and held this championship for 40 years, losing it in 1930 to the New York skyscraper Chrysler Building.
Gustave Eiffel himself called his creation simply a 300-meter tower ( fr. tour de 300 mètres) and immortalized on its hull the names of outstanding French engineers and mathematicians, 70 people in total.
During the construction of the tower, the only fatality was recorded: one of the workers fell to his death.
In 1925, all sides of the tower (4 of them) were covered with billboards advertising the Citroen company. They hung there until 1934 and were at that time the largest outdoor advertising in the world.
Guy de Maupassant regularly dined in the restaurant on the ground floor of the tower, who did not hide his negative attitude towards it. They asked him: why eat in such an unpleasant place? The writer replied that the tower is the only place in Paris from where it... is not visible.
When the Germans were on the outskirts of Paris during the Second World War, the townspeople rendered the elevator on the tower unusable. The French did not want the enemy to admire the view of the defeated city. But Hitler was not embarrassed by this. The Fuhrer climbed to its top on foot. The elevator was restored only in 1944.
The Eiffel Tower, unfortunately, attracts suicides. The first suicide occurred here on July 15, 1898, when 23-year-old Rene Shipon hanged himself from a beam of one of the tower supports. Over more than 120 years of its existence, approximately 400 people committed suicide here.
The lighting of the Eiffel Tower was turned on immediately on the day of its opening. It was represented by gas lanterns (10 thousand pieces) and two spotlights. And also a lighthouse that provided light colored in the blue, white and red colors of the French national flag. Electric lamps appeared on the structure only in 1900. On December 31, 1985, the tower’s illumination system, which is still known today, was switched on from inside the tower itself. It was thought out in such a way that when darkness falls, the main symbol of Paris looks simply magical.
The Eiffel Tower is so famous and popular that smaller copies of it have appeared in many cities. Among these are Las Vegas, Guangzhou, Copenhagen, Varna, Slobodzeya and others.
The Eiffel Tower is not only a tourist attraction. It is used as a regular TV tower. The signal from it extends not only to Paris, but also to the Ile-de-France region.
A wide panorama of Paris and the metropolitan area opens from the third floor of the building. The viewing radius is about 70 km. Experts say that the best visibility occurs in clear weather an hour before sunset.

Who among us would not want to be in the most romantic, magical and beautiful city on earth - Paris?! Here you can stroll along the Champs Elysees, admire the most recognizable landmark of Paris on the Champ de Mars - the Eiffel Tower, an airy lattice beauty standing on the left bank of the Seine.

From the history of creation

How the idea was born

The city authorities announced a competition for the best architectural structure that could become the pride of France. At the same time, the building had to generate income and be easily dismantled later as unnecessary.

Engineer Gustave Eiffel submitted his design for a 300-meter iron tower to the commission, which was approved by the authorities of Paris. Construction required 7.8 million francs. The state allocated only 1.5 million to Eiffel. The engineer agreed to contribute the remaining amount from personal funds, subject to the lease of the tower he built for 25 years.

The agreement was concluded, and construction began in 1887, which had to be completed in 2 years, in time for the opening of the exhibition.

History of construction and uniqueness of the project

The tower was built in the shortest possible time. After 2 years, 2 months and 5 days, through the efforts of three hundred workers, its construction was completed. The “Iron Lady,” as the Parisians called her, was assembled like a children's construction set. First, the supports were built, and then they were connected using platforms.

The fast pace of construction is explained by perfectly executed drawings, which indicate absolutely accurate dimensions of all metal parts. Until now, Eiffel’s drawings are considered ideal, and now it is possible to build an exact copy of the iron beauty using them. The assembly required 18,038 metal parts and 2.5 million rivets. The height of the tower is equal to an 80-story building.

Despite its enormous dimensions, it turned out to be light and elegant, as if woven from lace, although the entire structure weighs 10 thousand tons. The weight of the coating paint is 57 tons.
Construction was carried out very carefully. A huge pit was dug into which 4 ten-meter blocks were installed under each leg of the tower.

A special hydraulic jack ensured that the blocks were perfectly level.

All wrought iron parts were made in Eiffel's own factory. Several parts on the ground were assembled into single blocks, and rivet sockets were pre-drilled into them. Each of these blocks weighed no more than 3 tons, which made installation at height easier.

While erecting the tower, Eiffel used such unusual construction tricks that the tabloid press predicted that he would be sent to a psychiatric clinic. He installed a small crawling crane that moves up the rails of future elevators. This accelerated the rise of structures to heights and eliminated the possibility of accidents during such high-rise construction.

On March 31, 1889, Eiffel invited willing officials for the first lift. To do this, it was necessary to overcome 1710 steps. The tower was named after the engineer who built it. At that time, he could not even imagine that she would glorify and perpetuate his name.

Architectural features

The base of the Eiffel Tower is a pyramid with four pillars, which are connected by an arch at a height of 60 meters. On it there is a square platform with sides of 65 meters. This is the 1st floor. From this platform the next 4 supports rise. At an altitude of 116 meters they form another vault. There is a second platform on it - a square 2 times smaller than the first. This is the 2nd floor.

The supports that shoot up from the second platform, gradually connecting, form a giant column 190 meters high. On this colossal rod, at a height of 276 meters from the ground, there is a third square platform with sides of 16.5 meters.

There is a lighthouse topped with a dome. And above it, at a height of 300 meters, there is a small one and a half meter platform - the 3rd floor of the tower.

The height of the Eiffel Tower today is 324 meters, thanks to the television antenna installed on it.

In order for the tower to better meet the aesthetic tastes of the Parisian public, the architect Stéphane Sauvestre proposed covering the base supports with stone and connecting them with the ground floor platform with patterned arches. And also place spacious glazed rooms on the floors, give the top a rounded shape, and use various decorative elements to decorate it.

The names of 72 prominent French scientists and engineers, including those who took part in the design and construction of the Iron Lady, are engraved on all four sides of the Eiffel Tower's plinths.

Why the French didn't like the Eiffel Tower

Nowadays no one can imagine Paris without the Eiffel Tower. But it was not always so. After its construction, it caused strong dissatisfaction among many townspeople. Parisian bohemians indignantly demanded the removal of “the ridiculous tower, this clumsy skeleton.” They called it ugly, tasteless, a huge iron pipe, a street lamp and a holey candelabra.

Many were outraged by the shadow of the tower, and were also annoyed by the fact that it was visible from anywhere in the city.
The famous French writer Guy de Maupassant, who constantly came to dine at the restaurant opened on the ground floor, answering the question why he dines here, categorically answered: “This is the only place in the city from where you cannot see the Eiffel Tower.”

But visitors to the exhibition and guests of the capital really liked the unusual structure. The success was deafening: in just 6 months it was visited by 2 million people. During this same time, it almost completely covered the construction costs.

The structure was planned to be dismantled in 1909, 20 years after its construction, but after stunning commercial success, the tower received “eternal registration.” The exploitation of his brainchild brought Eiffel a lot of money.

Time passed and proved that all the protests were in vain. And Eiffel managed to turn his enemies into admirers. The tower received unprecedented publicity from the concert of opera composer Charles Gounod, who agreed to play “Concert in the Clouds” here, accepting Eiffel’s unusual invitation.

A team of workers delivered the composer's piano to a height of 376 meters, and the concert sounded, amazing the puzzled audience. Eiffel himself, in order to finally defeat the skeptics, set up his personal office on the upper tier.

Dismantling was finally abandoned when the Eiffel Tower became the property of the capital. It was actively used for telephone and telegraph communications and the placement of radio stations. Since 1935, television programs began to be broadcast regularly.

Why is the tower interesting today?

Today the Eiffel Tower is the main attraction of Paris. Most tourists always admire it. Even after 120 years, it remains the tallest building in Paris and the fifth tallest in all of France. Despite its majestic size, the structure exerts pressure on the ground equal to the pressure of a person sitting on a chair.

Tourist Information

At the foot there are ticket offices and an information desk with brochures and booklets. There is a souvenir shop on each floor of the structure. A snack bar and a post office are available to tourists.

On the ground floor, visitors are greeted by a restaurant and a center where films about the construction of the Eiffel Tower are shown. There is also a fragment of an old spiral staircase leading to the upper floors and to the office of Eiffel himself.

Visitors approaching from the north side will see a gilded bust of its creator with a simple inscription: “Eiffel 1832–1923.”

On the second observation deck there is the Jules Verne restaurant and a small flooded skating rink.

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. Those who wish can climb the 1,792-step staircase. On the top floor, in an elegant bar, you can celebrate your rise with expensive champagne, a glass of which will cost 900 rubles in our money.

Several dozen linear and parabolic antennas are installed on the tower for broadcasting radio and television programs. The light of the lighthouse is visible for 10 km. The structure houses cell phone towers and a unique weather station that records data on atmospheric pollution and background radiation.

Original lighting

Immediately after construction, the tower shone with multi-colored lights: a lighthouse was installed on the top, glowing with the colors of the French flag, two searchlights and 10 thousand gas lamps. In 1900, the structure was equipped with electric light bulbs. And in 1925, the owner of the Citroen company placed a grand advertisement on it. With the help of 125 thousand light bulbs, images of the tower itself, the zodiac constellations, and also the products of the famous French automobile concern appeared alternately.

Over time, the lighting of the Eiffel Tower has been modernized several times. In order to save money, in 2015 electric lamps were replaced with LED ones. When night falls on the city, the symbol of Paris lights up with thousands of small lights. This is a spectacle of indescribable beauty, from which it is impossible to take your eyes off.

Usually the tower glows with golden lights. But during special occasions or mourning events, it is painted in the colors of the flags of various countries. Inscriptions are projected, symbolizing the upcoming event. In the evening, the light show - illumination - continues for 10 minutes of every hour.

Patented tower color

During its existence, the tower was both yellow and red-brown.
Today its bronze color is officially patented and is called Eiffel brown. Cosmetic repairs are carried out every 7 years and last a year and a half.

Each time, the old layer of paint is completely removed using high pressure steam. During a thorough inspection, unusable parts are replaced with new ones.
After this, the tower is covered with two layers of paint, which requires 57 tons.

The color is not uniform everywhere; it is painted in different tones of bronze color - from dark at the base to lighter at the very top. This is done so that the structure looks harmonious against the sky. Interestingly, even today paint is applied with brushes.

During the German occupation, the aggressors could not hoist their flag on the tower. All the lifting mechanisms were removed by the French, and specialists called from Germany were unable to help.
The tower is designed in such a way that it is not afraid of storms - during the strongest winds it deviates from its axis by only 12 centimeters. Iron structures are more susceptible to the sun. Iron elements expand so much when heated that the upper part sometimes deviates sideways up to 20 centimeters.
In 2010, a record for roller jumping was set from the 2nd floor, from a height of 115 meters.
In 2012, Alain Robber climbed to the top of the monument without insurance.
Every year the attraction is visited by 6 million tourists, in one day - 30 thousand people.
About 2 thousand kilograms of paper per year are required to print tickets for visitors to the Iron Lady.

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 the 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.” The total height of 300 m at that time 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 Frenchwoman. The status quo was restored in 1957, when a television antenna appeared on 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 taken the lead. 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 to be 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 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 by suggesting that the city use the tallest building in the city 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 communication 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 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' airplanes 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 at the top, and the height of the structure reached 324 meters.

Thousands of Eiffel Tower lanterns

When the tower was built, its lighting consisted of two spotlights 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 be taken 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 stairs are located in 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 Eiffel Tower has been part of the urban landscape of Paris for a hundred years and has become its symbol. But it is also not only the heritage of all of France, but also a monument to the great technical achievements of the late 19th century.

Who built the Eiffel Tower?

Since the second half of the 19th century, progress has led many countries around the world to build high-rise structures. Many of the projects suffered defeats even at the conception stage, but there were also those engineers who firmly believed in the success of their plans. Gustave Eiffel was one of the latter.

Gustave Eiffel

For the centenary of the Industrial Revolution in 1886, Paris opens a competition to create new outstanding achievements of our time. According to its concept, this event was to become one of the most outstanding events of its time. In the course of this idea, the Palace of Machines made of metal and glass, destroyed at the beginning of the 20th century, and the famous Eiffel Tower in Paris, 1000 feet high, were born.

Work on the Eiffel Tower project began back in 1884. By the way, Eiffel was not a novice in his field; before that, he brilliantly managed to find solutions in the field of construction of railway bridges. For the design competition, he provided about 5,000 sheets of drawings of the tower parts in the original scale. The project was approved, but this was only the beginning of hard work. There were still 3 years left before Eiffel would forever immortalize his name in history.

Construction of the Eiffel Tower

Many famous residents did not accept the construction of a tower in the middle of the city. Writers, artists, sculptors, and architects protested against this construction, which, in their opinion, violated the original beauty of Paris.

But, nevertheless, the work continued. A huge 5-meter pit was dug into which four 10-meter blocks were installed under each leg of the tower. Additionally, each of the 16 tower supports was equipped with hydraulic jacks to obtain an ideal horizontal level. Without this plan, the construction of the tower could have dragged on forever.

July 1888

250 workers were able to erect the tallest tower of its time in the world in just 26 months. Here it is only worth envying Eiffel’s capabilities in the field of accurate calculations and organization of work. The height of the Eiffel Tower is 320 meters, the total weight is about 7500 tons.

The tower is divided into three tiers - 60 meters, 140 meters and 275 meters. Four elevators inside the tower's legs take visitors up to the second. The fifth elevator goes to the third level. There is a restaurant on the first floor, a newspaper office on the second, and Eiffel's office on the third.

Despite early criticism, the tower blended seamlessly with the city's views and quickly became a symbol of Paris. During the exhibition alone, about two million people visited here, some of whom immediately climbed to the very top on foot.

With the end of the exhibition, it was decided to demolish the tower. New technologies - radio - became her salvation. Antennas were quickly installed on the tallest structure. In subsequent years, television and radar antennas were installed on it. There is also a weather station and broadcasting of city services.

Until the construction of the Empire State Building in 1931, the tower remained the tallest structure in the world. It is difficult to imagine the city of Paris without this glorious image.

The most recognizable landmark of Paris, a symbol of France, named after its creator Gustav Eiffel. It is a place of real pilgrimage for tourists. The designer himself simply called it a 300-meter tower.

Eiffel Tower (Paris) - symbol of France

In 2006, the tower was visited by 6,719,200 people, and over its entire history - over 250 million people, making the tower the most visited attraction in the world. Eiffel Tower (Paris) was conceived as a temporary structure - it served as the entrance arch of the Paris World Exhibition of 1889. The tower was saved from the planned demolition 20 years after the exhibition by radio antennas installed at the very top - this was the era of the introduction of radio.

Where is the Eiffel Tower

If we talk about where is the Eiffel Tower specifically, it stands on the Champ de Mars opposite the Jena Bridge over the Seine River.

The question of how to get to the Eiffel Tower is also very simple: you need to navigate to the Bir-Hakeim station on line 6 of the Paris Metro. Another option is Trocadero station on line 9. Bus routes to the Eiffel Tower are: 42, 69, 72, 82 and 87.

If you wish, you can see in real time what is happening around the main attraction of Paris and see others. Webcams of the Eiffel Tower and Paris are not as popular and developed as in New York, so they offer only a limited view of the tower.

Height of the Eiffel Tower

Height of the Eiffel Tower in the spire is 324 meters (2000). For more than 40 years, the Eiffel Tower was the tallest structure in the world, almost 2 times taller than the tallest buildings in the world at that time - (137 m), (156 m) and Ulm Cathedral (161 m) - until it was surpassed in 1930 Chrysler Building in New York.

Throughout its history, the tower has repeatedly changed its paint color - from yellow to red-brown. In recent decades, the Eiffel Tower has been invariably painted “Eiffel Brown” - an officially patented color close to the natural shade of bronze, which is barely visible in night photos of the Eiffel Tower.

Eiffel Tower in Paris: history

Eiffel Tower in Paris was created specifically for the World Exhibition of 1889, which was organized by the authorities for the centenary of the French Revolution. The famous engineer Gustave Eiffel submitted to the Paris administration his project for a 300-meter iron tower, which he was not actually involved in. On September 18, 1884, Gustav Eiffel received a joint patent for the project with his employees, and subsequently bought the exclusive right from them.

On May 1, 1886, a nationwide competition for architectural and engineering projects for the future World Exhibition opened, in which 107 applicants took part. Various extravagant ideas were considered, including, for example, a giant guillotine, which was supposed to be reminiscent of the French Revolution of 1789. Eiffel's project becomes one of the 4 winners and then the engineer makes final changes to it, finding a compromise between the original purely engineering design scheme and the decorative option.

In the end, the committee settled on Eiffel's plan, although the idea of the tower itself did not belong to him, but to two of his employees: Maurice Koechlen and Emile Nouguier. It was possible to assemble such a complex structure as a tower within two years only because Eiffel used special construction methods. This explains the decision of the exhibition committee in favor of this project.

In order for the tower to better meet the aesthetic tastes of the demanding Parisian public, the architect Stéphane Sauvestre proposed covering the base supports of the tower with stone, connecting its supports and the ground floor platform with the help of majestic arches, which would simultaneously become the main entrance to the exhibition, and placing spacious glazed halls, give the top of the tower a rounded shape and use a variety of decorative elements to decorate it.

In January 1887, Eiffel, the state and the municipality of Paris signed an agreement according to which Eiffel was provided with an operating lease of the tower for his personal use for a period of 25 years, and also provided for the payment of a cash subsidy in the amount of 1.5 million gold francs, amounting to 25% of all expenses for construction of a tower. On December 31, 1888, in order to attract the missing funds, a joint-stock company was created with an authorized capital of 5 million francs. Half of this amount is funds contributed by three banks, the other half is the personal funds of Eiffel himself.

The final construction budget was 7.8 million francs. The tower paid for itself during the exhibition period, and its subsequent operation turned out to be a very profitable business.

Construction of the Eiffel Tower

Construction work was carried out by 300 workers for just over two years - from January 28, 1887 to March 31, 1889. The record-breaking construction time was facilitated by extremely high-quality drawings indicating the exact dimensions of more than 12,000 metal parts, for the assembly of which 2.5 million rivets were used.

To finish construction of the Eiffel Tower at the appointed time, Eiffel used, for the most part, pre-fabricated parts. At first, high cranes were used. When the structure outgrew their height, mobile cranes specially designed by Eiffel were used. They moved along rails laid for future elevators. The first tower elevators were powered by hydraulic pumps. Two historic Fives-Lill elevators, installed in 1899 in the eastern and western pillars of the tower, are still in use to this day. Since 1983, their operation has been ensured by an electric motor, while the hydraulic pumps have been preserved and are available for inspection.

The second and third floors of the tower were connected by a vertical elevator, created by engineer Edu (Eiffel’s classmate at the Central Higher Technical School) and consisting of two mutually leveling cabins. Halfway to the landing, at an altitude of 175 m from the ground, passengers had to transfer to another elevator. Water tanks installed on the floors provided the necessary hydraulic pressure. In 1983, this lift, which could not operate in the winter, was replaced by an Otis electric lift. It consisted of four cabins and provided direct communication between two floors. The construction of the Eiffel Tower required special attention to the safety of continuous work. This became Eiffel's greatest concern. There were no deaths during the construction work, which was a significant achievement for that time.

The work progressed slowly but continuously. It aroused surprise and admiration among Parisians who saw the tower growing into the sky. On March 31, 1889, less than 26 months after the excavation began, Eiffel was able to invite several more or less physically strong officials to the first ascent of 1,710 steps.

Eiffel Tower (France): public reaction and subsequent history

The structure was a stunning and immediate success. During the six months of the exhibition, more than 2 million visitors came to see the “iron lady”. By the end of the year, three quarters of all construction costs were recovered.
In addition to the Eiffel, there are several more interesting and unusual towers: the leaning tower, the leaning tower and the legendary one.
In October 1898, Eugene Ducretet conducted the first telegraph communication session between the Eiffel Tower and the Pantheon. In 1903, General Ferrier, a pioneer in the field of wireless telegraphy, used it for his experiments. It so happened that the tower was left at first for military purposes.

Since 1906, a radio station has been permanently located on the tower. January 1, 1910 Eiffel extends the lease of the tower for a period of seventy years. In 1921, the first direct radio transmission from the Eiffel Tower took place. A wide radio broadcast was broadcast, made possible by the installation of special antennas on the tower. Since 1922, a radio program began to be published regularly, which was called “Eiffel Tower”.

In 1925, the first attempts were made to relay a television signal from the tower. The transmission of regular television programs began in 1935. Since 1957, a television tower has been located on the tower, increasing the height of the steel structure to 320.75 m. In addition to it, several dozen linear and parabolic antennas are installed on the tower. They provide retransmission of various radio and television programs.

During the German occupation of 1940, the French damaged the elevator drive just before Adolf Hitler arrived, so the Fuhrer never climbed it. In August 1944, as the Allies approached Paris, Hitler ordered General Dietrich von Koltitz, the military governor of Paris, to destroy the tower along with the rest of the city's landmarks. But Von Koltitz disobeyed the order. Surprisingly, a few hours after the liberation of Paris, the elevator drive started working again.

Eiffel Tower: interesting facts

The weight of the metal structure is 7,300 tons (total weight 10,100 tons). Today, three towers could be built from this metal at once. The foundation is made of concrete masses. The vibrations of the tower during storms do not exceed 15 cm.
The lower floor is a pyramid (129.2 m each side at the base), formed by 4 columns connected at a height of 57.63 m by an arched vault; on the vault is the first platform of the Eiffel Tower. The platform is a square (65 m across).
On this platform rises a second pyramid-tower, also formed by 4 columns connected by a vault, on which there is (at a height of 115.73 m) a second platform (a square 30 m in diameter).
Four columns rising on the second platform, pyramidally approaching and gradually intertwining, form a colossal pyramidal column (190 m), carrying a third platform (at a height of 276.13 m), also square in shape (16.5 m in diameter); there is a lighthouse with a dome on it, above which at an altitude of 300 m there is a platform (1.4 m in diameter).
There are stairs (1792 steps) and elevators leading to the tower.

Restaurant halls were erected on the first platform; on the second platform there were tanks with machine oil for the hydraulic lifting machine (elevator) and a restaurant in a glass gallery. The third platform housed the astronomical and meteorological observatories and the physics room. The light of the lighthouse was visible at a distance of 10 km.

The erected tower was stunning with its bold design. Eiffel was severely criticized for the project and simultaneously accused of trying to create something artistic and non-artistic.

Together with his engineers - specialists in bridge construction, Eiffel worked on calculating the strength of the wind, well aware that if they were building the tallest structure in the world, they must first of all make sure that it was resistant to wind loads.

The original agreement with Eiffel was for the tower to be dismantled 20 years after construction. As you might guess, it was never implemented, and the story of the Eiffel Tower continued.

Under the first balcony, on all four sides of the parapet, the names of 72 outstanding French scientists and engineers, as well as those who made a special contribution to the creation of Gustav Eiffel, are engraved. These inscriptions appeared at the beginning of the 20th century and were restored in 1986–1987 by the Société Nouvelle d’exploitation de la Tour Eiffel, a company hired by the mayor’s office to operate the Eiffel Tower. The tower itself is the property of the city of Paris.

Eiffel Tower lighting

The lights on the Eiffel Tower were first turned on on its opening day in 1889. Then it consisted of 10 thousand gas lamps, two searchlights and a lighthouse installed on the top, the light of which was colored blue, white and red - the colors of the national flag of France. In 1900, electric lamps appeared on the Iron Lady's designs. The current golden lighting was first turned on on December 31, 1985, and can be seen in many photographs of the Eiffel Tower taken in recent years.

In 1925, Andre Citroen placed an advertisement on the tower that he called “Eiffel Tower on Fire.” About 125 thousand electric light bulbs were installed on the tower. One after another, ten images flashed on the tower: the silhouette of the Eiffel Tower, star rain, the flight of comets, the signs of the Zodiac, the year the tower was created, the current year and, finally, the name Citroen. This promotion lasted until 1934, and the tower was the tallest advertising location in the world.

In the summer of 2003, the tower was “dressed” in a new lighting robe. Over the course of several months, a team of thirty climbers entangled the tower structures with 40 kilometers of wires and installed 20 thousand light bulbs, manufactured to a special order from one of the French companies. The new illumination, which cost 4.6 million euros, was reminiscent of the one that first turned on on the tower on the night of New Year 2000, when the tower, usually illuminated by golden-yellow lanterns, in a matter of seconds was dressed in a fairy-tale glow, winking with silver lights.

From July 1 to December 31, 2008, during France's presidency of the EU, the tower was illuminated with blue stars (reminiscent of the European flag).

It consists of four levels: lower (ground), 1st floor (57 meters), 2nd floor (115 meters) and 3rd floor (276 meters). Each of them is remarkable in its own way.

On the lower level there are ticket offices where you can buy tickets to the Eiffel Tower, an information stand where you can grab useful brochures and booklets, as well as 4 souvenir shops - one in each column of the tower. In addition, there is a post office in the southern column, so you can send a postcard to your family and friends right from the foot of the famous building. Also, before starting to conquer the Eiffel Tower, you have the option of having a snack at the buffet located right there. From the lower level you can enter the offices where old hydraulic machines are installed, which in the past raised elevators to the top of the tower. They can only be admired as part of excursion groups.

The 1st floor, which can be reached on foot if desired, will delight tourists with another souvenir shop and the 58 Tour Eiffel restaurant. However, in addition to this, there is a preserved fragment of a spiral staircase, which at one time led from the second floor to the third, and at the same time to Eiffel’s office. You can learn a lot about the tower by going to the Cineiffel center, where animation dedicated to the history of the structure is shown. Children will certainly be interested in meeting Gus, the hand-drawn mascot of the Eiffel Tower and the character of a special children's guide book. Also on the 1st floor you can admire posters, photographs, and all kinds of illustrations from different times dedicated to the “Iron Lady.”

On the 2nd floor, the first thing that attracts attention is the general panorama of Paris, opening from a 115-meter height. Here you can replenish your supplies of souvenirs, find out a lot about the history of the tower at special stands, and at the same time order yourself a delicious lunch at the Jules Verne restaurant.

The 3rd floor is the main goal of many tourists, in fact the top of the Eiffel Tower, located at an altitude of 276 meters, where elevators with transparent glass lead, so that already on the way there there is a stunning view of the French capital. At the top you can treat yourself to a glass of champagne at the Champange bar. Climbing to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris is an experience that will last a lifetime.

If you want to experience this, then it's time to book a tour to the Eiffel Tower:

Eiffel Tower Restaurants

Having lunch or simply drinking a glass of wine in one of the restaurants located on the Eiffel Tower while admiring the view of Paris is the dream of many, so once you get to the top you should not deny yourself the pleasure of visiting a restaurant on the Eiffel Tower. In total, the tower houses two excellent restaurants, a bar and several buffets.

Opened recently on the 1st level of the Eiffel Tower, the 58 Tour Eiffel restaurant offers its visitors both light lunches and classic dinners, which can be enjoyed in a cozy and friendly atmosphere of the restaurant, looking at Paris from a 57-meter height. It's not a very fancy place, but it's a very nice place. You can book your two-course meal and lift ticket using the link below.

"Jules Verne"

The restaurant on the 2nd floor of the tower, named after the famous writer, is an excellent example of modern and refined French cuisine. A variety of delicacies and unique dishes combined with a designer interior and impeccable ambiance - all this turns an ordinary lunch at Jules Vernet into a real feast of taste.

The “Champagne Bar”, located at the top of the Eiffel Tower, and drinking a glass of sparkling drink there is a kind of logical conclusion to the ascent to the main attraction of Paris. You can choose pink or white champagne, which cost between 10-15 euros per glass.

Eiffel Tower Tickets

As mentioned above, ticket offices are located on the lowest level of the tower. The cost of an adult ticket to the top of the tower is 13.40 euros, to the 2nd floor - 8.20 euros. You can find out about other tickets on this page in a separate section. In addition, tickets for the Eiffel Tower can be purchased online on the attraction's website. In this case, an electronic ticket is sent by e-mail, which must be printed and taken with you on the day of the visit. Tickets can be purchased at least one day in advance of your visit. You can book tickets for the Eiffel Tower on the website, where all instructions are also indicated.

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