Whether you're the lucky one who's visited Paris or just dreaming of getting there, chances are you're aware of the French capital's most beloved landmark: the Eiffel Tower.

The Eiffel Tower (La Tour Eiffel in French) was the main exhibit of the Paris and World Exhibition in 1889. It was built in honor of the centenary of French Revolution, and was intended to demonstrate France's industrial prowess throughout the world.

The French engineer Gustave Eiffel is usually credited with designing the tower, which bears his name. Actually it's two less famous person– Maurice Koechlin and Emil Nougir, who came up with the original drawings for the monument.

They were chief engineers for the Compagnie de Etablissements Eiffel, Gustave Eiffel's engineering firm. Together with Gustave and the French architect Stephen Sauvestry, the engineers submitted their plan to a competition that was to be the centerpiece of the 1889 fair in Paris.

The Eiffel company won the design, and construction of the tower began in July 1887. But not everyone was happy with the idea of ​​a giant metal monument that would stand in the city center. When construction of the tower began on , a group of three hundred artists, sculptors, writers and architects sent an appeal to the head of the Paris Exhibition, begging him to interrupt the construction of an “unnecessary tower” that would “stand over Paris” like a “black big smokestack.” But the protests of the Paris community fell on deaf ears. Construction of the tower was completed in just two years, on March 31, 1889.

Eiffel Tower construction process

Each of the 18,000 pieces used to build the tower was designed specifically for of this project and prepared at the Eiffel factory on the outskirts of Paris. The structure consists of four huge wrought iron arches set on stone piers.

The construction of the tower required 2.5 million assembled rivets and 7,500 tons of cast iron. To protect the tower from the elements, workers painted every inch, a feat that required 65 tons of paint. Since then, the tower has been repainted 18 times.

Facts you didn't know about the Eiffel Tower:

– Gustave Eiffel used wrought iron latticework to build the tower. To demonstrate that metal can be as strong as stone, but lighter.

– Gustave Eiffel also created the internal frame for the Statue of Liberty.

– The total cost of the construction of the Eiffel Tower was 7,799,502.41 French gold francs in 1889.

– The Eiffel Tower is 1,063 feet (324 meters) tall, including the antennas at the top. Without antenna it is 984 feet (300 m).

– At that time, it was the tallest structure until the Chrysler Building was built in New York in 1930.

– The tower sways slightly in the wind, but the sun affects the tower more. As which side of the tower heats up in the sun, the top moves can vary by 7 inches (18 centimeters).

– The weight of the tower is about 10,000 tons.

– There are about 5 billion lights on the Eiffel Tower.

– The French came up with a nickname for their tower – La Dame de Fer (The Iron Lady).

– One tower elevator travels a total distance of 64,001 miles (103,000 km) per year.

Using the tower

When the Compagnie Des Etablissements Eiffel won the tender to begin construction of the tower on the Champ de Mars, it was understood that the structure was temporary and would be removed after 20 years. But Gustave Eiffel was not interested in seeing his beloved project dismantled after a couple of decades, and so he set about making the tower an indispensable tool for society.

Just a few days after its opening, Eiffel installed a meteorological laboratory on the third floor of the tower. He offered to use the laboratory to scientists for their research on the entire gravity of electricity. Ultimately, it was the enormous tower, not the laboratory, that saved it from extinction.

In 1910, Paris accepted the Eiffel concession, due to the self-interest of this structure, as a wireless telegraph transmission. The French military used the tower to maintain communications in Atlantic Ocean and interception of enemy data during the First World War. Today the tower includes more than 120 antennas for both radio and television signals throughout the capital and beyond.

Tower today

The Eiffel Tower is still a major element of the city's urban landscape. More than 8 million tourists visit this iconic building every year. Since its opening in 1889, 260 million citizens from all over the world have come to see this architectural marvel when in Paris.

She has something to offer you. The three platforms at the tower are home to two restaurants, several buffets, a banquet hall, a champagne bar and many souvenir shops. Guided tours are available for children and tourist groups.

The tower is open to the public all year round. From June to September – the tower remains open even after midnight. Prices vary, but visitors can expect to pay between $14 (11 euros) and $20 (15.5 euros) per person. The ticket includes access to the tower's three public elevators and 704 stairs. Tickets, including discounted ones, can be ordered online or at the ticket office near the tower.

Practical information

Location: Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris, France.

Working hours: Sunday – Thursday from 9:30 to 23:00. Friday, Saturday from 9:30 to 00-00.

Directions:

By metro, stops Bir-Hakeim (3 minutes, line 6), Trocadero (5 minutes, line 9), École militaire (5 minutes, line 8);

RER trains: Champs de mars stop (1 minute walk);

By car: If you want to come to the Eiffel Tower by car, we recommend that you park in any of the underground car parks closest to the Eiffel Tower. Good choice is the Quai Branly car park, located less than 300 meters from the tower!

What is France like? And how much does the Eiffel Tower mean to the French? France is nothing without Paris, and Paris is nothing without the Eiffel Tower! Just as Paris is the heart of France, so the Eiffel Tower is the heart of Paris itself! It’s strange to imagine now, but there were times when they wanted to deprive this city of its heart.

The history of the Eiffel Tower

In 1886, preparations were in full swing in France for the World Exhibition, where it was planned to show the world the technical achievements of the French Republic over the past 100 years after the storming of the Bastille (1789) and 10 years since the proclamation of the Third Republic under the leadership of a president elected by the National meeting. There was an urgent need for a structure that could serve as an entrance arch to the exhibition and at the same time amaze with its originality. This arch should have remained in everyone’s memory as something embodying one of the symbols of the Great French Revolution - it was not for nothing that it was to stand on the square of the hated Bastille! It’s no big deal that the entrance arch was supposed to be demolished in 20-30 years, the main thing is to leave it in memory!

About 700 projects were considered: the best architects offered their services, including not only the French, but the commission gave preference to the project of bridge engineer Alexander Gustave Eiffel. There were rumors that he simply stole this project from some ancient Arab architect, but no one was able to confirm this. The truth was revealed only half a century after the openwork 300-meter Eiffel Tower, so reminiscent of the famous French Chantilly lace, had already firmly entered the consciousness of people as a symbol of Paris and France itself, immortalizing the name of its creator.

When the truth about the true creators of the Eiffel Tower project was revealed, it turned out to be not so scary at all. There was no Arab architect, but two engineers, Maurice Koehlen and Emile Nouguier, Eiffel employees, who developed this project based on the then new scientific and technological architectural direction - biomimetics or bionics. The essence of this (Biomimetics - English) direction is to borrow its valuable ideas from nature and transfer these ideas to architecture in the form of design and construction solutions and the use of these information technologies in the construction of buildings and bridges.

Nature often uses perforated structures to build light and strong skeletons of its “wards”. For example, for deep-sea fish or sea sponges, radiolarians ( simplest organism) and starfish. What is striking is not only the variety of skeletal design solutions, but also the “material savings” in their construction, as well as the maximum strength of structures that can withstand the gigantic hydrostatic pressure of a huge mass of water.

It was this principle of rationality that young French design engineers used when creating a project for a new arched tower for the entrance to the French World Exhibition. The basis was the skeleton of a starfish. And this magnificent structure is an example of the use of the principles of the new science of biomimetics (bionics) in architecture.

The engineers working in collaboration with Gustav Eiffel did not submit their own project for two simple reasons:

1. New construction schemes at that time would have rather frightened off the commission members than attracted them with their unusualness.
2. The name of the bridge builder Alexander Gustov was known to France and enjoyed well-deserved respect, but the names of Nouguier and Koechlen “weighed” nothing. And the name of Eiffel could serve as the only key to realizing his bold plans.

So, the information that Alexander Gustov Eiffel used the project of an imaginary Arab or the project of his like-minded people “into the dark” turned out to be unnecessarily exaggerated.

Let us add that Eiffel not only took advantage of the project of his engineers, he personally made some amendments to the drawings, using his rich experience in bridge construction and special methods he himself developed, which made it possible to strengthen the structure of the tower and give it a special airiness.

These special methods were based on scientific discovery Swiss professor of anatomy Hermann von Meyer, who 40 years before the construction of the Eiffel Tower began, documented an interesting discovery: the head of the human femur is covered with a fine network of tiny mini-bones that miraculously distribute the load on the bone. Thanks to this redistribution, the human femur does not break under the weight of the body and can withstand enormous loads, although it enters the joint at an angle. And this network has a strictly geometric structure.

In 1866, the architect-engineer from Switzerland Karl Kuhlmann brought the discovery of the professor of anatomy to the scientific technical basis that Gustav Eiffel used in the construction of bridges - load distribution using curved supports. He later used the same method to build such a complex structure as a three-hundred-meter tower.

So, this tower is truly a miracle of thought and technology of the 19th century in all respects!

Who built the Eiffel Tower

So, at the very beginning of 1886, the municipality of Paris of the Third French Republic and Alexander Gustav Eiffel signed an agreement in which the points were stated:

1. Within 2 years and 6 months, Eiffel was obliged to erect an arch tower opposite the Jena River Bridge. The Seine on the Champ de Mars according to the drawings he himself proposed.
2. Eiffel will provide the tower for personal use upon completion of construction for a period of 25 years.
3. Provide Eiffel with a cash subsidy for the construction of the tower from the city budget in the amount of 1.5 million francs in gold, which will amount to 25% of the final construction budget of 7.8 million francs.

For 2 years, 2 months and 5 days, 300 workers, as they say, “without absenteeism and weekends,” worked hard so that on March 31, 1889 (less than 26 months after the start of construction) could take place Grand opening the greatest building, which later became a symbol of the new France.

So advanced construction contributed not only to extremely clear and clear drawings, but also to the use of Ural iron. In the 18th and 19th centuries, all of Europe knew the word “Ekaterinburg” thanks to this metal. The construction of the tower did not use steel (carbon content no more than 2%), but a special alloy of iron, specially smelted in the Ural furnaces for the “Iron Lady”. “The Iron Lady” was another name for the entrance arch before it was called the Eiffel Tower.

However, iron alloys corrode easily, so the tower was painted bronze with a specially formulated paint that required 60 tons. Since then, every 7 years the Eiffel Tower is treated and painted with the same “bronze” composition and every 7 years 60 tons of paint are spent on this. The tower frame itself weighs about 7.3 tons, but the total weight, including the concrete base, is 10,100 tons! The number of steps was also calculated - 1 thousand 710 pieces.

Design of the arch and park-garden

The lower ground part is made in the form of a truncated pyramid with a side length of 129.2 m, with corner columns going up and forming, as intended, a high (57.63 m) arch. On this vaulted “ceiling” is fixed the first square platform, where the length of each side is almost 46 m. ​​On this platform, like on an aerial board, several halls of a huge restaurant with huge display windows were built, from where a magnificent view of all 4 sides of Paris opened. Even then, the view from the tower of the Seine embankment with the Pont de Jena bridge evoked complete admiration. But there was no dense green area - a park on the Champ de Mars, with an area of ​​more than 21 hectares.

The idea to redevelop the former Royal Parade Ground Military school the idea of ​​a public park came to the mind of the architect and gardener Jean Camille Formiget only in 1908. It took 20 years to bring all these plans to life! Unlike the rigid framework of the drawings according to which the Eiffel Tower was built, the plan of the park has changed countless times.

The park, originally planned in a strict English style, grew somewhat during its construction (24 hectares), and, having absorbed the spirit of free France, democratically “settled” between the geometrically slender rows of tall, strict trees and clearly defined alleys, many flowering shrubs and “ village" reservoirs, in addition to classic English fountains.

The main stage of construction was not the installation of the “metal lace” itself, for which about 3 million steel rivets-ties were used, but the guaranteed stability of the base and maintaining the absolutely ideal horizontal level of the building on a square of 1.6 hectares. It took only 8 months to fasten the openwork trunks of the tower and give it a rounded shape, and a year and a half to lay a reliable foundation.

Judging by the description of the project, the foundation rests on a depth of more than 5 meters below the level of the Seine bed, 100 stone blocks 10 m thick are laid in the foundation pit, and 16 powerful supports are already built into these blocks, which form the backbone of the 4 tower “legs” on which the Eiffel Tower stands. Additionally, a hydraulic device is built into each “leg” of the “lady”, which allows the “madam” to maintain balance and horizontality. The carrying capacity of each device is 800 tons.

When installing the lower tier, an addition was introduced into the project - 4 elevators that rise to the second platform. Later, another one - the fifth elevator - began to function from the second to the third platform. The fifth elevator appeared after the tower was electrified at the beginning of the 20th century. Up to this point, all 4 elevators operated on hydraulic traction.

Interesting information about elevators

When the troops of Nazi Germany occupied France, the Germans were unable to hang their spider flag at the top of the tower - for unknown reasons, all the elevators were suddenly in inoperative. And they remained in this state for the next 4 years. The swastika was only secured at the level of the second floor, where the steps reached. The French Resistance bitterly stated: “Hitler managed to conquer the country of France, but he never managed to hit it in the very heart!”

What else is worth knowing about the tower?

We must honestly admit that the Eiffel Tower did not immediately become the “heart of Paris.” At the beginning of construction, and even after during the opening (March 31, 1889) the tower, illuminated with lights (10,000 gas lamps with the colors of the French flag), and a pair of powerful mirror spotlights, which made it noble and monumental, there were many people , rejecting the unusual beauty of the Eiffel Tower.

In particular, such celebrities as Victor Hugo and Paul Marie Verlaine, Arthur Rimbaud and Guy de Maupassant even contacted the Paris mayor's office with an angry demand to erase from the face of the Parisian soil "the disgusting shadow of the hated building of iron and screws, which will stretch over the city like an ink blot, disfiguring the bright streets of Paris with its disgusting structure!”

Interesting fact: his own signature under this appeal, however, did not prevent Maupassant from being frequent guest glass gallery restaurant on the second floor of the tower. Maupassant himself grumbled that this was the only place in the city from where one could not see the “monster in nuts” and the “skeleton made of screws.” But the great novelist was cunning, oh, the great novelist was cunning!

In fact, being a famous gourmet, Maupassant could not deny himself the pleasure of trying oysters baked and chilled on ice, delicate aromatic soft cheese with cumin, steamed young asparagus with a thin slice of dried veal and not washing down all this “excess” with a glass of light grape wine.

The cuisine of the Eiffel Tower restaurant to this day remains unsurpassedly rich in authentic French dishes, and the fact that the famous literary master dined there is business card restaurant.

On the same second floor there are tanks with machine oil for hydraulic machines. On the third floor there was enough space on a square platform for an astronomical and meteorological observatory. And the last tiny platform, only 1.4 m in diameter, serves as a support for the lighthouse, which shines from a height of 300 m.

The total height in meters of the Eiffel Tower at that time was about 312 m, and the light of the lighthouse was visible at a distance of 10 km. After replacement gas lamps electric, the beacon began to “beat” for as much as 70 km!

Did connoisseurs of fine art like or dislike this “lady”? French art, but for Gustav Eiffel its unexpected and daring form completely paid for all the architect’s work and expenses in less than a year. In just 6 months of the World Exhibition, the unusual brainchild of the bridge builder was visited by 2 million curious people, the flow of which did not dry up even after the closure of the exhibition complexes.

It later turned out that all the miscalculations of Gustav and his engineers were more than justified: the tower weighing 8,600 tons, made of 12,000 scattered metal parts, not only did not move when its pylons plunged almost 1 m under water during the flood of 1910. But and in the same year it was found out practically that it would not move even if there were 12,000 people on its 3 floors at the same time.

• In 1910, after this flood, it would have been truly blasphemous to destroy the Eiffel Tower, which sheltered so many disadvantaged people. The period was extended first by 70 years, and then, after a full examination of the health of the Eiffel Tower, to 100.
• In 1921, the tower began to serve as a source of radio broadcasting, and since 1935 – also of television broadcasting.
• In 1957, the already high tower was increased by 12 m with a telemast and its total “height” was 323 m 30 cm.
• For a long time, until 1931, the “iron lace” of France was the tallest structure in the world, and only the construction of the Chrysler Building in New York broke this record.
• In 1986, the external lighting of this architectural marvel was replaced by a system that illuminates the tower from the inside, making the Eiffel Tower not just dazzling, but truly magical, especially on holidays and at night.

Every year, the symbol of France, the heart of Paris welcomes 6 million guests. Photos taken at its 3 observation platforms are a good memory for any tourist. Even a photo next to it is already a source of pride; it’s not for nothing that there are small copies of it in many countries around the world.

The most interesting mini-tower of Gustav Eiffel is perhaps located in Belarus, in the village of Paris, Vitebsk region. This tower is only 30 m high, but it is unique in that it is made entirely of wooden blocks.

Russia also has its own Eiffel Tower. There are three of them:

1. Irkutsk Height – 13 m.
2. Krasnoyarsk Height – 16 m.
3. Village of Paris, Chelyabinsk region. Height – 50 m. It belongs to a cellular operator and is a real working cellular tower in the region.

But the best thing is to take a tourist visa, see Paris and... No, don’t die! And to freeze with delight and photograph the views of Paris from the Eiffel Tower itself, fortunately, on a clear day the city is visible for 140 km. From the heart of Paris - just a stone's throw - 25 minutes. on foot.

Tourist information

Address – Champ de Mars, territory of the former Bastille.

The Iron Lady's opening hours are always the same: daily, from mid-June to the end of August, opening at 9:00, closing at 00:00. In winter, opening at 9:30, closing at 23:00.

The only thing that can prevent the Iron Lady from receiving her next guests is a strike of 350 people service personnel, but this has never happened before!

For 100 years, the undisputed symbol of Paris, and, perhaps, of the whole of France, has been the Eiffel Tower. When in Paris, anyone strives to see this “triumph of technical thought of the 19th 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 8,600 tons. According to experts, 2.5 million rivets were used during its construction to create a smooth curve. 12,000 parts for the tower were made according to precise 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. Currently, the park, the layout of which was changed by the architect Formige 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 a decoration of the city. Although it is worth recognizing that the tower was not specially decorated during construction. Eiffel initially had the idea of ​​placing decorative statues at the corners of each platform, but then he abandoned this idea, leaving only openwork arches, since they fit into the strict image of the structure.

The acceleration of technological progress in the 19th century led to revolutionary changes in architecture. Projects of grandiose high-rise buildings are emerging in various places. At this time, radical transformations took place in architecture: glass and steel became the new building material, most appropriate to 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 capture the imagination of its contemporaries by building a structure the like of which the world had never seen. The exhibition was supposed to demonstrate the achievements of technological progress. In 1886, a competition was announced in Paris for the best architectural design for the 1889 World Exhibition, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. The plan for the Eiffel Tower was designed by Maurice Koeschlin 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 bring it to life. The plan for the future tower was significantly supplemented and adopted by the commission in June 1886. True, an unrealistically short period of 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. They built a large number of railway bridges, and the peculiarity of his style was that he knew how to find extraordinary engineering solutions to complex technical problems. In November 1886, funds were allocated for the construction of this miracle of modern times.

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 the installation of the tower took just over eight months.

During the laying of the foundation, a depth of up to 5 meters below the level of the Seine was carried out; blocks 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 built into each of the four foundations for the tower legs. The 16 supports on which the tower rests (four in each of the four “legs”) were equipped with hydraulic lifting devices in order to ensure an absolutely precise horizontal level of the first platform.

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

On March 31, 1889, the grand opening of the Eiffel Tower took place. To the patriotic strains of La Marseillaise, Gustav Eiffel climbed the 1,792 steps and hoisted the flag. The Eiffel Tower was erected on time, in 26 months. Moreover, the accuracy of its design was simply amazing; everything was measured down to the smallest detail. Until 1931 (the date of construction of the Empire State Building), the tower was even considered the tallest structure on our planet.

Of course, the project was grandiose, but at one time it met with a lot of sarcasm and reproach. The Eiffel Tower was called the “monster with nuts.” Many believed that it would not last long and would soon collapse. Back in the 19th century, Parisians terribly disliked the tower; Hugo and Verlaine were indignant. Great cultural figures wrote long angry letters demanding the immediate removal of this “lightning rod” from the streets of Paris.

Maupassant dined regularly at the restaurant at the very top of the tower. When asked why he was doing this if he terribly did not like the tower, Maupassant replied: “This is the only place in all of 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 hitherto impeccable beauty of Paris, protest with deep indignation against the building 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 for more than 20 years, after this period it must 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 people disdain this achievement of modern construction.

Many times in history, the issue of demolishing the tower was discussed for various reasons (including the fact that some ministers believed that it was an unnecessary 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 appearance of the radio. It 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. It has a transmitter installed on it that provides communication between police and firefighters. The uppermost platform has a diameter of 1.7 meters. There is a lighthouse on it. The light of its spotlights 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 supports, 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 the fact that it is noticeable due to its considerable height, the tower also stands out due to its intense lighting. In 1986, the tower's external night lighting was replaced by an internal lighting system, so that after dark it looks simply magical.

The Eiffel Tower is very stable: a strong one tilts its top by only 10 - 12 centimeters. In hot weather, due to 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 was never just a decoration. So, immediately after the opening of the Eiffel Tower, a restaurant began operating here, which had unprecedented success. 10 years later, another restaurant was opened. On the second, at an altitude of 116 meters, the Figaro newspaper equipped its editorial office. During the Empire and the Revolution, numerous and crowded celebrations were held at the Eiffel Tower. The tower has observation decks that are extremely popular among tourists. When particularly clear, the gaze can cover a distance of up to 70 km in radius. And in 2004, an ice skating rink opened here. It was installed at 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 take them to observation platforms with telescopes, restaurants, souvenir shops and the Tour Eiffel museum. Many people on the planet still dream of seeing this miracle with their own eyes.

Contacts

Address: Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris

Official site: www.toureiffel.paris

Entrance to level 1 and 2: 8 euros for adults, 6.40 - from 12 to 24 years old,
4 - up to 11 years

Entrance to 3 levels: 13 euros for adults, 9.90 - from 12 to 24 years old, 7.50 - for children

Paris is one of the most famous tourist cities in the world, a city with a special, unique charm that is unique to it.

Paris - amazing city, which has unique architecture and a huge number of attractions of world significance, including the Gothic one, glorified by Victor Hugo.

Also the Opera Garnier, where, according to legend, the famous ghost lived, Disneyland is a place of attraction for all children and parents, the Louvre is the largest and beautiful museum, filled with world masterpieces, the Orsay Gallery is the largest repository of impressionist works and the calling card of Paris - the Eiffel Tower.

Eiffel Tower in Paris - history of creation

The 300 m tall steel Eiffel Tower in Paris was built in 1889 as a temporary structure to serve as the entrance arch to the Paris World's Fair. The year of construction, 1889, was timed to coincide with the opening of an exhibition organized in memory of the centenary of the French Revolution.

Exact height in the tower spire is 324 meters. The Eiffel project stood out from 106 competitors due to its innovative construction techniques, which made it possible to construct a complex tower in just 2 years and with minimal effort. The construction budget was 7.8 million francs, half of which was Eiffel's personal funds. Construction

The tower paid for itself during the period of the exhibition, not to mention the profits that the tower brought in the future and continues to bring now.

In the first time after construction, this symbol of Paris had many opponents. Dissatisfied citizens, including famous writers and composers, united and directed protests against the Eiffel Tower. But nevertheless, this building also gained fans, and not a small number, and instead of being demolished after 20 years of existence, the tower rises in the same place to this day.

Eiffel Tower in Paris today

Today, the Eiffel Tower is the most famous landmark in all of France. I think there is not a single person who has visited Paris and not seen this famous tower. The tower looks especially impressive at night; it is best to first admire it from a distance, and then climb to the observation deck and enjoy the night views of Paris. The height of the tower and its favorable location allow you to see Paris at a glance.

Eiffel Tower consists of 4 levels: lower, 1st, 2nd, 3rd floors.

• Lower level- This is the first place where visitors arrive. Here you can to buy tickets or find out their cost at ticket offices, familiarize yourself with the opening hours and hours of this object on the corresponding information stands. On the lower level there is 4 souvenir shops And Postal office and everyone has the opportunity to buy and send a postcard with an image of this wonder of the world to their loved ones or friends.
• On the 1st floor can see part of a spiral staircase, with the help of which it was previously possible to get from the 2nd to the 3rd floor, as well as exhibition posters, photographs and various images of the tower in different years its existence.
• At 2nd level you can learn something new information about the history of the tower at specialized stands, just like at the first one you can buy souvenirs and most importantly, a wonderful view opens from this floor panorama of Paris.
• To the 3rd floor you need to get there by elevator, which has transparent walls, and already on the way you can enjoy the opening views of Paris, which is the purpose of visiting the tower for many tourists. Recreated on this floor interior of the office of its founder- Eiffel.

On the 1st and 2nd levels there are two restaurants:

• "Height 95"
• and "Jules Verne".

Eiffel Tower - where is it located?

Eiffel Tower built near Paris, which is called that in the 7th arrondissement, on Anatole France street. Exact address: Champ de Maps, 5 av.Anatole France If you get there by metro, then Metro station, on which you need to exit is called Bir Hekeim.

The Eiffel Tower is open every day, in summer opening up at 9 am(from June 15 to September 1), and at other times at 9:30. The elevators between floors and the tower itself close at different times. So elevator to 2nd floor in summer time closes at midnight, at other times at 23:00. Elevator to 3rd floor closed in summer at 23:00, at other times - at 22:30. Stairs to 2nd floor closed in summer at midnight, on other days at 18:00. Herself tower closes at 0:45 in summer and at 23:45 at other times.

The Eiffel Tower has an official website where you can buy tickets online by paying by bank card, and then bypass the queue to get into the tower. At the same time, it must be remembered that come you need to go to the tower entrance in 10 minutes before the time indicated on the ticket; in case of late arrival, the ticket is considered used.

Eiffel Tower on the map of Paris:

Photos and videos of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

Photo: Below you can view photographs of the Eiffel Tower taken by experienced photographers, talented amateurs, as well as photographs of the area taken from a satellite.

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 - the Cheops Pyramid (137 m), (156 m) and Ulm Cathedral (161 m) - until in 1930 it did not surpass the Chrysler Building in New York.

Throughout its history, the tower has repeatedly changed its paint color - from yellow to red-brown. Recent decades The Eiffel Tower is invariably painted "Eiffel Brown" - an officially patented color close to the natural shade of bronze that 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 his project of a 300-meter iron tower, which he actually did not deal with. 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 be more responsive aesthetic tastes 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, placing spacious glazed halls on the floors of the tower, giving the top of the tower a rounded shape and using various 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 greatly facilitated by the drawings. High Quality 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 elevator, which could not operate in the winter, was replaced by an Otis electric elevator. It consisted of four cabins and provided direct communication between two floors. The construction of the Eiffel Tower required special attention to safety issues 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 start of digging pits, 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 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 was engaged in calculating the strength of the wind, well aware that if they build the most tall building in the world, you must first of all make sure that it is 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, 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 last 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 advertising campaign lasted until 1934, and the tower was the tallest advertising space 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 fabulous 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 for 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, in the southern column there is a post office, so you can directly from the foot famous building send a postcard to family and friends. 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"

Restaurant on the 2nd floor of the tower, named after 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 climb 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 already stated above, ticket offices 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 huillet is sent by e-mail, which you need to print out and take 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.