For 100 years, the undisputed symbol of Paris, and, perhaps, of the whole of France, has been the Eiffel Tower. While in Paris, anyone strives to see this “triumph of technology.” thoughts XIX century."
IN horizontal projection The Eiffel Tower rests on a square of 1.6 hectares. Together with the antenna, its height is 320.75 meters and it weighs 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, which was 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. He built a large number of railway bridges, and the peculiarity of his style was that he was able to find extraordinary engineering solutions to complex technical problems. In November 1886, funds were allocated for the construction of this miracle of 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.
March 31, 1889 took place grand opening Eiffel Tower. To the patriotic strains of the 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 most tall building 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 would have to be demolished, otherwise the tower would simply collapse on the city. It is worth noting that even today, despite the fact that the Eiffel Tower has long been recognized as a symbol of France, some 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. Ten 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.
The Eiffel Tower, otherwise known as the Tour de Eiffel, is one of the most easily recognizable structures in Paris and the most visited tourist attraction. The history of the structure, named after its creator Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, is interesting for many reasons, including the fact that the structure was not initially considered as a permanent architectural feature of the city. Now " Iron Lady» sits serenely on the southern bank of the Seine River and no one disputes its beauty. Parisians love their “elegant lady” and believe that the Eiffel Tower is the hallmark of France, but this was not always the case.
Contest
In 1889, the International Exhibition of Technological Progress was to be held in Paris, dedicated to the centenary french revolution. The Champ de Mars was chosen as the location for the demonstration. Three years before the start of the exhibition, the organizing committee announced a competition for the best building that could clearly display the theme of the exhibition. There were 700 applications, and some were quite eccentric. Since the exhibition was held to commemorate the centenary of the revolution, one of the proposed designs was a giant replica of the guillotine. Another project is a monumental structure with nozzles in the form of spouts that allow you to shoot water jets and water the surroundings of Paris in case of drought. Perhaps the most eccentric was the proposal to create a 300-meter lighthouse made of granite with a light at the top that would shine so brightly that Parisians could read newspapers at night. Fortunately, all of these projects were rejected, and out of the hundred best proposals, Gustave Eiffel's creation was unanimously named the winner of the competition.
How did the project come about?
Interestingly, the famous engineer and bridge builder did not intend to participate in the competition, and the initial design of the tower was created back in 1884 by the leading architect of his company, Maurice Keshlen. When Eiffel was presented with the sketches, he became interested in the engineering solution of the object. The project was finalized by designer Emile Nugier and submitted for participation in the competition. After considering various options, the commission settled on the work of the Eiffel design company. By that time, the outstanding engineer had made final changes to the calculations and design of the tower. The intense and labor-intensive construction process began. In gratitude for his efforts, he ordered an engraving with the names of 72 remarkable architects, engineers, scientists and philanthropists who took part in the creation of his iron masterpiece. Their names still adorn the tower on four sides.
First reviews
It was built from 1887 to 1889. The height of the spire at that time was 300.65 meters. The entire structure weighing seven thousand tons served as an entrance arch International exhibition in Paris and twenty years after completion of construction was subject to dismantling. The opening of the tower was attended by the Prince of Wales, and later the King of England, His Majesty, as a man of broad views and a fan of neo-impressionism, was delighted with the structure. “The Iron Lady” was a stunning success among visitors to the exhibition: in six months, two million people managed to admire it. However, not everyone greeted the innovative iron construction so favorably. The three-hundred-meter high spire and the material from which it was made aroused the indignation of many Parisians. Three hundred respected citizens of France signed a petition to the municipal authorities with indignation at the construction of a monstrous facility that disfigures the face of the city. Among them were: Guy de Maupassant, Charles Francois Gounod (founder of the French lyric opera genre) and Dumas the Younger.
The tower consists of three levels equipped with observation platforms. The first is located at a distance of 57 meters above the ground, the second - 115, and the third - 274 meters. To admire the beautiful bird's eye view of Paris and its surroundings, it was necessary to climb 1,710 steps. After all, the height of the Eiffel Tower in the spire was about 300 meters, and the elevator at the middle level appeared later. However, such difficulties did not stop those wishing to visit the miracle of engineering. The popularity of the tower forced the city authorities to refuse to dismantle it. Since the completion of construction, the Iron Lady has remained the tallest man-made structure in the world for 41 years. The Chrysler Building, built in 1930, supplanted it until 1957. At this time, an antenna was attached to the tower, and the structure again became taller than the skyscraper. Today the height of the Eiffel Tower in the spire is 324 meters. Such changes in parameters occurred after the installation of a new antenna on its top in 2010. Eiffel's creation is the second tallest in France after the Millau Viaduct bridge, which is also recognized as the tallest bridge in the world.
Fact of sale
The Eiffel Tower has repeatedly become the object of various scams, but the most enterprising fraudster turned out to be the one who managed to sell the building twice in 1925. This man skillfully forged government documents about the demolition of the building as having fallen into disrepair and selling it for scrap metal. He, introducing himself as the deputy head of the Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs, sent out invitations to participate in the tender to entrepreneurs involved in scrap metal. The three-hundred-meter height of the Eiffel Tower in the spire was a tasty morsel, so the opportunity to make money on it interested many. The choice fell on Andre Poisson, who wanted to get the tower so much that he even gave the scammer a bribe in order to get rid of his competitors. When the unlucky businessman realized that he had been deceived, the swindler with a suitcase full of money had already managed to escape. Poisson was too embarrassed to go to the police. Inspired by the success, the scammer tried the same scam a month later. But when the defrauded buyer discovered his plan and notified the police, Victor fled to the United States, where he was eventually caught for other illegal actions and stood trial.
Occupation
During World War II, Nazi soldiers tried to affix a huge swastika to the top of the tallest structure in France. But they incorrectly calculated the height of the Eiffel Tower and did not take into account the strength of the wind gusts at its top. So torn down by the powerful by air flow the symbol had to be replaced with another one, which was much smaller in size. Adolf Hitler tried to destroy the Eiffel Tower in 1944. The dictator ordered the military governor of Paris, Dietrich von Choltitz, to demolish the tower and other architectural masterpieces of the city, but the general refused.
Our days
Like a true Frenchwoman, the “Eiffel Lady” changed her color several times. Now every seven years appearance The beauty is supported by 57 tons of brown paint, which closely replicates the natural shades of bronze. Since 2003, the Iron Lady has donned a glittering outfit of twenty thousand custom-made light bulbs. The company that created this light decoration patented it, so you can shoot the Eiffel Tower at night light show It is not possible without special permission.
Curiosities
The giant beauty constantly attracts the attention of testers, suicides or just eccentrics. For example, a woman tried to commit suicide by jumping from the Eiffel Tower, but landed on a car below, and later married the owner of this car. In 2007, an American woman named Erica Labrie married the Eiffel Tower and changed her last name from Labrie to Eiffel. This curious case became the subject of discussion in the news and social networks.
Be that as it may, the Eiffel Tower for many years is an undoubted symbol and decoration of the capital of France.
Construction Eiffel Tower, which later became a symbol of Paris, was completed in 1889, initially it was conceived as a temporary structure that served as the entrance arch to the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1889.
The exhibition took place in Paris and was timed to coincide with the centenary of the French Revolution. The Paris city administration turned to famous French engineers with an offer to take part in architectural competition. At such a competition, it was necessary to find a structure that visibly demonstrates the engineering and technological achievements of the country.
Sasha Mitrakhovich 19.01.2016 13:02
1886 In three years, the World Industrial Exhibition EXPO will begin in Paris. The exhibition organizers announced a competition for temporary architectural structure, which would serve as the entrance to the exhibition and would represent the technical revolution of its time, the beginning of grandiose transformations in the life of mankind. The proposed construction was supposed to generate income and be easily dismantled.
On May 1, 1886, a competition for architectural and engineering projects for the future World Exhibition, 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. 
Among the competition participants was engineer and designer Gustave Eiffel, who proposed a project that was then unprecedented in world construction - a 300-meter metal tower, the tallest structure in the world. He drew the very idea of the tower from the drawings of his company’s employees, Maurice Koechlen and Emile Nugier. Gustav Eiffel receives a joint patent for the project with them, and subsequently buys from them the exclusive right to the future Eiffel Tower.
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. Thanks to the changes made by the engineer to the decorative design of the tower, the competition organizers preferred his “Iron Lady”.
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, it was created joint stock company 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.
- Eiffel Tower- this is the emblem of Paris and a high-altitude antenna.
- There can be 10,000 people on the tower at the same time.
- The project was drawn up by the architect Stéphane Sauvestre, but the tower was built by the engineer Gustave Eiffel (1823-1923), better known to the public. Other works by Eiffel: Ponte de Dona Maria Pia, Viaduct de Gharabi, iron frame for the New York Statue of Liberty.
- Since the tower appeared, about 250 million people have visited it.
- The weight of the metal part of the structure is 7,300 tons, and the weight of the entire tower is 10,100 tons.
- In 1925, the rogue Victor Lustig managed to sell the iron structure for scrap, and he was able to pull off this trick twice!
- In good weather, from the top of the tower, Paris and its surroundings can be viewed within a radius of up to 70 kilometers. It is believed that the optimal time to visit the Eiffel Tower, providing the best visibility, is an hour before sunset.
- The tower also holds a sad record - about 400 people committed suicide by throwing themselves down from its upper platform. In 2009, the terrace was fenced with protective barriers and now this place is very popular with romantic couples kissing in front of the whole of Paris.
Sasha Mitrakhovich 19.01.2016 13:32
One of the most talented swindlers of the 20th century was Count Victor Lustig (1890-1947). This man spoke five languages and received an excellent upbringing. He was bold and fearless. 45 of his aliases are known, and in the United States alone he was arrested 50 times.
“As long as there are fools in the world, we can live by deception.”
There are a great many smart scammers who take advantage of not very smart fellow citizens. But to your name entered not only into crime chronicles, but also into legends - you really need to have extraordinary abilities. One of these scammers is Victor Lustig.
His exploits include both minor sins and grandiose scams. A young man from a poor Czech family presented himself as a ruined Austrian count. And he stuck to this role so skillfully that no one doubted his title. Fluency in five languages, knowledge of all the subtleties of social and business etiquette, the ability to behave freely in society - these are the qualities thanks to which he was one of the high society, and in the gangster environment. However, in addition to his native “count” surname, the swindler used several dozen more pseudonyms for his activities. Under them, Victor went on various cruises and organized various raffles and lotteries on board the ships from those that we today habitually call “scams.” 
Fair play, or the Al Capone scam
One of the legends associated with the name of Lustig was the story of his “collaboration” with Al Capone. One day, in 1926, a tall, well-dressed young man visited a famous gangster of the time. The man introduced himself as Count Victor Lustig. He asked to give him 50 thousand dollars to double this amount.
The gangster was not at all sorry to invest such an insignificant amount in a dubious enterprise, and he gave it to the count. The deadline for completing the plan is 2 months. Lustig took the money, put it in a safe deposit box in Chicago, and then went to New York. Lustig made no attempt to double the amount he left in Chicago.
Two months later he returned, took the money from the bank and went to the gangster. There he apologized, said that the plan did not work and gave the money back. To this the gangster replied: “I expected 100 thousand dollars or nothing. But... get my money back... Yes, you honest man! If you are in trouble, take this at least.” And he gave the count 5 thousand dollars. But these 5 thousand were the goal of Lustig’s scam! 
Scrap metal, or how the Eiffel Tower was sold
But what is a “bonus” of five thousand? And the sums that Victor earned as a result of lotteries, bank fraud and not very fair poker games seemed meager to him. The soul demanded scope. So that the fraud was grandiose. Well, the proceeds, of course, should not lag behind either.
Lustig was hungry for action and the right opportunity was not long in coming. In May 1925, Victor Lustig and his friend and companion Dan Collins arrived in Paris. On the very first day of their arrival, their attention was attracted by an article in the local newspaper. It said that the famous one was in terrible condition and the city authorities were considering the option of dismantling it. 
The idea for a brilliant scam was born instantly. To implement it, a luxurious room was rented in an expensive hotel and documents were made confirming that Victor Lustig is the deputy head of the Ministry of Post and Telegraph. Then invitations were sent out to the five largest metal traders. The letters contained an invitation to an important and absolutely secret meeting with the deputy general director of the department at the Crillon Hotel, at that time the most prestigious hotel in Paris.
Having met the guests in the luxurious apartments, Lustig began to give a lengthy speech about the contents Eiffel Tower costs the state a pretty penny. That it was built as a temporary structure for the World Exhibition in Paris, and now, 30 years later, it has become so dilapidated that it simply poses a threat to Paris and the city authorities are considering demolishing the tower. Therefore, a kind of tender was announced among those present to purchase the tower.
Such a proposal could not fail to arouse interest among the invitees, but Andre Poisson was especially interested in it. He was encouraged not only by the obvious financial benefits of the deal, but also by the opportunity to make history. Maybe it was this vain interest that was noticed by Lustig and it was he who became the reason that after some time it was Monsieur Poisson who was assigned a confidential meeting.
During this meeting, Victor Lustig was somewhat restless. He told Poisson that he had every chance of winning the tender and for complete victory he only needed to “promote” his candidacy a little with the help of a small reward to Victor personally. Before this meeting, Monsieur Poisson had suspicions: why all meetings related to the tender take place in such a secret environment, and not in the offices of the ministry, but in a hotel room. But such extortion on the part of an official, oddly enough, dispelled Poisson’s last doubts regarding the suspicious transaction. He counted out several large bills and persuaded Lustig to take them, then wrote a check for a quarter of a million francs, received documents for the Eiffel Tower and left satisfied. When Monsieur Poisson began to suspect something was wrong, Victor Lustig had already disappeared to Vienna with a suitcase of cash received from a check he had written. 
Even though Victor Lustig fell into the hands of the police more than fifty times, he always managed to get away with it. The police had to let me go talented swindler because they simply didn't have enough evidence to prove his guilt. Victor Lustig was not only a talented swindler, but also a good psychologist. Most of the victims he deceived did not contact the police, not wanting to look like fools in the eyes of the public. Even Monsieur Poisson, who “bought” the Eiffel Tower for a substantial sum, was more willing to part with his money than to become the laughing stock of all of Paris and lose his reputation as an astute businessman. 
The story of the Eiffel Tower became Lustig's swan song. Some time after the deal with Poisson, he returned to Paris and decided to sell the tower again to one of the tenderers. But the deceived businessman quickly saw through the scammer and reported to the police. Lustig managed to escape from the French police to the United States. But there he was caught and put on trial. American justice has also accumulated many claims against the talented swindler. In December 1935, the count was arrested. He received 15 years in prison for counterfeiting dollars, as well as 5 years for escaping from another prison just a month ago. He was transferred to the famous Alcatraz prison island near San Francisco, where he died of pneumonia in March 1947.
Sasha Mitrakhovich 19.01.2016 14:08
The most grandiose, famous, shocking building in Paris is, of course, the Eiffel Tower. Since its appearance in 1889 as an arch for the World Exhibition dedicated to the storming of the Bastille, it has been the center of attention to this day. It was also recognized as an important link in the French economy and a valuable asset of Europe.
The history of the tower! Although the engineer Gustave Eiffel proposed dismantling the tower after the twenty-year period of its construction, as we see, it continues to rise majestically on the Champs de Mars to this day.
Book a table at a restaurant at the Eiffel Tower
The most interesting thing is that the idea of the design did not belong to Eiffel, but to Maurice Koechlin, his colleague in the engineering bureau. It was in Maurice's old drawings that the leading engineer found the sketch of the tower that interested him.
Together with other employees, Eiffel refines the idea, files a joint patent, sends the drawings to the competition, and wins. Subsequently, he buys the ownership rights and becomes their sole owner.
The amazing fact is that while working on the construction scheme, the research of Hermann von Mayer, a Swiss professor of paleontology, was taken as a basis. XIX century. He studied the structure of the femur, namely its head at the point of bending and joining the joint at an angle.
He concluded that thanks to the many small processes of strict geometric shape with which it is covered, the weight of the body is distributed evenly, preventing fractures.
It was these studies by Mayer that, 20 years later, inspired the designers of the famous tower to give it such a stable shape. Even with a strong wind, the top deviates by only 12 cm, and if it is hot in the sun - by 18 cm due to the expansion of the metal.
Working on the image
The original appearance of the steel lady was purely an example of the technological progress of its time, and looked too conservative. To win the competition, it was necessary to refine the design with decorative elements and make it more refined.
Gustave made a proposal to decorate the tower supports with stone, make the arches a connecting link between the supports and the lower floor, and also turn them into the main entrance to the exhibition. The levels also had to be transformed and become functional thanks to the glazed halls, and the top had to take on a rounded shape along with other decorations.
When the scheme acquired all these innovations, the jury approved Eiffel's plan, and he received the green light for construction. Feeling a surge of enthusiasm after the first victory, he exclaimed that France would now become the only owner in the world of a 300-meter flagpole.
To be or not to be - the opinion of bohemians
The delight, however, was not shared by the creative elite, who considered the future structure offensive to the eye. The city's mayor's office has repeatedly received letters demanding that they not allow the construction of such a monstrous structure, arguing that the Eiffel Tower in Paris would be a huge mistake, a repulsive stain hanging over the city, and not compatible with other architecture.
About three hundred painters, architects, musicians and writers drew up a protest, sending it to the city authorities, where in colorful expressions they convinced the commission to come to their senses: “For 20 years we will be forced to look at the disgusting shadow of the hated column of iron and screws, stretching over the city like an ink blot".
The petition was signed by Charles Gounod, Dumas fils, and the famous short story writer Guy de Maupassant. However, Maupassant subsequently visited the restaurant, which is now called Jules Verne, several times. When the novelist was asked why he came there if he disliked the Eiffel Tower so much, he said that there was no longer a place in Paris from which this damn thing could not be seen.
However, not everyone was so ardently opposed to her. It made a completely different impression on Thomas Edison, and in the guest book he wrote a greeting to its creator.
Construction details: numbers and facts
It all started in 1887 on January 28, and the last day to complete construction was December 31, 1889. For such a colossal project, this was a record time, considering that the height of the Eiffel Tower was 300 meters.
Tower construction! There was no technology capable of lifting parts weighing up to 3 tons to this height, and therefore Eiffel had to additionally invent special mobile cranes. Also, to speed up the work, most of the elements were made in advance, and holes were drilled in them, into which connecting rivets were installed.
Eiffel demonstrated unique precision in drawing up drawings. There were 1,700 general ones and 3,629 detailed ones, and their accuracy was 0.1 mm (3D printers print with such precision today). This is comparable to jewelry work or magic, worthy of admiration, especially in our age of high technology.
Inner world
Once in Paris, it is difficult to avoid the temptation to look at the city of love from the height of the most famous Parisian woman. On the initial two platforms, which are located at the peaks of 57.63 and 115.73 m; you can visit restaurants, drink a glass of sparkling wine or order lunch.
On the third level, located at 276.13 m, visitors will find a bar and an astronomical and meteorological observatory. The tower is crowned by a lighthouse with a dome, the light of which reaches 10 km.
Rising to the 3rd level
There are 1,792 steps leading up to the top, but you are unlikely to want to make such a serious climb, especially since back in 1899 two Fives-Lill elevators were built for this purpose, and passengers, having risen to the 175 m mark, moved to another cabin .
Elevator to the 2nd floor The first machines ran on hydraulic pumps, but since their use was impossible in winter, Otis electric motors replaced them in 1983, and the hydraulics are shown as an exhibit to tourists.
Gustave Eiffel Apartment
At the very top there is another room - an apartment that was built especially for Eiffel. Although the area is quite spacious, it is furnished simply but tastefully person XIX centuries. It has separate rooms, furniture, carpets, and even a piano - a must-have item for the elite of that time.
When the apartment became known in the city, there were people who wanted to buy it or at least spend the night there, offering substantial sums, but Eiffel always refused such offers.
While in Paris, the engineer often arranged meetings with the rich and famous people. Edison also visited, and for ten hours the pair of inventors, over cognac and cigars, found many fascinating topics for discussion, including the phonograph, the latest invention of the famous American.
In captivity, but with his head held high
Eiffel Tower, 1940 – the lift mechanism suddenly breaks down. This trouble happened just before the arrival of Adolf Hitler. Since the war was going on, there was nowhere to get new parts for it, and the Fuhrer could only trample at the feet of the obstinate Parisian woman. On this occasion, the poets did not miss the opportunity to say: “Hitler conquered France, but could not conquer the Eiffel Tower.”
Hitler planned to transmit radio signals from the lighthouse to his military units and broadcast propaganda in Paris, but he was especially excited by the idea that the flag flying on the spire of the top would be clearly visible in all corners of the city.
At the end of the summer of 1944, Hitler, annoyed that he was unable to climb to the top, gives Colonel General Dietrich von Choltitz the order to destroy the unsubdued proud mountain along with the rest of the sights of Paris.
However, the order was never carried out, and when the occupiers left the city, the elevators, which had stopped for several years, started working again after a couple of hours, and the news about this was broadcast by radio from the tower.
The height of the Eiffel Tower!
For 40 years, the Eiffel Tower had no competitors in height in the whole world, and only in 1930 it lost the palm to the Chrysler Building in New York. Today its height reaches 324 m due to the antenna installed in 2010.
Height In reality and in the photo, the tower looks slender, sophisticated, and charmingly beautiful. Like a true Frenchwoman, she loves to radically change her image from time to time, and has already tried on several outfits. It was painted in different colors, which ranged from yellow to reddish brown.
Now a unique “brown-Eiffel” tone, closest to a bronze hue, has been specially developed and patented for it. Every 7 years it is repainted to protect the metal from corrosion, and old parts are also replaced with new ones made of a lighter but more durable alloy.
Night beauty
The Iron Lady also loves to shine, and at the time of her premiere in 1889 she sparkled with tens of thousands of gas lamps, a pair of searchlights and a lighthouse, the rays of which were the colors of three shades of the national flag. Just a year later, electric lights sparkled on it, and in 1925 it became the most ambitious advertising platform for Andre Citroen.
The advertisement was called: “The Tower is on Fire,” and thanks to 125 new light bulbs, the silhouette first lit up, then it was replaced by a shower of stars, which smoothly turned into the flight of comets and zodiac symbols, followed by the year of birth of the tower, the current year, and finally the surname appeared Citroen. Advertising ran until 1934.
The Parisian fashionista received her golden dress on the last day of 1985, and in 2003 silver lights were added to this noble shine. This required 4.6 million €, 20 thousand light bulbs, 40 km of wires, 30 people and several months of work. The tower wore another memorable outfit from the beginning of July to the end of December 2008, which looked like the flag of Europe - a circle of 12 gold stars on a blue background.
The brainchild of Gustave Eiffel remains a beautiful wonder of the world today. A copy of the Eiffel Tower stands in many cities: Copenhagen, Las Vegas, Varna, the Chinese city of Guangzhou, and Aktau in Kazakhstan.
Exact copy in Las Vegas In the first 12 months of its existence, it fully recouped its construction costs thanks to visitors, and remains the most popular, most visited attraction. Millions of people come on dates with her every year, and by 2002 this number exceeded 200 million.
Observation deck
City of dreams and champagne bubbles
To maximize your time in the company of the Eiffel Tower, tour and restaurant tickets can be booked in advance. Several buffets, a bar and a couple of cozy restaurants will allow you to enjoy delicious dishes, drinks and views of Paris.
On the ground floor you can visit the 58 Tour Eiffel restaurant, eat a sandwich, fries, croissant, drink juice or coffee, paying only 18 € for lunch. In the evening there are several main courses and desserts to choose from, but the price rises to 82 € per person.
At the same level there are also regular buffets, where a glass of juice and a slice of pizza will not exceed 7-8 €.
Restaurant "Jules Verne" (Le Jules Verne)
But, if, once you find yourself in the most romantic place on earth, you do not intend to skimp on pleasures, then visit the luxurious restaurant “Le Jules Verne” on the second level. Lunch here will cost at least 85 € per person, and dinner with lobster – at least 200 €.
View from the tower at night
Night Paris from the observation deck Eiffel Tower on the map
However, you can have fun without visiting such expensive establishments. Having risen to the third level, in the Champagne Bar, take a glass of champagne, take a bird's eye view of Paris, and feel the exclusivity of this moment.
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Exact Address: Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris
Opening hours: From 9:30 to 23:00, in summer from 9:00 to 00:00
Tickets
Entrance to the lift (up to 2nd floor): adults - 11€, 12-14 years old - 8.5€, children and disabled people - 4€.
To the top: adults - 17 €, 12-14 years old - 14.5 €, children and disabled people - 8 €.
By stairs to the 2nd floor: adults - 7 €, 12-14 years old - 5 €, children and disabled people - 3 €.
Photo
Photo gallery Eiffel Tower!
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Eiffel Tower at night photo
Eiffel Tower photo
The symbol of France, known throughout the world, the most famous landmark of Paris, filmed in hundreds of films, sung in poetry, reproduced millions of times in souvenirs and on postcards, an object of admiration and ridicule, depicted in paintings and caricatures - all this is the Eiffel Tower. Having initially caused a lot of controversy and mass discontent, it became a favorite meeting place for Parisians and an integral part of the appearance of Paris. More than 6 million people visit the tower every year; in terms of popularity, it ranks first in the world among paid attractions. In total, over a quarter of a billion people visited the Eiffel Tower during its existence.
History of the Eiffel Tower
“There is nothing more permanent than temporary” - this common expression can rightfully be applied to the Eiffel Tower. In 1889, the World Industrial Exhibition was planned to be held in Paris, at which all the latest achievements of mankind in science and technology were supposed to be presented. The year of the exhibition was not chosen by chance - France was preparing to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille.
According to the organizing committee, the symbol of the exhibition was to be a building that personified scientific and technological progress and demonstrated the country’s achievements. A competition was announced, to which 107 projects were submitted. Among them there were very peculiar ones, for example, huge model guillotine, a sad attribute of the Great French Revolution. One of the requirements for the project was the ease of dismantling the future structure, since they intended to remove it after the exhibition.
The winner of the competition was the French engineer and industrialist Gustav Eiffel, who presented a design for an openwork structure made of malleable cast iron 300 meters high. Eiffel's full partners were his employees Maurice Keuchelin and Emile Nouguier, who proposed the very idea of a metal frame tower.
In the original version, the future design had a too “industrial” look, and the Parisian public actively opposed the appearance of such a structure, which, in their opinion, destroyed the aesthetic appearance of Paris. The artistic development of the project was entrusted to the architect Stéphane Sauvestre, who proposed to design the lower supporting part of the tower in the form of arches and arrange the entrance to the exhibition under them. It was planned to cover the supports themselves with stone slabs, build glazed halls on some floors and add a number of decorative elements.
The project was patented by Eiffel and his two co-authors. Eiffel later bought out the shares of Cochelin and Nouguier and became the sole owner of the copyright.
The estimated cost of the work was 6 million francs, but eventually rose to 7.8 million. The state and municipality could allocate only 1.5 million francs, and Eiffel accepted the obligation to find the missing funds, subject to the tower being leased to him for 20 years until dismantling. After signing the agreement, Eiffel created a joint-stock company with a capital of 5 million francs, half of which was contributed by the engineer himself, half by three Parisian banks.
The publication of the final draft and terms of the agreement caused a flurry of protests from the French intelligentsia. A petition was sent to the municipality, which was signed by more than three hundred artists, architects, writers and musicians, including Maupassant, Charles Gounod, Alexandre Dumas fils. The tower was called a “lamppost”, “iron monster”, “hated column”, calling on the authorities to prevent the appearance in Paris of a structure that would disfigure its architectural appearance for 20 years.
However, the mood changed quite quickly. The same Maupassant later loved to dine at one of the tower’s restaurants. When the inconsistency of his behavior was pointed out to him, he calmly replied that the Eiffel Tower is the only place in Paris from where it itself cannot be seen.
The entire structure consisted of 18 thousand elements, which were manufactured at Eiffel’s own engineering plant in the town of Levallois-Perret near Paris. The weight of each part did not exceed three tons, all mounting holes and parts were carefully adjusted to make assembly as easy as possible and to avoid rework. The first tiers of the tower were assembled using tower cranes, then they moved on to the use of small cranes of Eiffel's own design, which moved along rails designed for elevators. The elevators themselves were supposed to be driven by hydraulic pumps.
Thanks to the unprecedented accuracy of the drawings (the error was no more than 0.1 mm) and the filigree adjustment of parts to each other already at the factory, the pace of work was very high. 300 workers took part in the construction. Working at height was very risky, and Eiffel paid special attention safety precautions, thanks to which not a single fatal accident occurred at the construction site.
Finally, 2 years and 2 months after its foundation, Eiffel invited municipal officials to inspect the tower. The elevators were not yet working, and the unfortunate employees had to climb a staircase of 1,710 steps.
The three-hundred-meter tower, which became the tallest structure in the world, was a resounding success. During the first six months of the exhibition, about 2 million visitors visited the tower, dubbed the “Iron Lady” for its elegant, graceful silhouette. Revenues from ticket sales, postcards, etc., by the end of 1889 covered 75% of construction costs.
By the time the tower was scheduled to be dismantled in 1910, it became clear that it was best left in place. It was actively used for radio and telegraph communications; in addition, the tower was liked by the general public and became a recognizable symbol of Paris in the world. The lease agreement was extended for 70 years, but Eiffel subsequently renounced both the agreement and his copyright in favor of the state.
A number of technical breakthroughs in the field of communications are associated with the Eiffel Tower. At the beginning of the 20th century, experiments with wireless telegraphy were carried out on it, and in 1906 a permanent radio station was installed. It was she who made it possible in 1914, during the Battle of the Marne, to intercept German radio transmissions and organize a counteroffensive. In 1925, the first television signal was broadcast from the tower, and 10 years later permanent television broadcasting began. Thanks to the installation of television antennas, the height of the tower increased to 324 meters.
The case of Hitler’s arrival in occupied Paris in 1940 is widely known. The Fuhrer was about to climb the tower, but right before his arrival, workers servicing the elevators disabled them. Hitler had to limit himself to a walk at the foot of the tower. Subsequently, specialists were sent from Germany, but they were unable to get the elevators working, and the German flag never flew at the top of the symbol of Paris. The elevators began operating again in 1944, a few hours after the liberation of the city.
The history of the tower could have ended in the same 1944, when Hitler ordered it to be blown up along with many other landmarks, but the commandant of Paris, Dietrich von Choltitz, did not carry out the order. This had no unpleasant consequences for him, since he immediately surrendered to the British.
"Iron Lady" of Paris
Today, the Eiffel Tower is one of the most popular places in the French capital, both among tourists and among Parisians themselves. According to statistics greatest number tourists coming to Paris for the first time go to the Eiffel Tower. As for the residents of the city, it is a common tradition among young Parisians to declare their love or propose marriage on the Eiffel Tower, as if calling all of Paris as a witness.
Eiffel himself, by the way, never called his brainchild the Eiffel Tower - he said “three hundred meters high.”
The metal structure weighs 7,300 tons and is very strong and stable. Her deviation in strong wind is 12 cm, at high temperatures - 18 cm. It is interesting that when working on fastening designs, Eiffel was guided not only by technical calculations, but also by the work of paleontologist Hermann von Mayer, who studied the structure of human and animal joints and their ability to withstand heavy loads.
The lower floor is formed by four converging columns connected by an arched vault at a height of about 57 m. On the platform they support there are also four columns carrying a square platform with a side of 35 m. It is located at a height of 116 m. Upper part The tower is a powerful column on which there is a third platform (276 m). The highest platform (1.4 X 1.4 m) is located at an altitude of 300 m. You can climb the tower by elevator or by stairs of 1792 steps.
Television and radio equipment and antennas are installed between the third and fourth sites cellular communications, lighthouse and weather station.
Initially, the tower was illuminated by gas lamps, of which there were 10 thousand. In 1900, electric lighting was installed on the tower. In 2003, the lighting system was modernized, and in 2015, LED lamps began to be used. The light bulbs (20 thousand of them) are easily replaced, which allows you to arrange multi-colored illuminations if necessary.
The color of the tower itself changed several times. Now it has a bronze shade, specially patented specifically for the Eiffel Tower. They paint it every 7 years, spending 57 tons of paint each time. At the same time, all parts of the tower are inspected and, if necessary, replaced with new ones.
Souvenir shops are open to visitors of the tower in the columns of the first tier, and there is also a post office in the southern support. Here, in a separate room, you can examine the hydraulic mechanisms that once lifted the elevators.
On the first site there is a restaurant “58 Eiffel”, a souvenir shop and a cinema center where films about the construction of the Eiffel Tower are shown. Here begins the old spiral staircase, along which one could once climb to the upper tiers and to the apartment of Eiffel himself, located on the third landing. On the parapet you can read the names of 72 famous scientists, engineers and industrialists of France. In winter, a small skating rink is built on the ground floor for ice skaters.
Eiffel's apartment was his favorite place to spend time when he came to the capital. It is quite spacious, furnished XIX style century, there is even a piano here. In it, the engineer repeatedly received honored guests who came to look at the tower, including Edison. The Parisian rich offered Eiffel a lot of money for the apartments, or at least for the right to spend the night in them, but he refused every time.
On the second platform there is Maupassant's favorite restaurant, Jules Verne, an observation deck and the usual souvenir shop. Here you can also see an exhibition telling about the construction of the tower.
Access to the third floor is carried out using three elevators. Previously, there was an observatory and a meteorological laboratory here, but now the third platform is a magnificent observation deck with a fantastic view of Paris. In the center of the site there is a bar for those who want to admire the view of the city with a glass of wine in hand.
It is now impossible to imagine that the Eiffel Tower was once going to be demolished. On the contrary, it is the most copied landmark in the world. In total, more than 30 copies of the tower of varying degrees of accuracy are known; how many of them are known only local residents, in fact, no one will say.