What is located near the Eiffel Tower. Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower has been part of the urban landscape of Paris for a hundred years and has become its symbol. But it is also not only the heritage of all of France, but also a monument to the great technical achievements of the late 19th century.

Who built the Eiffel Tower?

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

Gustave Eiffel

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

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

Construction of the Eiffel Tower

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

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

July 1888

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Facts about the Eiffel Tower

The height of the tower is 300.65 meters to the roof, 324.82 meters to the end of the spire;
Weight – 7300 tons for the tower and 10,000 tons for the entire building;
Year of construction – 1889;
Construction time – 2 years 2 months and 5 days;
Creator: bridge engineer Gustave Eiffel;
Number of steps – 1792 to the lighthouse, 1710 to the 3rd level platform;
Number of visitors – more than 6 million per year;

About the Eiffel Tower

Height of the Eiffel Tower

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

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

Moreover, the third and last floor is located at an altitude of 276 meters, this is the maximum accessible to ordinary visitors.

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

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

Starting from the second floor landing, the four columns of the tower are woven into a single structure. The third and last floor is located on it at an altitude of 276.1 meters; its area is not as small as it might seem - 250 sq.m., which allows you to accommodate 400 people at a time.

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

Eiffel Tower design

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

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

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

Eiffel Tower color

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

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

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

Reliability of the Eiffel Tower

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

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

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

Tower lighting

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

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

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

The last modernization of the lighting was carried out in 2015; the lamps were replaced with LEDs to save energy. In parallel, work was carried out to install thermal panels, two wind turbines, and a system for collecting and using rainwater.

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

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

Floors of the Eiffel Tower

As already mentioned, the Eiffel Tower has three levels, not counting the lighthouse platform, which is accessible only to workers and the areas at the base. Each floor is not just an observation deck, there are also souvenir shops, restaurants, and other objects, so it’s worth talking about each level of the Eiffel Tower separately.

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

Glass balustrades and a transparent floor that give an unforgettable experience of walking through the void more than 50 meters above the ground. Don't be afraid, the floor is completely safe!
Restaurant 58 Tour Eiffel. Not the only one in the tower, but the most famous.
Buffet if you just want something to eat or drink.
A small cinema hall in which a film about the Eiffel Tower is broadcast by multiple projectors on three walls at once.
A small museum with interactive screens telling the history of the tower.
A fragment of the old spiral staircase that led to Gustave Eiffel's private office.
A seating area where you can just sit and look at Paris from a bird's eye view.
Souvenir shop.

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

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

This floor is half the size of the first floor, which is why there are not so many objects located here:

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

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

Visitors can only get to the third floor of the tower by taking a glass elevator, although it is reached by a staircase that originally had 1,665 steps, but was later replaced with a safer 1,710 steps.

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

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

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

Where is the Eiffel Tower

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

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

Nearest metro station: Bir-Hakeim, line 6 – from there you only need to walk 500 meters to the tower. But you can also get there from Trocadero stations (intersection of lines 6 and 9), Ecole Militaire (line 8).

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

Bus routes: 42, 69, 72, 82, 87, stops “Champ de Mars” or “Tour Eiffel”

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

Eiffel Tower on the map

Information for those wishing to visit the Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower opening hours:

From mid-June to the end of September:

Elevator – from 9:00 to 0:45 (entrance until 0:00 on the 1st and 2nd floors and until 23:00 on the 3rd floor)
Staircase – from 9:00 to 0:45 (entrance until 0:00)

Rest of the year:

Elevator – from 9:30 to 23:45 (entrance until 23:00 on the 1st and 2nd floors and until 22:30 on the 3rd floor)
Staircase – from 9:30 to 18:30 (entrance until 18:00)

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

Eiffel Tower ticket prices:

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

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

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

Perhaps, if you conduct a survey among travelers about which landmark is the most recognizable in the world, the main symbol of Paris, the Eiffel Tower, will undoubtedly win.

Eiffel Tower of Paris - world famous landmark of France

Like many unusual attractions, the construction of the Eiffel Tower in Paris was assessed extremely ambiguously by residents. During the period of its construction (late 19th century: 1887-1889), many residents, and especially the intelligentsia of Paris, objected to its construction, arguing that a metal tower towering over the capital of France would disrupt its appearance and would not fit into the architectural ensemble of Paris. Among those who opposed the construction of the Eiffel Tower were Guy de Maupassant and Alexandre Dumas fils (in particular, calling it a “factory chimney”).

It is noteworthy that it was originally planned that the tower would last only twenty years and then be dismantled (there were objections to the construction of the tower even when the authorities promised to dismantle it in 20 years).

However, after the metal monument was built and opened to visitors, it was an incredible success among residents and visitors of Paris. In just the first six months, more than 2 million people visited it. The best hotels in Paris have begun to be located near the Eiffel Tower. This trend in the tourism business of Paris continues in our time - many consider it a great success to book a hotel with a view of the Eiffel Tower.

In less than two years, profits from tourists compensated for all costs associated with construction (money was invested in construction by Parisian banks, as well as by the architect Eiffel himself, the designer and creator of this majestic structure).

Therefore, it is not surprising that the life of the tower was extended for seventy years, after which no one would dare to raise the question of dismantling the tower.

The square in front of the Palais de Chaillot with the Eiffel Tower, every Parisian tourist must see this!

The cost of entry to the Eiffel Tower depends on several points. If you want to take the elevator to the very top, then you will have to part with the amount of 15 euros, and if you are content with traveling only to the second floor - 9 euros. If you strain yourself and walk up the stairs, the ticket price will become completely unburdensome - only 5 euros. Entrance to the tower floor is every thirty minutes.

Eiffel Tower photo

The Republic of France is one of the most popular and visited countries in the world. In the information article of the "Business Tourism" section we present an overview of the Republic of France: attractions. ★★★★★

Tower in Paris

At the end of the 19th century, it was unheard of for Gustave Alexandre Eiffel to conceive a 300-meter tower made of metal. At that time it was the tallest building. Many of his contemporaries were against this, as they believed that the “monstrous and useless” iron structure would disfigure the exquisite appearance of the capital. But the country's leadership and government wanted to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Great French Revolution and the World Exhibition in 1889 dedicated to this event.

Winter. Metal. Class!

Construction has begun. The pits were dug five meters below the level of the Seine, blocks ten meters thick were laid in them, and hydraulic presses were installed into these foundations to precisely adjust the vertical position of the tower. The estimated mass of the tower was 5 thousand tons. At first, Eiffel wanted to decorate his creation with sculptures and decorations installed on platforms, but in the end, all that remained of all this were openwork arches. And at the beginning of the century, the fate of the tower was again under threat, everything was moving towards dismantling. But with the advent of radio, the tower began to perform practical functions, then it “worked” for television, then it began to perform radar functions.

The structure has three different platforms, at heights of 60, 140 and 275 meters, and can be reached by five elevators, which were once hydraulic but have now been electrified. In each “leg” of the tower, elevators will take you to the second platform, and the fifth of them can lift you to a height of all 275 m. Mysterious fact: Eiffel himself designed these elevators, and for fifty years they worked properly until the Nazis entered Paris in 1940. They broke unexpectedly and exactly for the period while the German occupation continued. The entrance to the tower was closed. The enemies never had to look down on the city. No Berlin engineers could fix the mechanisms, but the French technician managed it in half an hour. The tricolor flag once again rose over the city on the Eiffel Tower.

The first platform at the base is more than 4 thousand meters, the second - 1.4 thousand, the third is a small two-story square platform 18x18 meters, one of the floors is open. At the very top there is a small laboratory where Eiffel also worked, and above it there is a gallery where the lantern is turned on. After all, the tower's floodlights are a guide for aircraft and ships; it also houses a special weather station that studies atmospheric electricity, environmental pollution and radiation.

Interesting facts about the Eiffel Tower in Paris

In what year was the Eiffel Tower built, the height of the Eiffel Tower and other background information

How long did it take to build the Eiffel Tower?: Construction of the Eiffel Tower begins: January 28, 1887. Construction lasted a little over 2 years and 2 months. Date: completion of construction is considered March 31, 1889.
How old is the Eiffel Tower: in 2014, the symbol of Paris celebrated 125 years. Over the years, any inhabitant of the Earth can no longer imagine France without a light lace tower rushing upward.
How many meters is the Eiffel Tower: tower height 324 m to the tip of the antenna spire. The height of the Eiffel Tower in meters without antenna is 300.64 m.
Which is taller: Eiffel Tower or Statue of Liberty: The height of the Statue of Liberty from the ground to the tip of the torch is 93 meters, including the base and pedestal. The height of the statue itself, from the top of the pedestal to the torch, is 46 meters.
How much does the Eiffel Tower weigh?: Metal structure weight - 7,300 tons (total weight approximately 10,100 tons). The tower is completely made of 18,038 metal parts, for the fastening of which 2.5 million rivets were used
Who built the Eiffel Tower: Gustave Eiffel is the head of the engineering office that won the patent for the design and construction of the tower. The developers and architects of the project were: Maurice Kechelin, Emile Nouguier, Stéphane Sauvestre.

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

Eiffel Tower (Paris)

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

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

Story

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

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

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

Eiffel Tower opening hours

The Eiffel Tower's operating hours are as follows:

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

Ticket prices

To the 2nd floor by elevator

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

To the 2nd floor via stairs

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

To the top by elevator

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

How to get there

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

The most talented, thoughtful and successful provocation in architecture - I can’t describe this iron lady in any other way. No, she is still not a madame, but a mademoiselle, graceful and slender. In a word, the Eiffel Tower – la tour Eiffel!

We are with you in Paris. And, having visited, walked along, studied the sculptures and memorial inscriptions on Charles de Gaulle Square, we slowly walked along the aristocratic Avenue Kleber to Trocadéro Square. The very leisurely walk took only half an hour. And here it is, the Eiffel Tower. “Bergère ô tour Eiffel,” wrote the great French poet Guillaume Apollinaire at the beginning of the 20th century. - “Shepherdess, O Eiffel Tower!”

How to get to the Eiffel Tower

For us traveling around the capital of France, the Eiffel Tower is located very conveniently. Firstly, as you know, it can be seen from everywhere, and secondly, not only above-ground and underground, but also waterways lead to and from it. After all, it stands on the banks of the Seine.

Nearby are bus routes No. 82 - stop "Eiffel Tower" ("Tour Eiffel") or "Champs de Mars" ("Champs de Mars"), No. 42 - stop "Eiffel Tower" , No. 87 – stop “Pole of Mars” and No. 69 – also “Pole of Mars”.

Water buses - bateau-mouches - moor both right at the foot of the Eiffel Tower and on the other bank of the Seine, at the Pont Alma. Therefore, after you return from heaven (that is, from the tower) to earth, you can continue your acquaintance with Paris on the open deck of a fly boat cutting through the waters of the Seine.

There are several metro stations near the big shepherdess: “Passy”, “Champs de Mars – Tour Eiffel”, “Bir-Hakeim”, which is named in honor of the battle of the French with the troops of Hitler's General Rommel in May-June 1942 in Libya. However, I highly recommend that you get to the Trocadéro station - it's in the photo above. From here it is not the shortest, but the most beautiful walking path to the Eiffel Tower.

A little bit of Trocadero

Arriving in Paris for the first time, on the very first day I didn’t see any sights. But it was here, on Trocadero Square, emerging onto a wide esplanade that broke the giant horseshoe of the Chaillot Palace, that I realized: I was really in Paris! Because in all its glory and in full growth, the main symbol of the Parisian capital opened before me - the Eiffel Tower in light lace from its iron head to its stone toes.

Then it seemed to me that I had come up with an original angle for photography: you need to lean slightly to the side, put your hand in the same direction, and if the photographer aligns you with the tower, then in the photo it will look like you are leaning on it (the tower). Moreover, you and she are almost the same height. Oh, how many similar photographs have I come across in the years since my “discovery”!..

Take a lot of photos, admire the stunning view of another architectural axis of Paris: Trocadero - Jena Bridge - Eiffel Tower - Champ de Mars - Military Academy - Place Fontenoy - Avenue Sax (not in honor of the inventor of the saxophone, but in memory of Marshal Moritz of Saxony). And this axis is closed by another tower - Montparnasse, younger than the Eiffel... Take your time, especially if you come here to the esplanade in the evening. It is especially beautiful here at sunset.

In the meantime, you can look into the Cinema Museum, the Naval Museum and the Museum of Man located in the Chaillot Palace, and if you walk a little down from the palace and take a little to the left, you will find the “Aquarium of Paris” - they say that with all the inhabitants of French rivers and even with mermaids!

Well, now let's appreciate the Trocadero park stretching right in front of us with its largest fountain in Paris: among the gilded statues, tons of water burst out from dozens of water cannons arranged in a cascade.

In the heat of summer, I advise you to lie down on the emerald lawn near the fountain and cool off with cool water mist before rushing to the Eiffel Tower across the Jena Bridge.

History of the Eiffel Tower. World Gate

In the meantime, while we’re refreshing ourselves at the fountain, let’s remember where the Eiffel Tower came from.

At the end of the 19th century, a fashion arose on our planet to hold world exhibitions and show them everything that your country has invented new and preserved the good old. In 1889, the honor of hosting such an exhibition fell to France. Moreover, the occasion was appropriate - the 100th anniversary of the Great French Revolution. How to surprise your guests? The Paris City Hall decided to decorate the entrance to the exhibition with an unusual arch. A competition was announced among French engineers, in which Gustave Eiffel also took part. Here he is in the photo.

To be honest, Eiffel himself had no ideas about decorating the exhibition gates. But the engineering bureau he headed had talented employees. For example, Maurice Koechlin, who had a drawing of a high-rise tower lying around. They took it, as they say, as a basis. Calling on another colleague, Émile Nouguier, for help, they polished the project to a shine. And they won the competition, eclipsing more than a hundred competitors! Among them is the one who proposed building the exhibition gate in the form of a giant guillotine. And what is wrong? It's the anniversary of the revolution!..

True, the city authorities wanted something more elegant than just a metal structure, even a very high-tech one. And then Eiffel turned to the architect Stephen Sauvestre. He added architectural excesses to the tower project, which made it irresistible: arches, a rounded top, stone-trimmed supports... In January 1887, the Paris mayor's office and Eiffel shook hands, and construction began.

It progressed at an incredible pace even by today’s standards - in two years and two months the tower was ready. Moreover, it was assembled from 18,038 parts using 2.5 million rivets by only 300 workers. It's all about the clear organization of work: Eiffel made the most accurate drawings and ordered the main parts of the tower to be prepared for installation on the ground. Moreover, with drilled holes and, for the most part, rivets already inserted into them. And there, in the sky, the high-altitude assemblers could only join the parts of this gigantic constructor.

The World Exhibition in Paris lasted for six months. During this time, 2 million people came to look at the tower and from it to the city. Despite the protests of 300 representatives of the cultural community (including Maupassant, Dumas fils, Charles Gounod), who believed that the tower disfigured Paris, by the end of 1889 - the year of the tower's birth - it was possible to “recapture” 75 percent of the costs of its construction. Taking into account the fact that Eiffel received another 25 percent from the city treasury already at the conclusion of the contract, the successful engineer was able to immediately move on to making money with the help of his iron brainchild. After all, under the same agreement with the mayor’s office, the tower was leased to Gustave Eiffel for a quarter of a century! It is not surprising that he soon bought all the rights to their seemingly common idea from his fellow co-authors and was even able to afford to equip an apartment on its last, third floor.

In this home in seventh heaven, Eiffel received the famous American inventor Thomas Edison in 1899. They say their meeting - with coffee, cognac and cigars - lasted ten hours. But I saw with my own eyes: they are sitting there, at the very top of the tower, to this day! And the maid on the side froze in anticipation: what else would the gentlemen engineers want? But the engineers also froze in their age-old conversation. Aren't they wax?

Be sure to check it out! It's time to start climbing.

Now up

The tower knows no holidays or weekends; it is open to visitors every day in winter from 9.30 to 23.00, and in summer from 9.00 to 24.00.

I’ll warn you right away: the queue for tickets to the Eiffel Tower can be long: two or three hours (look at the photo).

It is best to come here in the evening, when the tower is beautiful not only for the pre-sunset views that open from it, but also for the slight decline in the tourist flow that washes all four of its supports. By the way, the cash registers are located there. After 20.00 you can spend only an hour and a half in line, or even an hour.

There is an option to order tickets online. Although on the Eiffel Tower website, tickets are usually sold out a month in advance. But then you won’t have to waste your precious Parisian time under the iron hem of the shepherdess of the clouds reflected in the Seine. True, you will have to pay her a visit exactly at the time indicated on the ticket. This is not an exaggeration: if you are late, you will not be allowed on any floor and your ticket will be cancelled.

Tickets cost the same both at the box office and on the website. I beg you very much: do not buy tickets with your own hands. Never and not at all! And in general, don’t buy anything second-hand in Paris. Except for roasted chestnuts.

Know and remember:

climb on the elevator 3rd floor The Eiffel Tower, to the very top, costs 17 euros for an adult, 14.5 euros for teenagers and youth from 12 to 24 years old, 8 euros for children from 4 to 11 years old;
lift ride to the 2nd floor: adults – 11 euros, teenagers and youth from 12 to 24 years old – 8.5 euros, children from 4 to 11 years old – 4 euros;
climbing the stairs to the 2nd floor: adults – 7 euros, teenagers and youth from 12 to 24 years old – 5 euros, children from 4 to 11 years old – 3 euros. Be aware that there are 1,674 steps to climb when climbing the stairs. With your feet!

Prices for group visits are exactly the same, only 20 people receive a free guide.

To get to the very top, tell the ticket taker the word “sommet” (some), that is, “top”. And if the third floor is not closed for repairs, you will go there without delay on the second floor, where you would again have to buy a ticket - now to the “276 meters” mark.

Go!

After standing in line or meeting your e-ticket deadline, you enter the elevator. This will be one of two historic elevators installed in 1899 by Fives-Lill. He will take you to the second floor. And from there you will go higher on a more modern (1983) Otis elevator.

What, it would seem, can be seen on the Eiffel Tower? Not from her, but on her. Believe me, you should look not only from top to bottom, but also from side to side.

First floor of the Eiffel Tower

The Gustave Eiffel salon was recently renovated here, and now it can accommodate from 200 participants of any conference to 300 guests for a buffet. Would you like to sit down? The hall accommodates 130 dinner guests. For a private lunch (from 50 euros) or dinner (from 140 euros) you can book a table at the 58 tour Eiffel restaurant. The number in the name is not without reason - the establishment is located at such a height (in meters). Its beauty is also that the cost of your ascent on a separate (!) elevator is already included in the restaurant bill.

Here, on the first floor, a transparent floor appeared in 2013, so watch... Watch, don’t make your head spin! Here you will be shown the play “About the Universe of the Eiffel Tower” projected onto three walls by seven spotlights. Nearby there is a seating area where you can sit, and there are benches where you can buy souvenirs. Exorbitantly expensive, but on the Eiffel Tower itself. And they also say that in winter there is a skating rink on the ground floor!

Second floor of the Eiffel Tower

Here, in addition to a wonderful overview of Paris, you will be offered lunch or dinner at the Jules Verne restaurant (the entrance to the elevator that will take you personally to it is in the picture). The great science fiction writer and inventor, who predicted many now familiar inventions, is immortalized by a catering point at an altitude of 115 meters. The prices here, however, are also fantastic: twice as high as on the floor below. Expensive? Both on the first and second floors there are buffets with “homemade sandwiches”, pastries and drinks - hot and cold.

Third floor of the Eiffel Tower

And finally, the third floor will invite you to celebrate your ascent to the highest point in Paris with a glass of champagne at an exorbitant price - from 12 to 21 euros per 100 grams. In addition, you will be able to see Eiffel’s apartment through the glass (where he keeps talking with Edison), look up close at the antennas that dot the head of the iron shepherdess, and make sure that this is where the radio broadcast first went on air in 1921, and in 1935 - TV signal.

Another personal tip: if you decide to climb to the third floor of the Eiffel Tower, take warm clothes with you, even if the streets of Paris are extremely hot. At an altitude of almost 300 meters, a piercing cold wind blows. And the tower bends and creaks. Just kidding, it doesn't creak. It bends, but deviates only 15-20 centimeters at the highest point - at an altitude of 324 meters.

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Here’s what’s surprising: the Paris mayor’s office concluded an agreement with Gustave Eiffel for 20 years, and after that the tower was ordered to be dismantled. Where there! Who would have allowed it! Everyone got used to it and fell in love... In 1910, Eiffel extended the lease of the tower for another 70 years.

The controversy surrounding the Parisian shepherdess has long subsided; her creator died in 1923, but she still stands and does not rust. Because it is repainted every few years, using up to 60 tons of paint of a special “brown-Eiffel” color. And for a long time now, no one can imagine Paris without this flighty mademoiselle.

While we were flying up to the heavens and descending from the clouds to the ground, night fell. This means it's waiting for you and me.