Eiffel Tower levels. History of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

The unique metal structure, created by the outstanding architect and engineer Gustave Eiffel, is a symbol of the most beautiful capital in the world. A large number of tourists visit Paris every year just to see this miracle. You can admire not only the grandiose structure itself, but also the stunning views of the city. The tower has three levels, each of which provides the visitor with a stunning panorama. Everyone knows where the Eiffel Tower is located, but not everyone knows the history of the creation of the grandiose structure. In this article we will look at the main symbol of Paris.

History of the tower

To design the world exhibition in Paris, the city leadership decided to create a landmark and grandiose object. He was supposed to amaze the foreigners who came to the exhibition. The famous engineer was entrusted with developing and creating the object, who was at first confused, but then presented the city authorities with an unusual project for a high tower. It was approved, and Gustave Eiffel took up its implementation.

In what year was the Eiffel Tower built?

Seeing the unusual structure for the first time, many wonder how old the Eiffel Tower is. It was created in 1889 and was intended to decorate the entrance to a grandiose exhibition. The event commemorated the centenary of the French Revolution and was carefully planned. Having received permission to build a unique structure, Gustave Eiffel began creating the tower. More than eight million francs were allocated for construction; with this money it was possible to build a small city. According to an agreement with the chief architect, the dismantling of the structure was to occur two decades after the opening of the exhibition. Considering the year in which the Eiffel Tower was built, it was supposed to be dismantled in 1909, but due to the endless flow of tourists, it was decided to leave the structure.

How was the main symbol of Paris created?

Construction of the main object of the Paris exhibition lasted about two years. Three hundred workers assembled the structure according to superbly designed drawings. The metal parts were made in advance, the weight of each of them was within three tons, which greatly facilitated the task of lifting and fastening the parts. More than two million metal rivets were produced; holes for them were made in advance in prepared parts.

The lifting of the metal structure elements was carried out using special cranes. After the height of the structure exceeded the size of the equipment, the chief designer developed special cranes that moved along rails intended for elevators. Given the information about how many meters the Eiffel Tower is, serious work safety measures were required, and great attention was paid to this. There were no tragic deaths or serious accidents during construction, which was a great achievement considering the scale of the work.

After the opening of the exhibition, the tower was a tremendous success - thousands of people were eager to see the bold project. However, the creative elite of Paris had a completely different attitude towards the architectural masterpiece. A large number of complaints were sent to the city administration. Writers, poets and artists feared that the giant metal tower would disrupt the city's unique style. The architecture of the capital took shape over centuries, and the iron giant, visible from every corner of Paris, definitely violated it.

Height of the Eiffel Tower in meters

The genius Eiffel created a tower 300 meters high. The structure received its name in honor of its creator, but the engineer himself called it a “three-hundred-meter tower.” After construction, a spire antenna was installed on top of the structure. The height of the tower together with the spire is 324 meters. The design diagram is as follows:

● four columns of the tower stand on a concrete foundation, rising upward, they are intertwined into a single high column;

● at a height of 57 meters there is the first floor, which is a large platform that can accommodate several thousand people. In winter, there is an ice skating rink on the ground floor, which is very popular. This level also houses a great restaurant, a museum and even a small cinema;

● the four columns finally connect at 115 meters, forming a second floor with an area slightly less than the first. On this level there is a restaurant with excellent French cuisine, a historical gallery and an observation deck with panoramic windows;

● the height of the Eiffel Tower in meters is amazing, but the maximum accessible to visitors is 276 meters. It is on it that the last, third floor is located, capable of accommodating several hundred people. The observation deck at this level offers breathtaking views. Also on this floor there is a champagne bar and the office of the chief designer.

Over the years, the color of the tower changed, the structure was painted either yellow or brick. In recent years, the building has been painted a brown shade, which is almost indistinguishable from the color of bronze.

The mass of the metal giant is about 10,000 tons. The tower is well fortified and practically does not suffer from the wind. Eiffel understood well that when erecting his fantastic structure, first of all, it was necessary to ensure its stability and resistance to wind loads. Precise mathematical calculations made it possible to design the ideal shape of the object.

The tower is currently open to the public. Anyone can buy a ticket and admire the dizzying views of the beautiful city.

Where is the Eiffel Tower in Paris?

The structure is located in the central part of Paris, on the Champ de Mars, opposite the magnificent structure is the Jena Bridge. Walking through the center of the capital, you just need to raise your eyes and you will see the symbol of France, after that you just need to move in the right direction.

There are several metro stations near the tower, many bus routes stop at the main attraction, in addition, there is a pier nearby for stopping pleasure boats and boats, and there are also parking areas for cars and bicycles.

Once in the beautiful capital of France, you won’t have to ask where the Eiffel Tower is located in Paris, because the magnificent structure can be seen from almost every corner of the city. At night, it is also impossible to miss the unique structure, since the tower is illuminated by several thousand light bulbs.

Paris, where the Eiffel Tower is located, is rightfully proud of its main attraction. Magnificent views, wonderful restaurants and breathtaking heights - all this awaits you when you visit the grandiose structure. For many years, the tower was the tallest architectural masterpiece in the world. This magnificent wonder of the world leaves an unforgettable impression. Once you visit the bar on the third floor of the tower, enjoying excellent champagne and wine, you will definitely want to come back here again.

A few days before Hitler was due to visit occupied Paris, the elevator in the Eiffel Tower broke down. The breakdown turned out to be so serious that the engineers were unable to repair the lift during the war. The Fuhrer was not able to visit the top of the largest building in France. The elevator started working only when Paris was liberated from the Nazi invaders - literally a few hours later. That is why the French say that although Hitler managed to conquer France, he still could not capture the Eiffel Tower.

If you look closely at the map of Paris, the capital of France, in order to find out where the Eiffel Tower is located, you will see that it is located in the western part of the city, on the Champs de Mars, on the left bank of the Seine, not far from the Jena Bridge, which connects the Quai Branly with the opposite shore. You can find out exactly where the Eiffel Tower is located on the geographical map of the world using the following coordinates: 48° 51′ 29″ N. la., 2° 17′ 40″ e. d.

Now the silhouette of the Eiffel Tower is a symbol of Paris, but once upon a time, from the first days of its existence, it caused a mixed reaction among both the French and guests of the city. While tourists admired its weight, size and unusual design, many Parisians were categorically against its presence in the capital and repeatedly demanded that the authorities dismantle this grandiose structure.

The Eiffel Tower was saved from the planned demolition (the weight of the iron structure attracted more than one company in the field of metallurgy) only because the era of radio frequency waves had arrived - and it was this structure that was best suited for installing radio antennas.

The idea of creating a tower

The history of the Eiffel Tower began when the French decided to organize a world exhibition dedicated to the centenary of the French Revolution, which occurred in 1789. To this end, a competition was launched throughout the country to select the best engineering and architectural projects that could be presented at the planned event and that could demonstrate the technical achievements of France over the past decade.

Among the competition entries, most of the proposals were similar to each other and were a variation of the Eiffel Tower, which the judges decided to choose. Interesting fact: although Gustave Eiffel is considered to be the author of the project, in reality the idea was submitted by his collaborators - Emile Nouguier and Maurice Koechlen. Their version had to be modified somewhat, since the Parisians, who preferred more refined architecture, found it too “dry”.

It was decided to cover the lower part of the structure with stone, and on the ground floor to connect the supports and the platform of the tower with arches, which would also serve as the entrance to the exhibition. He came up with the idea of arranging glazed halls on all three tiers of the structure, and giving the top of the structure a rounded shape and decorating it with various decorative elements.

Construction

Interesting fact: half of the money for the construction of the Eiffel Tower was allocated by Gustave Eiffel himself (the rest of the amount was contributed by three French banks). For this, an agreement was signed with him, according to which the future structure was leased to the engineer for a quarter of a century, and compensation was also provided, which was supposed to cover 25% of his expenses.

The tower paid for itself even before the exhibition closed (during the six months of its operation, more than 2 million people came to see the structure, unprecedented at that time), so its further operation brought Eiffel a lot of money.

The creation of the Eiffel Tower took very little time: two years, two months and five days. Interesting fact: only three hundred workers were involved in the construction, and not a single death was recorded, which at that time was a kind of achievement.

Such a rapid pace of construction is primarily explained by high-quality drawings, which indicated the absolutely accurate dimensions of all metal parts (and their number exceeded 18 thousand). When assembling the tower, completely finished parts were used with holes made, two thirds of which had pre-installed rivets.

An important role was played by the fact that the weight of the parts did not exceed three tons - this greatly facilitated their lifting to the top.

The construction involved cranes, which, after the tower had significantly exceeded their height, lifted the parts to their maximum level, from where they fell into mobile cranes that moved upward along rails that were laid for elevators.

Just two years after the start of construction work, the Eiffel Tower was built and its chief engineer, on March 31, 1989, hoisted the French flag over the structure - and the opening of the Eiffel Tower took place. That same evening, it shone with multi-colored lights: a lighthouse was installed on top of the structure, glowing in the colors of the French flag, two searchlights and about 10 thousand gas lamps (they were later replaced by 125 thousand electric light bulbs).

Nowadays, the Eiffel Tower is “dressed” at night in a golden robe, which sometimes changes its color depending on the events taking place.

What does the symbol of France look like?

The size of the Eiffel Tower amazed Parisians even before the completion of construction work - no one in the world had ever seen such a structure. What a grandiose structure appeared in front of them is evidenced by the following facts: it was much taller than all existing structures at that time: the Cheops pyramid had a height of 146 meters, Cologne and Ulm Cathedrals - 156 and 161 meters, respectively (a building of higher dimensions was erected only in 1930 - it was the New York Chrysler Building with a height of 319 m).

Immediately after completion of construction, the height of the Eiffel Tower was about three hundred meters (in our time, thanks to the antenna installed on its top, the height of the Eiffel Tower in the spire is 324 m). You can climb the tower to the second floor by steps - there are 1,792 of them in total - or by elevator. From the second to the third - only on the lift. Anyone who decides to climb so high will definitely not regret it: the view from the Eiffel Tower is magnificent - all of Paris is at your fingertips.

The Eiffel Tower in Paris shocked contemporaries with its unusual shape for the capital, and therefore the project was repeatedly subjected to merciless criticism.

The designer argued that this particular configuration is the best option for successfully withstanding the force of the wind (as time has shown, he was right: even the strongest hurricane, which swept through the capital at a speed of 180 km/h, deflected the top of the tower by only 12 cm). There is no doubt that in appearance the Eiffel Tower somewhat resembles an elongated pyramid, the weight of which is many tons.

Below, at the same distance from each other, there are four square columns, the length of each side of such a column is 129.3 meters and they all go up at a slight angle with an inclination towards each other. These columns, at a level of 57 m, connect a vault decorated with arches, on which the first tier measuring 65 by 65 m is installed (a restaurant is located here). It is interesting that under this floor, on all sides, the names of seventy-two of the most famous French designers and scientists are stamped, as well as everyone who took a significant part in the construction of the tower.

From the first platform, at a slight angle, four more columns rise towards each other, which come together at a height of 115 m, and the size of the second floor is half as large - 35 by 35 meters (there is a restaurant here, and previously there were also tanks with intended for elevator with machine oil). The four columns located on the second tier also go up at an angle, coming closer until, at a height of 190 m, they converge into one column, on which, at a level of 276 m, a third floor of 16.5 by 16.5 meters is installed (an astronomical and meteorological observatory and physics room).

A lighthouse was installed above the third floor, the light from which can be seen at a distance of 10 km, which is why the Eiffel Tower looks indescribably beautiful at night, as it shines with blue, white and red light - the colors of the national flag of France. Three hundred meters from the ground above the lighthouse, a very small platform was installed - 1.4 by 1.4 meters, on which there is now a twenty-meter spire.

As for the mass of the structure, its weight is 7.3 thousand tons (the weight of the total mass of the structure is 10.1 thousand tons). Interesting fact: over all the years of its existence, the Eiffel Tower was sold by particularly successful entrepreneurs about two dozen times (the weight of the metal of the world-famous structure attracted more than one buyer). For example, in 1925, the Eiffel Tower was sold twice for scrap metal by the swindler Victor Lusting.

The same thing was done thirty-five years later by the Englishman David Sams; the interesting fact is that he was able to documentably prove to a reputable Dutch company that the Parisian authorities had instructed him to do the dismantling. As a result, he was arrested and put in prison, but the money did not return to the company.

- 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

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

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

The French engineer Gustave Eiffel is usually credited with designing the tower, which bears his name. In fact, it is two lesser-known people - Maurice Koechlin and Emil Nougir, who came up with the original drawings for the monument.

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

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

Eiffel Tower construction process

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

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

Facts you didn't know about the Eiffel Tower:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Using the tower

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

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

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

Tower today

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

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

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

Practical information

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

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

Directions:

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

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

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

Together with TV antenna height of the Eiffel Tower- 320 m, Eiffel Tower weight- 7000 tons, and the entire structure consists of 15 thousand metal parts. The entire mass rests on a foundation extending to a depth of 7 m, and on four colossal pylons, secured by huge cement blocks.

The weight of the metal structure is 7,300 tons (total weight 10,100 tons). Today, three towers could be built from this metal at once. The foundation is made of concrete masses. The vibrations of the tower during storms do not exceed 15 cm.

The tower is divided into three levels:

on the first floor, at an altitude of 57 m, there is a bar and a restaurant
on the second, at an altitude of 115 m, there is another bar and restaurant
the third is located at an altitude of 274 m
the last level is 300 m high and contains television equipment and antennas.

You can take the elevator or walk (1,652 steps) to the top, which offers a magnificent view of the entire city.

Sasha Mitrakhovich 19.01.2016 12:21

Throughout its history, it has repeatedly changed its paint color - from yellow to red-brown. In recent decades, the Eiffel Tower has been invariably painted in the so-called “Eiffel brown” - an officially patented color close to the natural shade of bronze.

The Iron Lady resists the ravages of time thanks to 57 tons of paint, which must be renewed every 7 years.

Sasha Mitrakhovich 19.01.2016 12:24

Weight - 7,300 tons (total weight 10,100 tons). Today, three towers could be built from this metal at once. The foundation is made of concrete masses. The vibrations of the Eiffel Tower during storms do not exceed 15 cm.

The lower floor is a pyramid (129.2 m each side at the base), formed by 4 columns connected at a height of 57.63 m by an arched vault; on the vault is the first platform Eiffel Tower. The platform is a square (65 m across).

On this platform rises a second pyramid-tower, also formed by 4 columns connected by a vault, on which there is (at a height of 115.73 m) a second platform (a square 30 m in diameter).

Four columns rising on the second platform come closer together like a pyramid and, gradually intertwining, form a colossal pyramidal column (190 m), carrying a third platform (at a height of 276.13 m), also square in shape (16.5 m in diameter); there is a lighthouse with a dome on it, above which at an altitude of 300 m there is a platform (1.4 m in diameter).

On Eiffel Tower There are stairs (1792 steps) and elevators.

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

The erected tower was stunning with its bold design. Eiffel was severely criticized for the project and at the same time accused of trying to create something artistic and not artistic.

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

The original agreement with Eiffel was for the tower to be dismantled 20 years after construction. As you might guess, it was never implemented, and moreover, the lease was extended for another 70 years. The story of the Eiffel Tower continues.

Sasha Mitrakhovich 19.01.2016 12:32

Under the first balcony, on all four sides of the parapet, the names of 72 outstanding French scientists and engineers, as well as those who made a special contribution to the creation of Gustav Eiffel, are engraved.

These inscriptions appeared at the beginning of the 20th century and were restored in 1986-1987 by the Société Nouvelle d’exploitation de la Tour Eiffel company, hired by the mayor’s office to operate the Eiffel Tower.

The tower itself is today the property of the city of Paris.

Sasha Mitrakhovich 19.01.2016 12:36

Sasha Mitrakhovich 19.01.2016 12:42

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

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

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

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

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