16. EiffeEiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel)
The Eiffel Tower is to Paris what the Statue of Liberty is to New York and what Big Ben is London: the
ultimate civic emblem. French engineer Gustave Eiffelâalready famous for building viaducts and bridgesâ
spent two years working to erect this monument for the World Exhibition of 1889.
Because its colossal bulk exudes a feeling of mighty permanence, you may have trouble believing that it
nearly became 7,000 tons of scrap metal (the 1,063-foot tour contains 12,000 pieces of metal and 2,500,000
rivets) when its concession expired in 1909. At first many Parisians hated the structure, agreeing with
designer William Morris, who, explaining why he had been spending so much time at the tower, said "Why
on earth have I come here? Because it's the only place I can't see it from." Only its potential use as a radio
antenna saved the day (it still bristles with a forest of radio and television transmitters). Gradually, though,
the Tour Eiffel became part of the Parisian landscape, entering the hearts and souls of Parisians and visitors
alike. Today it is most breathtaking at night, when every girder is highlighted in a sparkling display
originally conceived to celebrate the turn of the millennium. The glittering light show was so popular that
the 20,000 lights were reinstalled for permanent use in 2003. The tower does its electric shimmy for five
minutes every hour on the hour until 1 am.
You can stride up the stairs as far as the third floor, but if you want to go to the top you'll have to take the
elevator. (Be sure to take a close look at the fantastic ironwork.) Although the view of the flat sweep of Paris
at 1,000 feet may not beat the one from the Tour Montparnasse skyscraper, the setting makes it considerably
more romanticâespecially if you come in the late evening, after the crowds have dispersed. Beat the
crushing lines by reserving your ticket online. You can also book a guided tour.
The tower is the tallest structure in Paris and the most-visited paid monument in the world; 7.1 million
people ascended it in 2011. The third level observatory's upper platform is at 279.11 m the highest accessible
to public in the European Union and the highest in Europe as long as the platform of the Ostankino Tower, at
360 m, remains closed as a result of the fire of August 2000. The tower received its 250 millionth visitor in
2010.
The tower stands 320 metres tall, about the same height as an 81-storey building. During its construction, the
Eiffel Tower surpassed the Washington Monument to assume the title of the tallest man-made structure in
the world, a title it held for 41 years, until the Chrysler Building in New York City was built in 1930.
However, because of the addition, in 1957, of the antenna atop the Eiffel Tower, it is now taller than the
Chrysler Building. Not including broadcast antennas, it is the second-tallest structure in France, after the
Millau Viaduct.
The tower has three levels for visitors. Tickets can be purchased to ascend, by stairs or lift (elevator), to the
first and second levels. The walk from ground level to the first level is over 300 steps, as is the walk from
the first to the second level. The third and highest level is accessible only by lift - stairs exist but they are not
usually open for public use. Both the first and second levels feature restaurants.
The tower has become the most prominent symbol of both Paris and France, often in the establishing shot of
films set in the city.