The height of the Eiffel Tower, which is considered the most recognizable landmark located in Paris, is 300 meters. This is the highest building not only in the city, but throughout France.

History

The construction of the future symbol of the city was completed in 1889. The construction was timed to coincide with the opening of the World Exhibition, which was held in the same year in the French capital.

1889 was the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. The leadership of the Third Republic decided to impress the population and guests with a truly unusual structure. A competition was announced, which was won by the firm of engineer Gustave Eiffel. This project proposed the construction of a huge 300-meter building in the city center. Leading roles in the development of the project were played by engineers Emile Nouguier and Maurice Kehlen. After the closing of the World Exhibition, the building was supposed to be dismantled.

To many Parisians, the idea of ​​building a huge futuristic-looking structure in the very center of the city seemed unsuccessful. Writers - Alexandre Dumas son, Emile Zola, Guy de Maupassant, composer Charles Gounod - opposed.

Expert opinion

Knyazeva Victoria

Guide to Paris and France

Ask an expert

The Eiffel Tower was a huge success with the public. Construction costs paid off in a year.

Construction process

After 20 years, the building was to be dismantled. Technological progress intervened. By that time, radio had been invented, a powerful transmitter and antenna were placed on top. In 1898, the first radio communication session was successfully conducted. It was mainly used for radio communications, then, already in the 20th century, for television.

What to visit in Paris in 3 days?

eiffel tower now

This attraction is open to everyone. In each of the legs-columns there are entrances for access inside. The cost of visiting depends on the level to which you plan to climb. On the second tier, the ticket price is 11 euros, on the observation deck, located at the very top - 17 euros. How long you have to stand in line depends on luck and the influx of tourists.

Three floors are available for visiting. You can move between them by elevator or on foot. There is usually a long queue for the elevator.

• The first tier is at a height of 57.64 meters. It is the largest in area, almost 4415 sq. meters, at the same time there can be 3000 people.
• The second tier, which is at a height of 115.7 meters, is already much smaller. Area - 1430 sq. meters, provides for the presence of 1600 people.
• The third tier (height 276.1 meters) is the last one. Its dimensions are 250 sq. meters and a capacity of up to 400 people. This is the highest point of the Eiffel Tower that you can climb.
• Above is a lighthouse and a long spire with a flagpole.

Height of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

Design and shape features

Many are interested in the question, what is the exact height of the Eiffel creation. The tower itself rose to a height of 300.65 m. Subsequently, an antenna in the form of a spire was installed on the top. This increased the size of the structure. The exact height has increased to 324.82 meters.

What to bring from Paris?

The Eiffel Tower has a very original and memorable look. However, there are few people all over the world who would not be familiar with him. Its shape can be described as a highly elongated pyramid. Four columns rise up and merge into one square-shaped structure. Material: puddling steel.

View from Champ de Mars

The structure, built at the end of the last century, is highly reliable. The design created by Gustave Eiffel resists even strong winds. The applied technologies make it possible to compensate for the thermal expansion of the metal, due to the unevenness of which the top deviates by 18 cm as much as possible.

Backlight

It was decided to equip such a tall building, which is the dominant feature of the center of Paris, with spectacular lighting.

At first, acetylene lamps, two searchlights and a beacon on top, painted in the colors of the national flag - white, red and blue, were used for this. Since 1900, electric lamps have been used for these purposes.

For 9 years, from 1925 to 1934, the founder of Citroen, Andre Citroen, placed special advertisements on the building. It was called "Eiffel Tower on fire". A system of 125,000 light bulbs was mounted, which alternately lit up to form the silhouettes of a flying comet, the year of construction, a shooting star, the current date and the word Citroen.

Since 1937, floodlights have been used for illumination, illuminating the structure from below. In 2006, the tower was lit blue for the first time in honor of the 20th anniversary of the European Union. In 2008, during the appointment of France as the chairman of the Council of Europe, the tower had an unusual illumination - a blue background with gold stars, reminiscent of the banner of the European Union.

The Eiffel Tower is a building located in the center of the French capital - Paris. The visiting card of the city, its pride, which is visited by more than 6 million people annually.

In 1889, the French were preparing to host the World Exhibition in their homeland, dedicated to the centenary of the revolution. The government of the country invited the most famous engineers to develop and submit to the competition drawings of a structure that would play the role of an arch - the entrance to the exhibition. The contestants were asked to develop a project showing the leadership of France in the technical field, its power and achievements.

More than 100 projects took part in the work, including the work of engineer Eiffel. He provided the commission with drawings of a tower 300 meters high and became one of four contenders for victory. After some improvements, mostly of a decorative nature, the project of his engineering bureau received the first prize.

In 1887, the Eiffel, the state and the municipality of France signed an agreement according to which the engineer was allocated 1.5 francs for the construction and the right to rent the building for personal ownership for 25 years. This amount was only a quarter of the necessary funds. To get the missing ones, a Joint Stock Company was created, but Eiffel had to donate 50% of the total amount from his own savings. In total, about 8 million francs were collected.

Construction, which lasted over two years, began on January 28, 1887. They finished it in a record time for the end of the 19th century, in many respects this was facilitated by excellent drawings. Up to 300 people took part in the work. After the construction was completed, the grand structure was lit up by thousands of gas lamps, a searchlight and a lighthouse were installed at the very top, the rays of which were painted in the colors of the French flag - an amazing sight. A year later, gas lamps were replaced with electric lighting.

Description

The Eiffel Tower immediately became popular, making a splash. People came to see this building even from other cities. In the first week after the opening, about 30 thousand people visited it, and during the exhibition - 2 million people.

But not everyone unconditionally accepted it. The intelligentsia was especially indignant, among whom were such famous writers, musicians and artists as Maupassant, Balzac, Garnier. From the very beginning of construction, they bombarded the municipality with requests to stop work, arguing that the construction would not fit into the historical appearance of the capital. As history has shown, this did not happen. For 40 years, the Eiffel Tower was the tallest building until the Chrysler Building in New York was built in America.

In its form, the tower is two truncated tetrahedral pyramids of different sizes, made of steel (gradually, steel parts are replaced with lighter and stronger alloys). A smaller pyramid is installed on a larger pyramid, they form tiers. The columns of the second floor approach the upper part, on which the third level with an observation deck is installed.

Some design information:

• the original height of the structure was 300.65 m, after the installation of a new antenna on it in 2010, it "grew" to 324 meters
• weight - 7300 tons and 10000 tons of the whole building
• installed on an area of ​​125 m x 125 m
• number of steps: 1792 to lighthouse and 1710 to level 3
• at a height of 57.64 meters, the columns are connected by a platform; 300 people can easily fit on it; its area is 4415 m
• above the columns converge, 115.7 meters from the ground the second floor has a size of 1430 sq. m, respectively, accommodate more than 1500 people
• from the platform of the second tier, the columns form a single structure. The third tier rises to a height of more than 276 m

Above it is a lighthouse with program control, and a flagpole, the spire crowns the structure, radio and television antennas are also installed here. The tower looks sophisticated, like a real Frenchwoman, often changing its appearance. Initially, it was painted yellow, then brown, with a new design every 7 years. Over the past decades, it has been dyed in a "bronze" color, which is patented as "brown-eiffel". Interestingly, after each dyeing, the weight of the first beauty of Paris, as she is affectionately called, increases by several tons.

An electric outfit is also worthy of a metropolitan resident - since 1900, the backlight has been electric. Since 1925, for almost 10 years, Citroen's advertising sparkled on it. In 1985, just before the New Year, she was dressed in gold, and at the turn of the millennium, silver lights were added. In early 2000, new lighting was installed with 20,000 light bulbs.

From the top of the tower, experiments were carried out with wireless communications; during the First World War, a transmitter of strategic importance worked, and since 1920, civilian radio stations.

What to see on the ground floor?

The ground floor platform rises to a height of about 60 meters. It is easy to climb on foot, but you can use the elevator. The first level has recently been refurbished, including some parts being replaced and a transparent floor built. Visitors can view the land from a height of almost 60 meters, getting an unforgettable experience from this. The engineering structure seems fragile and unreliable, but it is absolutely safe.

The area of ​​the first level is the largest, there are several interesting objects here:

1. Restaurant with an average price category: lunch costs from 40 euros per person, dinner from - 80. There is also a buffet where you can have a quick bite by ordering a cup of coffee, french fries or a croissant.
2. Cinema hall. It shows films that tell about the construction of the legendary building, its history and creators.
3. Museum
4. Part of the original spiral staircase connecting the first and second floors
5. Cozy seating area
6. Souvenir shop. It sells printed materials, photography - everything is dedicated to the famous "Frenchwoman"

347 steps separate the first floor from the base, it is not difficult to overcome them on foot and save on elevator tickets, but there is a big minus - it will not be possible to visit the third level. Since the end of 2004, a skating rink has been poured on the lower floor.

What to see on the second floor

On the second floor there is a luxurious restaurant "Jules Verne". A modest lunch will cost at least 80 euros, and with lobsters and other delicacies - from 200 euros. You can get to the restaurant - by the elevator located in the southern column, bypassing the general entrance. Having ordered lunch or dinner in it, you can not buy entrance tickets.

On the second floor there are: a gallery of stained-glass windows, which tells about the design features of the design; buffet and kiosk with printed and souvenir products, toilet. From the second tier, unforgettable views of Paris, the city of all lovers, open up.

What to see on the third floor

Visitors get to the last level only by elevator. On the third tier there is a platform from which the capital is at a glance, and nothing compares to the pleasure of admiring its beauties.

Interesting! Up to the present day, two elevators, mounted during construction, are used. At first they were powered by hydraulic pumps, since 1983 by an electric motor.

Despite the fact that the area of ​​the last tier is relatively small (250 sq. m), there are many interesting things here:

• Gustave Eiffel's apartment. It restored the interior of the early twentieth century with wax figures, furniture and household items from the turn of the century.
• panoramic maps
• bar where you can order great champagne

Where is the tower and how to get to it?

The Eiffel Tower is located at the address: France, Paris, 7th district, Champ de Mars, 5, Avenue Anatole France (Champ de Mars 5, Avenue Anftole France, 75007, Paris, France).

It is more convenient to get on the subway:

• to Bir Hakein station, line 6. Then 5 minutes walk along Quali Branly
• to Trocadero station, line 9

By bus - route NoNo42, 82, 87 and 69 - stop "Champ de Mars" or "Eiffel Tower".

By river trams, since the building is located near the Seine River, a stop at the Alma bridge.

Ticket prices

The cost of entrance tickets is different, depending on the level and method of lifting, whether the visitor will use the elevator or climb the stairs.

Third level (euro):

• adults - 17, from 12 to 24 years old - 14-15; from 4 to 11 years - 8.5.

Second level (by elevator):

• adults - 11; from 12 to 24 years old - 8.5; from 4 to 11 years old - 4.

Second level (on foot):

• adults - 7; from 12 to 24 years old - 5; 4 to 11 years old 3.

Children under 4 years old enter free of charge.

You can buy tickets at the ticket office of the tower, they are located on the first floor in the supports, or online. It is more convenient to buy via the Internet - you do not have to stand in two lines - at the cashier itself and at the elevator. If you bought tickets online, you need to arrive a little earlier than the indicated time and make a printout. It is not advised to visit this legendary place on weekends and holidays due to the large crowds.

Working hours

• from June 15 to September 1 - from 09:00 to 00:45
• from September 1 to June 15 - from 9.30 to 22:30

Keep in mind that different levels close at different times - the stairs and elevator to the second level 45 minutes before closing, the third level 1 hour 45 minutes before closing.

Arriving in Paris, it is impossible not to visit the legendary places of the most romantic city at least once - the Champs Elysees. Notre Dame Cathedral and, of course, the Eiffel Tower - a symbol of the capital.

Eiffel Tower on the map

The Eiffel Tower has merged into the urban landscape of Paris for hundreds of years and has become its symbol. But it is also not only the property 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 urged many countries of the world to build high-rise structures. Many of the projects failed at the concept stage, but there were those engineers who firmly believed in the success of their ideas. Gustave Eiffel belonged to the latter.

Gustave Eiffel

By the centenary of the industrial revolution in 1886, Paris opens a competition for the creation of new outstanding achievements of our time. According to its plan, 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 in 1884. By the way, Eiffel was not a beginner in his field, before that he brilliantly managed to find solutions in the field of building railway bridges. For the design competition, he submitted about 5000 sheets of drawings of the details of the tower in the original scale. The project was approved, but this was only the beginning of hard work. Before the Eiffel forever perpetuates his name in history, there were still 3 years left.

Construction of the Eiffel Tower

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

But, nevertheless, the work continued. A huge 5-meter pit was dug, in which four 10-meter blocks were installed under each leg of the tower. Additionally, each of the 16 legs of the tower was supplied 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 their time in the world in just 26 months. Here it is only worth once again envying the 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 legs of the tower take visitors up to the second. The fifth elevator goes to the third level. There is a restaurant on the first floor, a newspaper office on the second, and Eiffel's office on the third.

Despite early criticism, the tower organically blended into the views of the city and quickly became a symbol of Paris. Only during the exhibition, about two million people visited here, some of whom immediately climbed to the very top on foot.

With the end of the exhibition, the tower was decided to be demolished. Salvation for her was new technology - radio. Antennas were quickly installed on the tallest building. In subsequent years, television and radar service 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 building in the world. It is hard to imagine the city of Paris without this glorious image.

send

All about the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower ([` aɪfəl taʊər] EYE-fəl TOWR; French: Tour Eiffel) is a wrought iron lattice tower on the Champ de Mars in Paris, France. It is named after engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower.

Constructed in 1887-89 as the entrance to the 1889 World's Fair, the tower was initially criticized by some of France's leading artists and intellectuals, but it soon became a cultural symbol of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The Eiffel Tower is the most visited monument in the world; 6.91 million people climbed it in 2015.

The tower is 324 meters (1,063 ft) tall, about the size of an 81-story building. It is the tallest building in Paris. Its base is a square with each side 125 meters (410 feet) long. During construction, the Eiffel Tower surpassed the Washington Monument to become the tallest man-made structure in the world. She held this title for 41 years, until the Chrysler Building was completed in New York in 1930. After the addition of a broadcasting antenna atop the tower in 1957, the Eiffel Tower was once again taller than the Chrysler Building by 5.2 meters (17 feet). Transmitters aside, the Eiffel Tower is the second tallest structure in France after the Millau Viaduct.

The tower has three visitor levels, with restaurants on the first and second levels. The highest platform is 276 meters (906 feet) above the ground - the highest viewing platform in the European Union accessible to the public. Tickets can be purchased to climb the stairs or the elevator on the first and second levels. The climb from ground level to the first level is over 300 steps, the same height from the first level to the second. Although there are stairs to the upper level, usually only an elevator is available.

History of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

The idea for the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower was designed by Maurice Cochlin and Émile Nougier, two senior engineers working for the "Compagnie des Établissements Eiffel", after a discussion about a suitable centerpiece for the 1889 World's Fair to mark the centenary of the French Revolution. Eiffel openly admitted that he drew inspiration for the design of the tower from the Latting Observatory building in New York in 1853. In May 1884, working from home, Kochlin sketched his idea, which he described as "a large pylon consisting of four lattice beams that stand apart at the base and come together at the top, connected to each other by metal trusses at regular intervals. Eiffel initially showed little enthusiasm, but he approved of further study, and the two engineers then asked Stephen Sowrest, head of the company's architectural department, to contribute to the design. Sourest added decorative arches to the base of the tower, a glass pavilion on the first level, and other embellishments.

The new version received the support of Eiffel: he bought a patent for the design, which was received by Kohlin, Nougier and Sourest, after which the project was exhibited at the exhibition of arts and crafts in the autumn of 1884 under the name of the company. On March 30, 1885, Eiffel presented his plans to the Society of Civil Engineers; after discussing the technical issues and emphasizing the practical significance of the tower, he ended his speech by saying that the tower would become a symbol

not only the arts of modern engineering, but also the symbol of the age of industry and science in which we live, and for which the way was prepared by the great scientific movement of the eighteenth century and the revolution of 1789, in whose memory this monument will be built, as an expression of gratitude to France.

Little progress was made until 1886, when Jules Grévy was re-elected as President of France and Édouard Lockroy was appointed Minister of Commerce. The budget for the Exhibition was approved, and on 1 May, Lockroy announced a change in the terms of an open competition focusing on the centerpiece of the Exhibition, making the choice of the Eiffel design a foregone conclusion, as the data would have included a study of a 300 m (980 ft) four-sided metal tower on Mars field. On May 12, a commission was set up to study the scheme of Eiffel and his rivals, who decided a month later that all proposals except Eiffel's were either impractical or lacked detail.

Who was against the construction of the Eiffel Tower?

The proposed tower was the subject of controversy, which attracted criticism from those who did not believe it was feasible and those who objected on artistic grounds. These objections were the expression of a longstanding discussion in France about the relationship between architecture and engineering. These thoughts began to form in people's minds when work began on the Champ de Mars: A "Committee of Three Hundred" (one member for every meter of tower height) was formed under the leadership of the famous architect Charles Garnier, as well as some of the most important figures of art, such as Adolphe Bouguereau , Guy de Maupassant, Charles Gounod and Massenet. A petition entitled "Artists against the Eiffel Tower" was sent to the Minister of Works and Commissioner for the Exhibition, Charles Alphand, and was published by "Le Temps" dated February 14, 1887:

"We, writers, artists, sculptors, architects and passionate admirers of the hitherto untouched beauty of Paris, will test with all our might, with all our indignation against the infringement of French taste, against the erection ... of this useless and monstrous Eiffel Tower ... so that our discontent may be reasoned, imagine for a moment a ridiculous tower reaching to the sky, which dominates Paris like a giant black chimney, and crushes with its barbaric mass Notre Dame, the Tour Saint-Jacques, the Louvre, the Dome of Les Invalides, the Arc de Triomphe... All our humiliated monuments will disappear in this terrible dream. And within twenty years... we shall see the ink stain of the hateful shadow stretch out from the hateful column of dangling sheet metal."

Gustave Eiffel responded to these criticisms by comparing his tower to the Egyptian pyramids: “My tower will be the tallest structure ever erected by man. Why can’t it be as grand? Paris?" These criticisms were also addressed by Eduard Lokra in a letter of support written to Alphand, where he ironically says: "Judging by the majestic ripple of rhythms, the beauty of metaphors, the elegance of a subtle and precise style, one can say that this protest is the result of the collaboration of the most famous writers and poets of our time", and he explained that the protest was of no importance, since the project had been decided several months earlier, and the construction of the tower was already in full swing.

Indeed, Garnier was a member of the Tower Commission who considered the various proposals, and had no objection. Eiffel was also unhappy with journalists prematurely judging the effect of the tower solely on the basis of blueprints, that on the Champ de Mars the tower would be far enough away from the monuments mentioned in the protest and there was no threat that the tower would overwhelm them, and made an aesthetic argument in favor of the tower: "Do not the laws of the forces of nature correspond to the secret laws of harmony?".

Some of the protesters changed their minds when the tower was built; others were not satisfied. Guy de Maupassant allegedly dined at the tower's restaurant every day because it was the only place in Paris where the tower was not visible.

By 1918, the Eiffel Tower had become a symbol of Paris and France after Guillaume Apollinaire wrote a nationalist tower-shaped poem (caligram) to express his feelings regarding the war against Germany. Today, the tower is widely considered to be a remarkable piece of structural art, and is often featured in movies and literature.

How was the Eiffel Tower built?

Work on the foundation began on January 28, 1887. The east and south foot of the tower were plain, with each beam standing on a 2 m (6.6 ft) wide concrete slab. The western and northern foothills, being closer to the River Seine, were more complex: two piles were needed for each slab, installed using compressed air caissons 15 m (49 ft) long and 6 m (20 ft) in diameter, driven to a depth of 22 m (72 ft) to support 6 m (20 ft) concrete slabs. Each of these slabs is supported by a limestone block with a sloping top to take on the support block of the iron structure.

Each leg of the Eiffel Tower was tied to the masonry with a pair of bolts 10 cm (4 in) in diameter and 7.5 m (25 ft) long. The foundation was completed on June 30, after which the construction of the metal structure began. The visible work on site was complemented by a huge amount of demanding preparatory work that took place behind the scenes: the design office produced 1,700 general drawings and 3,629 detailed drawings, 18,038 various necessary parts. The task of compiling the components was complicated by the difficult angles developed by the designer and the degree of precision required: the position of the rivet holes was specified to within 0.1 mm (0.0039 in) and the angles were worked out to one second of arc. The finished components (some already knotted together) arrived on horse-drawn carts from a factory in the Parisian suburb of Levallois-Perret. At first they were fastened with bolts, which were replaced with rivets as the construction of the tower progressed. Neither drilling nor milling was done on site: if a part didn't fit, it was sent back to the factory to be changed. A total of 18,038 pieces were connected together using 2.5 million rivets.

At first, the legs were cantilevered, but about halfway through the first level, construction was halted to create a scaffold from timber materials. This renewal raised concerns about the tower's structural integrity, as well as sensational tabloid headlines: "Eiffel Suicide!" and "Gustave Eiffel went mad: he was imprisoned in a psychiatric hospital." At this stage, a small "creeping" crane was installed, designed to move up the towers in each leg. They used rails for elevators, which had to be installed in four legs. The critical step of joining the legs on the first level was completed by the end of March 1888. Although the metalwork had been prepared with great attention to detail, minor adjustments were later made to align the legs; hydraulic jacks capable of exerting 800 tons of force were fitted to the beams at the base of each leg, and the legs were deliberately built at a slightly steeper angle than necessary, supported by sandboxes on the platform. Although 300 workers were involved in the construction, only one person died. Eiffel developed strict security measures, the use of movable ladders, handrails and screens.

Eiffel tower elevators

Equipping the tower with high-quality and safe passenger elevators was a serious issue for the government commission supervising the Exposition. Although some visitors could have climbed to the first level, and even the second, the main means of ascent would certainly have been the elevators.

The construction of the lifts to the first level was relatively simple: the legs were wide enough at the bottom and straight enough to contain a straight path. The contract was awarded to the French company "Roux", Combaluzier & Lepape" for two elevators, which were installed in the east and west legs. "Roux, Combaluzier & Lepape" used a pair of endless chains with rigid, articulated links to which the machine was attached. Weight some of the chain links were balanced by the heavy weight of the machine.The machine was raised from the bottom up rather than lowered from the top: to prevent the chain from buckling, it was enclosed in a tube.At the bottom of the run, the chains passed around sprockets with a diameter of 3.9 m (12 ft 10 in Smaller sprockets at the top controlled the chains.

Installing elevators leading to the second level was a more difficult task, since it was impossible to lead a direct path. No French company wanted to take on this job. The European branch of "Otis Brothers & Company" made a proposal, but this proposal was rejected: the rules of the fair excluded the use of any foreign materials in the construction of the tower. The deadline for bids was extended, but the French companies were slow to move forward and the contract was eventually awarded to Otis in July 1887. Otis was confident that the contract would eventually be awarded to them and had already started building project.

The elevator was divided into two superimposed compartments, each to hold 25 passengers, with the elevator operator occupying the outer platform on the first level. Propulsion was provided by a tilting hydraulic rod 12.67 m (41 ft 7 in) long and 96.5 cm (38.0 in) in diameter which was mounted in the leg of the turret with a stroke of 10.83 m (35 ft 6 inches): this required a wagon with six pulleys. Five fixed pulleys were mounted above the leg, creating a device similar to pulley and tackle, but acting in reverse, multiplying the stroke of the piston rather than the force produced. The hydraulic pressure in the control cylinder was generated by a large open reservoir on the second level. When exhausted from the cylinder, the water was pumped back into a tank with two pumps in the engine room at the base of the south leg. This reservoir also provided power to the first level lifts.

The original lifts between the second and third levels were supplied by Leon Edux. A pair of 81-meter (266 ft) hydraulic cylinders were installed on the second level and ran almost halfway to the third level. One elevator car was mounted on top of these cylinders, with cables running from the top to the pulleys on the third level and back down to the second car. Each lift only ran half the distance between the second and third levels, and passengers were required to change lifts halfway through using a short gangway. Each 10-ton car could carry 65 passengers.

Official opening of the Eiffel Tower

The main structural work was completed at the end of March 1889. On March 31, Eiffel celebrated the tower's completion by leading a group of government officials, accompanied by members of the press, to the top of the tower. Because the elevators had not yet been put into service, the ascent was made on foot, and took an hour as Eiffel stopped frequently to explain the various functions. Most of the members of the group decided to stop at the lower levels, but some of them, including structural engineer Emile Nouguier, construction manager Jean Compagnon, City Council President and reporters from "Le Figaro" and "Le Monde Illustre", made the ascent to the upper level of the tower . At 2:35 pm, the Eiffel raised the large tricolor to the accompaniment of a 25-gun salute on the first level.

But, there was still a lot of work ahead, in particular on elevators and equipment, and the tower was not open to the public for another nine days after the opening of the exhibition on May 6; even then, the elevators were not completed. The towers were an instant hit with the public, with almost 30,000 visitors taking 1,710 steps to reach the top before the lifts went into service (May 26). Ticket price 2 francs for the first level, 3 for the second and 5 for the upper part, half price on Sundays. By the end of the exhibition, the number of visitors totaled 1,896,987 people.

After dark, the tower was illuminated by hundreds of gas lamps, and the beacon sent out three beams of red, white, and blue light. Two spotlights mounted on a circular rail were used to illuminate the various exposition buildings. The daily opening and closing of the exposition was accompanied by the roar of cannons at the top of the tower.

The second level was occupied by the office of the French newspaper "Le Figar". There was also a printing press for printing special souvenir editions from "Le Figaro de la Tour". They also sold baked goods.

At the top was a post office where visitors could send letters and postcards to commemorate their visit to the tower. It was also possible to write down your impressions of the tower on sheets of paper on the walls specially installed for visitors. Gustave Eiffel described some of the reviews as "vraiment curieuse" ("truly curious").

The tower has been visited by notables such as the Prince of Wales, Sarah Bernhardt, "Buffalo Bill" Cody (his "Wild West show" drew attention to the exposition) and Thomas Edison. Eiffel invited Edison to his suite at the top of the tower, where Edison presented him with one of his gramophones, a new invention and one of the exhibit's many highlights. Edison signed the guestbook with this message:

"For M. Eiffel - engineer, brave builder of such a gigantic and original specimen of modern technology from the one who has the greatest respect and admiration of all engineers, including the great engineer Bon Dew, Thomas Edison."

After some debate about the exact location of the tower, a contract was signed on January 8, 1887. It was signed by Eiffel on his own behalf rather than as a representative of his company. He was given 1.5 million francs for construction costs: less than a quarter of the approximately 6.5 million francs. Eiffel was to receive all proceeds from the commercial operation of the tower during the exhibition and for the next 20 years. He later set up a separate company to manage the tower, investing half of the required capital from his own pocket.

Why wasn't the Eiffel Tower demolished?

Eiffel had permission for the tower to stand for 20 years. It was to be dismantled in 1909 when it became the property of the city of Paris. The city planned to demolish the tower (it was part of the competition rules for the design of the tower that it should be easily dismantled), but since the tower proved valuable for communications purposes, it was allowed to keep it after the permit expired.

Eiffel used his apartment at the top of the tower to make meteorological observations and also used the tower to conduct experiments on the effects of air resistance on falling bodies.

Reconstruction of the Eiffel Tower

Prior to the 1900 World's Fair, the elevators taking passengers to the second level in the east and west legs were replaced by elevators from the French company Fives-Lille. They had a compensating mechanism to keep the floor level as the angle of elevation changed at the first level. The lifts were operated by a similar hydraulic mechanism as the Otis lifts, although they were located at the base of the tower. Hydraulic pressure was provided by sealed accumulators located near this mechanism. At the same time, the lift to the first level at the northern leg was dismantled and replaced with stairs. The location of the first and second levels has been changed. It was organized by the space available to visitors on the second level. The original lift in the south leg was removed thirteen years later.

On October 19, 1901, Alberto Santos-Dumont, flying his airship No.6, won the prize of 100,000 francs offered to him by Henri Deutsche de la Meerte, as the first person to fly from Saint Cloud to the Eiffel Tower and back in less than than half an hour.

At the beginning of the 20th century, many innovations took place on the Eiffel Tower. In 1910, Theodor Wulff's father measured the radiation levels at the top and bottom of the tower. At the top, he discovered, as he expected, what is known today as cosmic rays. Just two years later, on February 4, 1912, the Austrian tailor Franz Reichel died after jumping from the first level of the tower (57 meters high) to demonstrate his parachute design. In 1914, at the start of World War I, a radio transmitter located in the tower jammed German radio communications, seriously hindering their advance in Paris and contributing to the Allied victory at the First Battle of the Marne. From 1925 to 1934, "Citroën" illuminated signs adorned three sides of the tower, making it the tallest billboard in the world at the time. In April 1935, the tower was used for an experimental low-definition television transmission using a 200 watt shortwave transmitter. On November 17, an improved 180-line transmitter was installed.

Interesting facts from the history of the Eiffel Tower

Sale of the Eiffel Tower

In two separate but related cases in 1925, the swindler Viktor Lustig "sold" the tower for scrap. A year later, in February 1926, pilot Léon Collet died while trying to fly under the turret. His plane became entangled in an antenna belonging to a wireless station. On May 2, 1929, a bust of Gustave Eiffel Antoine Bourdelle was unveiled at the base of the north leg. In 1930, the tower lost its title as the world's tallest structure when the Chrysler Building was completed in New York. In 1938 the decorative arcade around the first level was removed.

After the German occupation of Paris in 1940, the lifting cables were cut by the French. The tower was closed to the public during the occupation and the elevators were not restored until 1946. In 1940, German soldiers had to climb the tower to raise the swastika, but the flag was so large that it was blown away just a few hours later, after which it was replaced with a smaller one. When visiting Paris, Hitler decided not to climb the tower. In August 1944, as the Allies were closing in on Paris, Hitler ordered General Dietrich von Choltitz, the military governor of Paris, to demolish the tower along with the rest of the city. Von Choltitz disobeyed orders. On June 25, before the Germans were expelled from Paris, the Nazi flag was changed to the tricolor by two men from the French Naval Museum who were almost beaten by three led by Lucien Sarniguet, who lowered the Tricolor on June 13, 1940, when Paris fell before the Germans.

Fire at the Eiffel Tower

On January 3, 1956, a fire broke out at the television transmitter, which resulted in damage to the top of the tower. It took a year to repair, and in 1957, a radio antenna, which had been there earlier, was attached to the top. In 1964, the Minister of Culture André Malraux officially recognized the Eiffel Tower as a historical monument. A year later, an additional lifting system was installed in the north column.

According to an interview, in 1967 Montreal Mayor Jean-Dropau made a secret agreement with Charles de Gaulle that the tower be dismantled and temporarily relocated to Montreal to serve as a landmark and tourist attraction during Expo 67. The plan was allegedly vetoed by the tower's operating company for fear that the French government might refuse permission to restore the tower to its original location.

Eiffel Tower elevator replacement

In 1982, the original elevators between the second and third levels were replaced after 97 years of service. They were closed to the public between November and March because the water in the hydraulic drive tended to freeze. The new cars work in pairs, one counterbalancing the other, and travel in one stage, reducing travel time from eight minutes to less than two minutes. At the same time, two new fire escapes were installed to replace the original spiral staircases. In 1983, the South Column was fitted with an electrically powered Otis elevator to service the Jules Verne restaurant. Installed in 1899, the "Fives-Lille" elevators that climbed the east and west columns were completely renovated in 1986. The machines have been replaced and a computer system has been installed to fully automate them. Propulsion was transferred from the hydraulic water system to the new electrically driven oil hydraulics, and the original water hydraulics were retained solely as a counterbalance system. Three years later, a service lift was added to the south pillar to move small loads and maintenance personnel.

On March 31, 1984, Robert Moriarty flew a Beechcraft Bonanza under the tower. In 1987, AJ Hackett made one of his first bungee jumps from the top of the Eiffel Tower using a special cord he helped develop. Hackett was detained by the police. On October 27, 1991, Thierry Devaux, along with mountain guide Hervé Calvayrac, performed a series of acrobatic figures along with bungee jumping on the second floor of the tower. Deveaux used an electric winch between the figures in front of the Champ de Mars to return to the second floor. He stopped after the sixth jump when firefighters arrived.

Lights and night illumination of the Eiffel Tower

On December 31, 1999, to celebrate the "Countdown to the Year 2000", flashing lights and powerful floodlights were installed on the tower. Fireworks flickered around the tower. This event was dedicated to the exhibition above the cafeteria on the first floor. The searchlights at the top of the tower made it a beacon in the night sky of Paris, and 20,000 flashing lights gave the tower a brilliant appearance for five minutes every hour.

On December 31, 2000, the lights flashed blue for several nights to usher in the new millennium. The brilliant lighting continued for 18 months until July 2001. The glittering lights were turned on again on June 21, 2003, and the spectacle was scheduled to last 10 years, after which the light bulbs needed to be replaced.

Eiffel Tower attendance

On November 28, 2002, the 200,000,000th guest visited the tower. In 2003, the tower was operating at maximum capacity and was visited by about 7 million people. In 2004, a seasonal skating rink was placed on the first level of the Eiffel Tower. During the renovation in 2014, a glass floor was installed on the first level.

Characteristics of the Eiffel Tower

What metal is the Eiffel Tower made of?

The weight of the Eiffel Tower's wrought iron is 7,300 tons, and with the addition of elevators, shops, and antennas, the total weight is about 10,100 tons. As a demonstration of the economics of the design, if 7,300 tons of metal were melted into the structure, it would fill a square base, 125 meters (410 feet) on each side, to a depth of only 6.25 cm (2.46 inches), assuming a metal density of 7.8 tons per cubic meter. In addition, the cubic box surrounding the tower (324m x 125m x 125m) would contain 6,200 tons of air, weighing nearly as much as the iron itself. Depending on the ambient temperature, the top of the tower can move up to 18 cm (7 inches) away from the sun due to thermal expansion of the metal on the side facing the sun.

Structural stability of the Eiffel Tower

When the tower was built, many were shocked by its audacious form. Eiffel has been accused of trying to create something artistic without paying attention to design principles. However, Eiffel and his team—experienced bridge builders—understood the importance of wind forces, and knew that if they were going to build the tallest building in the world, they had to make sure it could withstand those forces. In an interview for Le Temps published on February 14, 1887, Eiffel said:

Isn't it true that the very conditions that give strength also correspond to the hidden rules of harmony? ... Therefore, what phenomenon should I have focused on when designing the Tower? This is wind resistance. Well then! I believe that the curvature of the four outer edges of the monument, which mathematically should have been ... will give a great impression of strength and beauty, as it will reveal to the eye of the observer the boldness of the design as a whole.

He more often used graphical methods to determine the strength of the tower and empirical data to account for the influence of wind, instead of mathematical formulas. Careful examination of the tower reveals a mostly exponential shape. Careful work was carried out on every detail of the tower to ensure maximum resistance to the force of the wind. The upper half was even supposed to have no gaps in the lattice. In the following years, after the completion of the project, engineers put forward various mathematical hypotheses in an attempt to explain its success. The most recent, developed in 2004 after letters sent by Eiffel to the French Society of Civil Engineers in 1885 were translated into English, is described as a non-linear integral equation based on the opposition of wind pressure at any point of the tower with tension between elements structures at this point.

Does the Eiffel Tower sway?

The Eiffel Tower sways up to 9 cm (3.5 inches) in the wind.

What's inside the Eiffel Tower?

When the Eiffel Tower was built, there were three restaurants on the first level - one French, one Russian and one Flemish, as well as an Anglo-American bar. After the exposition was closed, the Flemish Restaurant was converted into a theater with 250 seats. A 2.6 meters (8 ft 6 in) wide promenade ran outside the first level. At the top, there were laboratories for various experiments, as well as small apartments that Gustave Eiffel used to entertain guests. The apartment is currently open to the public, complete with period decorations as well as realistic mannequins of Eiffel and some of his notable guests.

In May 2016, an apartment was created on the first level to accommodate the four winners of the competition during the UEFA Euro 2016 football tournament in Paris in June. The apartment has a kitchen, two bedrooms, a living room and views of the sights of Paris, including the Seine, the Sacré Coeur and the Arc de Triomphe.

Passenger elevators in the Eiffel Tower

The location of the elevators has changed several times during the history of the tower. Considering the elasticity of the cables and the time it takes to align the cars with the seats, each round trip, under normal service, takes an average of 8 minutes and 50 seconds, spending an average of 1 minute and 15 seconds at each level. The average travel time between levels is 1 minute. The original hydraulic mechanism is on public display in a small museum at the base of the east and west legs. Because the mechanism requires frequent lubrication and maintenance, public access is often restricted. Visitors can see the rope mechanism of the north tower when they exit the elevator.

Eiffel Tower inscriptions

Gustave Eiffel engraved the names of 72 French scientists, engineers and mathematicians on the tower in recognition of their contribution to the construction of the tower. Eiffel chose this "challenge of science" because of his concern about the artists' protest. At the beginning of the 20th century, the engravings were painted over, but in 1986-87 they were restored by the Société Nouvelle d'exploitation de la Tour Eiffel, working on the tower.

Aesthetic appearance of the Eiffel Tower

The tower is painted in three shades: lighter at the top, it gradually darkens towards the bottom and perfectly complements the Parisian sky. She was originally reddish brown; this color changed in 1968 to bronze, known as "Eiffel Tower Brown".

The only non-structural elements are the four decorative lattice arches added in Sauverre's sketches, which served to make the tower more substantial and create a more impressive entrance to the exposition.

How to see the Eiffel Tower

One of the great Hollywood clichés is that the view from a Parisian window always includes the tower. In fact, since zoning restrictions allow most buildings in Paris to be up to seven stories tall, only a small number of high-rise buildings have a good view of the tower.

Maintenance of the Eiffel Tower

Tower maintenance includes applying 60 tons of paint every seven years to prevent corrosion. The tower has been completely repainted at least 19 times since it was built. Lead paint was used until 2001 when the practice was discontinued due to concern for the environment.

Eiffel Tower and tourism

Where is the Eiffel Tower located?

The nearest metro station is "Bir-Hakeim" and the nearest RER station is "Champ de Mars-Tour Eiffel". The tower itself is located at the intersection of the Branly and Pont d "Iéna embankments.

Popularity of the Eiffel Tower among tourists

Over 250 million people have visited the tower since it was completed in 1889. In 2015, there were 6.91 million visitors. The tower is the most visited monument in the world. An average of 25,000 people climb the tower each day, which can lead to long queues. Tickets can be purchased online to avoid queues.

Eiffel Tower Restaurants

The tower has two restaurants: "Le 58 Tour Eiffel" on the first level, and "Le Jules Verne", a gourmet restaurant with a separate lift, on the second level. This restaurant has one star in the Red Michelin Guide. Its author is Michelin star chef Alain Ducasse, who owes his name to the famous science fiction writer Jules Verne.

Copies of the Eiffel Tower in the cities of the world

As one of the world's most iconic landmarks, the Eiffel Tower has inspired many replicas and similar towers. An early example is Blackpool Tower in England. The mayor of Blackpool, Sir John Bickerstaff, was so impressed when he saw the Eiffel Tower at the 1889 Exhibition that he commissioned a similar tower to be built in his city. It was opened in 1894 and stood at 158.1 meters (518 feet). Built for communications in 1958, Tokyo Tower in Japan was also inspired by the Eiffel Tower.

There are various scale models of the tower in the United States, including a half scale model of the Paris Tower in Las Vegas, Nevada, one in Texas built in 1993, and two 1:3 scale models in Kings Island, Ohio, and Kings Dominoion (Virginia), in amusement parks that opened in 1972 and 1975, respectively. Two 1:3 scale models can be found in China, one in Durango (Mexico) which was donated to the local French community, and several more throughout Europe.

In 2011, the National Geographic Channel TV show "Pricing the Priceless" suggested that about $480 million would be needed to build a full-size replica of the tower.

Functions of the Eiffel Tower

The tower has been used to provide radio transmission since the early 20th century. Until the 1950s, sets of overhead wires ran from the top of the tower to anchors on Avenue de Suffren and Champ de Mars. They were connected to longwave transmitters in small bunkers. In 1909, a permanent underground radio center was built under the south pillar, which still exists today. On November 20, 1913, the Paris Observatory used the Eiffel Tower as an antenna to exchange wireless signals with the US Naval Observatory, which used the antenna at Arlington, Virginia. The purpose of the transmissions was to measure the difference in longitude between Paris and Washington, DC. Today, radio and television signals are transmitted using the Eiffel Tower.

FM radio

TV antenna on the Eiffel Tower

A television antenna was first installed on the tower in 1957, adding 18.7 m (61.4 ft) to its height. Work carried out in 2000 added another 5.3 m (17.4 ft), giving the current height of 324 m (1,063 ft). Analog television signals from the Eiffel Tower were discontinued on March 8, 2011.

Why can't you shoot the Eiffel Tower at night?

The tower and its image have long been in the public domain. However, in June 1990, a French court ruled that the tower's special display lighting in 1989, which marked the tower's 100th anniversary, was an "original visual development" that was protected by copyright. The Court of Cassation, France's judicial court of last resort, upheld the decision in March 1992. "The Société d"Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel" currently treats any illumination of the tower as a separate work of art that is subject to copyright. As a result, SNTE argues that it is illegal to publish contemporary photographs of the illuminated tower at night for commercial use without permits in France and some other countries.

The introduction of copyright was controversial. The Director of Documentation of the then "Société Nouvelle d'exploitation de la Tour Eiffel" (SNTE), commented in 2005: "It's really just a way of controlling the commercial use of the image so that it's not used in ways we don't approve of." SNTE ( company that manages the Eiffel Tower) earned more than €1 million in royalties in 2002. However, this can also be used to restrict the publication of tourist photographs of the tower at night, as well as to discourage non-commercial and semi-commercial publication of images of the illuminated tower.

French doctrine and jurisprudence allows the photographing of an illuminated copyrighted work if its presence is accidental or ancillary to the subject represented, which is analogous to the rule "De minimis" ("The law does not care about the little things"). Therefore, SETE may not be able to claim copyright on photographs of Paris that may include the illuminated tower.

Eiffel Tower in popular culture

The Eiffel Tower has been portrayed in films, video games and television shows as a global landmark.

In a commitment ceremony in 2007, American Erica Eiffel "married" the Eiffel Tower; her relationship with the tower has been the subject of extensive global publicity.

Despite being the world's tallest structure on completion in 1889, the Eiffel Tower lost its reputation as both the tallest lattice tower and the tallest structure in France. Height with new antenna is 324 meters (as of 2010)

Perhaps, if you conduct a survey among travelers about which attraction is the most recognizable in the world, the main symbol of Paris, the Eiffel Tower, will win, without a doubt.

Eiffel Tower of Paris - the world-famous landmark of France

Like many unusual sights, the construction of the Eiffel Tower in Paris was highly ambiguous. During its construction (the end of the 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 violate its appearance and would not fit into the architectural ensemble of Paris. Among those who opposed the construction of the Eiffel Tower were, among others, Guy de Maupassant and Alexandre Dumas son (in particular, who called it a "factory chimney").

It is noteworthy that it was originally planned that the tower would last only twenty years and then it would 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 to Paris. In just the first six months, more than 2 million people visited it. The best hotels in Paris began to be located near the Eiffel Tower. This trend in the tourist 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, the profit from tourists compensated for all the costs associated with the construction (Paris banks invested in the construction, as well as the architect Eiffel himself, the designer and creator of this majestic building).

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

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

The cost of entering 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 and go on foot up the stairs, then the ticket price will become completely easy - only 5 euros. The entrance to the tower to the floor is carried out 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 heading "Business tourism" we present an overview of the Republic of France: attractions. ★★★★★

Tower in Paris

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

Winter. Metal. Class!

Construction has begun. Pit pits were dug five meters below the level of the Seine, blocks of ten meters thick were laid in them, and hydraulic presses were mounted in 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 mounted on platforms, but, in the end, only openwork arches remained of all this. And at the beginning of the century, the fate of the tower was again under threat, everything was going to be dismantled. 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.

There are three different platforms in the structure, they are at a height of 60, 140 and 275 meters, they can be reached by five elevators, which were once hydraulic, but now they are electrified. In each “leg” of the tower, elevators will be taken to the second platform, and the fifth of them can already lift to a height of all 275 m. A 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, and the French technician succeeded in half an hour. The tricolor flag was once again raised 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 - a small two-story square platform 18x18 meters, one of the floors is open. At the very top there is a small laboratory in which Eiffel also worked, and already above it is a gallery where a lantern is turned on. After all, the searchlights-beacons of the tower are a landmark for aircraft and ships; it also houses a special meteorological station that studies atmospheric electricity, environmental pollution and radiation.

Interesting facts about the Eiffel Tower in Paris

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

• How long was the Eiffel Tower built: Start of construction of the Eiffel Tower: January 28, 1887. Construction lasted a little more than 2 years and 2 months. Date: March 31, 1889 is considered the completion of construction.
• How old is the Eiffel Tower: in 2014, the symbol of Paris celebrated its 125th anniversary. Over the years, any inhabitant of the Earth can no longer imagine France without a light lace tower rushing upwards.
• 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: the Eiffel Tower or the 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: The weight of the metal structure is 7,300 tons (total weight is 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 Koechlen, Emile Nugier, Stephan Sauvestre.