The Eiffel Tower is without a doubt one of the most important buildings in France. A monument that has traveled the world and has become an indisputable icon of French culture.
It is not only the tallest building in the city but one of the most visited by tourists. It can be seen from almost any vantage point in the city and at night it offers a play of lighting that fills the city and the waters of the Seine with color.
For many, visiting the Eiffel Tower at night or having dinner in a neighboring restaurant, from where you can contemplate it, is one of the most romantic things to do in Paris, would you dare to check it out?
Brief history of the Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower was built between 1887 and 1889 for the Universal Exhibition of 1889 that celebrated the triumph of the French Revolution on its anniversary. The objective was to demonstrate to the world the industrial power of a France that was beginning to consider itself prestigious in economic matters.
A monument consisting of a strong concrete base supported by four iron pillars with a subtle curvature that end in a point. Without a doubt, this building is one of the most important in the architecture of Paris. Be sure to visit it when you arrive in the French capital.
The plans of the Eiffel Tower were designed with special care. Measurements were taken to the millimeter to achieve an absolutely solid structure. In fact, one of the main objectives was to make it flexible enough so that the wind could not break it and solid enough so that the passage of time would not erase it from the map. Its creator, Gustave Eiffel, was a deeply passionate civil engineer who wanted an imposing monument capable of changing the look of the entire city.
The Eiffel Tower was built in record time. Five months into the project, the foundations were ready and 21 months later, the metal structure was completely in place. A time that seems miraculous, if the rudimentary tools of the time are analyzed.
To build the Eiffel Tower, 7,300 tons of iron, 60 tons of paint, 18,038 metal parts, 2,500,000 rivets and more than 200 workers were needed. Despite much criticism from the cultural world, the work never stopped, and the monument was completed, becoming one of the most important icons of France.
Charles Gounod, Victorien Sardou, Guy de Maupassant and Sully Prudhomme were some of the intellectuals who opposed the construction of the monument, objecting that it was a stupid way of ridiculing French culture. Even after its construction, it continued to be joked about or treated with some contempt. Paul Verlaine defined it as “a watchtower skeleton” and Mauppassant himself, “a giant skeleton lacking in grace”. However, there she is, facing the wind and the insults.
A curiosity about the Eiffel Tower
Victor Lustig, was a con artist known as “The man who sold the Eiffel Tower twice”. Using forged government documents, he wrote to several scrap metal dealers telling them that the Eiffel Tower was going to be torn down, giving them a unique opportunity to buy the metal at a very good price. The offer was so good that a dealer gave him $70,000 for the lot. When he found out about the scam, he was so ashamed that he never reported the crime, so Lustig took the opportunity to repeat it for another target.
What to see at the Eiffel tower?
Although visiting the Eiffel Tower with the naked eye has no greater charm than taking the inevitable photo on the immense esplanade where it is erected, without a doubt, no one wants to pass through Paris without going there. We recommend that you visit it at night, when the lights that come out from inside in the shape of a lighthouse illuminate the Parisian night, giving it a unique charm that is hard to forget.
Another good alternative is to opt for a romantic dinner at 58 Tour Eiffel, which, under the direction of the popular Chef Alain Ducasse, tries to become the most beautiful place to enjoy a typical Parisian dinner. Do you dare to check if you have achieved it?
Eiffel Tower Location
The Eiffel Tower is located on the Champ de Mars, at number 5 Avenue Anatole France.
Eiffel Tower Hours and price
The visiting hours of the Eiffel Tower are every day of the year from 9:30 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. except for the high season (from June 15 to September 1) which is from 9:00 a.m. to 00:45 a.m.
The ticket price varies according to the levels you want to access.