The Eiffel Tower is a famous French landmark. It is a wrought-iron tower known worldwide for its beautiful architecture and cultural significance. It’s about the same height as an 81-story building, standing at 324 m from the base to the tip.
Often when people think of France and places they might want to visit, the Eiffel Tower is at the top of the list. It attracts almost 7 million visitors every year. Some of them travel from other places in France, but many of them – 75% – come from abroad.
Where is the Eiffel Tower?
The Eiffel Tower is located in one of the most scenic parts of Paris, the capital city of France. It’s near the center of the town and is located near the banks of the River Seine.
If you’re ever in Paris and stuck trying to find your way to the Eiffel Tower, you might not even need a map. All you have to do is look up at the skyline – it’s hard to miss!
Because of its central location, it often becomes a critical point in many tours. Did, For example, know that it’s just one
When was the Eiffel Tower built?
The Eiffel Tower began construction in 1887. It took five months to build the foundations for the tower, but overall, it was finished in a record time.
So how long did it take to build in total? The answer is two years, two months, and five days. It was finished on the 31st of March 1889.
There were two reasons for the deadline, however. First, the Eiffel Tower was built to commemorate 100 years since the end of the French Revolution, so the building project had to be on time. Secondly, the tower was commissioned to steal the show at the 1889 World’s Fair (Exposition Universelle), which would be hosted in France.
Who built the Eiffel Tower?
The man who designed the Eiffel Tower was called Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel. It’s not surprising where the name comes from! He was an engineer and architect whose company led the planning and construction of the iconic tower.
Did anyone else work on it?
It wasn’t just him working on the tower – that would be crazy! There were 50 engineers and designers working on the project in the workshop, planning out what parts would be needed and how they would be manufactured.
Then, 150 factory workers built the beams, bolts, and everything else.
And lastly, somewhere between 150 and 300 construction workers labored on the site, putting everything together with expertise.
It’s important to remember how many people came together to create such a magnificent structure.
What was the World’s Fair?
A world fair is an international exhibition of modern architecture, design and art, and cultural achievements. The Eiffel Tower was designed as the entrance arch for this fair. When it was built, it was the tallest in the world.
When it was created, the lifts were not in service yet, so tens of thousands of visitors climbed up the staircase to marvel at the sight of Paris from above. How many stairs? 1,710 of them!
Some visitors who attended the fair included the Prince of Wales at the time (who would later become King Edward VII), the Shah of Persia, and from America, Buffalo Bill.
How did people react in Paris?
When the Eiffel Tower was first introduced to Parisians following its completion, locals were indifferent and upset at worst. Many people at the time believed that it was an eyesore on the Paris skyline and that many of the beautiful landmarks already present in the city, such as Notre Dame, would be overshadowed.
However, things turned around. In the months and years following the World’s Fair, the tower became viewed more positively by the people who lived in Paris. As a result, the Parisians decided, in the end, to keep the building up.
Features of the Eiffel Tower
- The Eiffel Tower comprises three levels that visitors can stand on. Each one has observation decks to check out the city skyline.
- The tower has restaurants and cafés on the first two floors, and it used to have one on the top floor, but it had to be shut down due to structural concerns.
- Engraved on the tower are the names of 72 artists, engineers, and mathematicians who helped to bring the design to life.
- In the 1950s, a radio transmitter was erected at the top of the Eiffel Tower. It helps to transmit communications and satellite signals across the surrounding area. Neither radio nor television existed at the time of the tower’s construction, but it’s now used to broadcast programs.
- The Eiffel Tower is painted in three shades, with the colors getting darker towards the bottom. This was done to prevent rusting.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Eiffel Tower
How tall is the Eiffel Tower?
It’s 324 meters tall!
Is the Eiffel Tower a world wonder?
You might have heard the term ‘7 Wonders of the World’ before, usually accompanied by a list of famous buildings and landmarks. These lists are subjective and change over time as new ones are made, or priorities change.
Even so, the Eiffel Tower is not considered one of them, although it is undoubtedly a brilliant architectural design and famous on its own merits.
How much did the tower cost to build?
The Eiffel Tower cost 7,799,401 francs, which was the currency in 1889. The government provided 1.5 million francs at the time, with the rest of the balance to be paid by the tower’s earnings during the World Fair and afterward. In modern currencies, this would probably be in the range of about 32 million euros.
How many people can be on the Eiffel Tower at once?
In total, around 5000 people are allowed to simultaneously be on the Eiffel Tower, split over the different platforms.
The tower’s first level can carry 3,000 people at once because it has the most structural support.
The second level of the tower can hold 1,600.
The tower’s top level can have 400 people over two floors linked by a staircase.
Will the Eiffel Tower fall?
Short answer: it’s unlikely.
The Eiffel Tower is made out of metal rather than stone and brick, and the one problem with iron is that it erodes. The engineers thought of this, however. Corrosion has been limited by painting the Eiffel Tower to protect it. They repaint it every seven years, give or take, which prevents damage.
Another problem that the Eiffel Tower might face is small movements caused by the heat of the sun and strong winds. This causes the metal to expand and contract over the day and could weaken it over time. These processes might take about 1000 years to break the tower down.
But we could always replace the weakened parts through careful construction work.
12 Fun Facts about the Eiffel Tower for Kids
- One French man, Guy de Maupassant, is said to have hated the tower so much that he decided to have lunch in it every day. That way, he could have a view without the building. Now that’s commitment!
- There’s a unique apartment at the top of the Eiffel Tower. When Gustave Eiffel designed the tower, he included this so that he could host famous people – especially scientists and engineers. No one else was allowed to access it, but it’s open to the public now!
- The tower workers used lifts to reach the upper floors quickly and easily. These lifts are still in use today, but this time for visitors to access the top of the tower more easily.
- The Eiffel Tower was the tallest building in the world for 41 years until the Chrysler Building in New York City took over. Unfortunately, the Eiffel Tower is no longer the tallest building in France. Without counting radio masts, it was beaten out in 2004 by the Viaduc de Millau.
- Over 60 tonnes of paint are applied to the tower yearly to prevent rust.
- Between 250 and 300 million people have visited the tower since it first opened.
- When it was first built, the intention was to tear the Eiffel Tower down after 20 years. However, people grew attached to it, so it stayed!
- Many replicas of the Eiffel Tower have been built around the world in cities like Las Vegas and Tokyo.
- The French name for the tower is ‘La Tour Eiffel.’ It also has a nickname in the French language: ‘La Dame de Fer.’ This translates to ‘the Iron Lady.’
- The original height of the tower was 985 feet.
- During the Second World War, German forces occupied the tower and closed it to the public until the end of their occupation of Paris. Adolf Hitler gave the order to tear it down, but it was never followed.
- Gustave Eiffel’s construction company constructed parts of the Statue of Liberty.
