THE EIFFEL TOWER

 

 

One of the most recognizable landmarks in France is the Eiffel Tower, designed by Maurice Koechlin to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution, and named after Alexandre Gustave Eiffel. Construction ended in 1889, and its location marked the entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair. Since then, the tower has become synonymous with Paris. The tower is a wrought-iron lattice tower on the Champ de Mars in Paris, France. It is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower from 1887 to 1889.

Locally nicknamed "La dame de fer" (French for "Iron Lady"), it was constructed as the centrepiece of the 1889 World's Fair, and to crown the centennial anniversary of the French Revolution. Although initially criticized by some of France's leading artists and intellectuals for its design, it has since become a global cultural icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world.

 

For Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the decision was made to combine one of the strongest symbols of the Olympic Games - the medals - with the most iconic symbol of the French nation - the Eiffel Tower. Chaumet, expert French jewelers designed every Olympic and Paralympic medal by adorning them with a highly symbolic and invaluable piece of metal: the original iron used in the construction of the Eiffel Tower! The tower itself played a vital role in the Olympic Games, hosting the Beach Volleyball and providing a scenic backdrop to road cycling, marathon, judo ad wrestling. It also remained a silent backdrop to various other activities during the Olympic Games and was the central hub of activities during the Games.

 

I have been to Paris on several occasions and have seen the Eiffel Tower with friends and all by myself. I have picked up brochures from various places, listened to Walkman audios and watched many YouTube videos, and these are the few things I want to share with you all about the Eiffel Tower:

1. The tower stands 324ft (98m) tall, and is constructed of 18,038 metal beams, weighing over 7,300 tons.

2. Painting the tower required 60 tons of paint, and a new coat is needed every seven years.

3. The architect the tower is named after, Gustave Eiffel, also designed the Statue of Liberty. The design of the Eiffel Tower is attributed to Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier, two senior engineers working for the Compagnie des Établissements Eiffel.

4. The tower’s construction was not popular, and many artists and architects protested against it.  A petition called "Artists against the Eiffel Tower" was sent to the Minister of Works and Commissioner for the Exposition, Adolphe Alphand, and it was published by Le Temps on 14 February 1887: ‘We, writers, painters, sculptors, architects and passionate devotees of the hitherto untouched beauty of Paris, protest with all our strength, with all our indignation in the name of slighted French taste, against the erection ... of this useless and monstrous Eiffel Tower’

5. Originally, the Eiffel Tower was planned to stand for only 20 years.

6. In 1905, the French newspaper L’Equipe held a race to the first level. The winner’s time was three minutes and twelve seconds (the winner won a bike).

7. In 1964, the city of Paris celebrated the Eiffel Tower’s 75th anniversary by televising a group of mountaineers, climbing to the top of the tower.

8. On the tower’s 100th anniversary, a tightrope walker named Philipe Petit walked over a 2,296ft (700m) tightrope between the Tower and the Palais de Challiot.

9. During WWII, at the First Battle of Marne, the allies used the tower to block Nazi radio signals, facilitating their victory.

10. During the winter, the tower shrinks by six inches (15cm).

11. Winds and heat cause the tower to sway as much as seven inches (18cm).

12. Gustave Eiffel actually had a small apartment on the top floor, which he used to entertain friends and family.

13. These days, the 2nd floor is the home of the world-famous Jules Verne restaurant.

14. Surprisingly, the majority of tourists who visit the tower are French.

15. Every night, over 20,000 light bulbs illuminate the tower.

16. Before the installation of elevators, visitors who wished to get to the top had to use the 1,665 steps.

17. Over seven million people visit the tower annually. The Eiffel Tower received 5,889,000 visitors in 2022.

18. The tower is 330 metres (1,083 ft) tall, about the same height as an 81-storey building, and the tallest structure in Paris. Its base is square, measuring 125 metres (410 ft) on each side.

19. It was the first structure in the world to surpass both the 200 meters and 300 meters mark in height. Due to the addition of a broadcasting aerial at the top of the tower in 1957, it is now taller than the Chrysler Building by 5.2 metres (17 ft). Excluding transmitters, the Eiffel Tower is the second tallest free-standing structure in France after the Millau Viaduct.

20. The tower has three levels for visitors, with restaurants on the first and second levels. The top level's upper platform is 276 m (906 ft) above the ground—the highest public observation deck in the European Union.

21. Tickets have to be purchased to the three levels. Both lifts and stairs service the lower and middle levels with a 300 and 600 stairs ascent. There are stairs to the top level but is is accessible only by lift. A ticket for two, valid for 90 minutes costs INR 4000 and with summit option it costs INR 4570.

 

A walk from Notre Dame to Eiffel Tower, along the Seine river is a leisurely 5 Km early morning pleasure, which you can not avoid if you are in Paris. You can also do this journey through Champ de Mars, down rue St Dominique, right on Blvd St Germain, then through St Michel, but walking by the side of the river is a very different experience.

In 2015 workers gave the tower an environmentally friendly makeover by installing two wind turbines on the second level of the structure. These devices convert wind into electricity for the tower's shops and restaurants. A system was also set up to collect and funnel rainwater into the tower's toilets. The tower has two small laboratories on the third level where astronomers and meteorologists could work.

If you are interested in knowing more about the Eiffel Tower then I will advice you to see this YouTube video: https://youtu.be/RmnRF_lNDbA