Summary
Rising above the Champ de Mars, the Eiffel Tower is Paris’s most recognizable landmark and a testament to late-19th-century engineering. Designed by Gustave Eiffel’s company for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, the 324-meter lattice tower was once criticized but became a beloved symbol of France. Today it welcomes millions annually, offering panoramic views, cultural exhibitions, and fine dining across its three accessible levels.
Fun Facts
- It was the world’s tallest man-made structure until 1930.
- The tower’s height varies by up to 15 cm with temperature changes as the iron expands and contracts.
- About 60 tons of paint are used in each repainting campaign, which occurs roughly every seven years.
- Radio transmissions helped save the tower from demolition after its original 20-year permit expired.
- It sparkles for five minutes every hour after dusk using 20,000 bulbs.
Whether you admire it from the Seine or ascend to its summit, the Eiffel Tower blends history, science, and romance in a single silhouette.
