A Walking Tour Paris

America, it stands at a height of 324 metres (1,062 feet) and was the world’s tallest building until the Empire State Building was completed in New York in 1931. The Tower has become the symbol of Paris, yet when it was first built it was fiercely criticised for being too ugly.

Constructed between January 1887 and March 1889, it contains 15,000 different parts held together by up to 2.5 million rivets and weighs 7,000 tonnes. A brilliant feat of engineering, it was assembled out of relatively small parts, which together form a strong, lightweight and wind-resistant whole. Eiffel’s genius was to give it its unforgettable profile, a design which was the result of an aesthetic rather than technical requirement – the sweeping arches that connect the feet of the tower appear to carry its weight but are in fact decorative, they hang from the superstructure. The entire structure takes 18 months to paint and this is done every five or ten years. Recently renovated, it now sports a dazzling 10-minute light show every evening on the hour.

The first level, at 57 metres (187 feet), can be reached by lift or 360 steps and is where the Cineffel is located, a small museum dedicated to the history of the tower. A short film shows footage of famous visitors, including Charlie Chaplin and Adolf Hitler. There is also a post office. The second level, at 115 metres (376 feet), is a further 359 steps higher and can also be reached by lift. The Le Jules Verne Restaurant is located here and commands magnificent views of the city. The third level is at 276 metres (905 feet) while the top, the antennae, is at 324 metres (1,062 feet). From the Viewing Gallery it is possible to see up to 70 kilometres (45 miles) away. The lifts are double-decker and were installed as a hydraulic system in 1900, they were automated in 1986. There is also a bust of Gustave Eiffel by Antoine Bourdelle underneath the tower, placed there in 1929.

Opening times: 9.30am–11.45pm daily (6.30pm for stairs), Sept–mid-Jun;
9am–0.45am daily (last admission one hour before), mid-Jun–Aug
Website: www.tour-eiffel.fr
Tel: 01. 44 11 23 23