The history of the creation of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. History of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

general information

Originally conceived as a temporary structure, the Eiffel Tower has become a symbol of France and an object of admiration. However, the history of the creation and construction of the impressive structure was dramatic. For many Parisians, the tower only evoked negative emotions, - the townspeople believed that such a tall structure would not fit into the appearance of their beloved capital or would even collapse. But over time, the French came to appreciate the Eiffel Tower and fell in love with it. Today, thousands of people take pictures against the backdrop of the famous landmark; all lovers strive for it to spend unforgettable moments. Every girl who has a date at the Eiffel Tower hopes that it is there, taking all of Paris as a witness, that her beloved will propose marriage to her.

History of the Eiffel Tower

1886 In three years, the World Industrial Exhibition EXPO will begin in Paris. The exhibition organizers announced a competition for a temporary architectural structure that would serve as the entrance to the exhibition and personify the technical revolution of its time, the beginning of grandiose transformations in the life of mankind. The proposed construction had to meet the following requirements - generate income and be easily dismantled. More than 100 competitors took part in the creative competition, which started in May 1886. Some of the designs were quite bizarre - for example, a huge guillotine reminiscent of the revolution, or a tower built entirely of stone. Among the competition participants was engineer and designer Gustave Eiffel, who proposed a project for a 300-meter metal structure that was completely unusual for that time. He drew the very idea of the tower from the drawings of his company’s employees, Maurice Koechlen and Emile Nugier.

Construction of the Eiffel Tower, 1887-1889

It was proposed to make the structure from malleable cast iron, which was the most progressive and economical at that time building material. Eiffel's project was among the four winners. Thanks to some changes made by the engineer to the decorative design of the tower, the organizers of the competition gave preference to his “Iron Lady”.

The artistic appearance of the Eiffel Tower was developed by Stéphane Sauvestre. To add more sophistication to the cast-iron structure, the architect proposed adding arches between the supports of the first floor. They symbolized the entrance to the exhibition and made the structure more elegant. In addition, Sauvestre conceived different floors The structure will include spacious glazed halls, and the top of the tower will be slightly rounded.

The construction of the tower required 7.8 million francs, but the state allocated only one and a half million to Eiffel. The engineer agreed to contribute the missing amount from his own funds, but in return demanded that the tower be leased to him for 25 years. At the beginning of 1887, the French authorities, the mayor's office of Paris and Eiffel entered into an agreement and construction began.

Old photos of the Eiffel Tower

All 18,000 structural parts were manufactured at Gustave's own factory in Levallois, near the French capital. Thanks to carefully verified drawings, work on installing the tower progressed very quickly. The mass of individual elements of the structure did not exceed 3 tons, which greatly facilitated its assembly. At first, tall cranes were used to lift the parts. Then, when the tower became taller than them, Eiffel used small mobile cranes, specially designed by him, moving along elevator rails. After two years, two months and five days, with the efforts of three hundred workers, the construction of the structure was completed.

From 1925 to 1934, the Eiffel Tower was a giant advertising medium

The Eiffel Tower instantly attracted thousands of curious people - in the first six months of the exhibition alone, more than two million people came to admire the new landmark. The appearance of a new huge silhouette against the backdrop of Paris caused fierce controversy in French society. Many representatives of the creative intelligentsia were categorically against the appearance of a tower equal in height to an 80-story building - they feared that the iron structure would destroy the style of the city and suppress its architecture. Critics of Eiffel’s creation called the tower “the tallest lamppost”, “a grill in the form of a bell tower”, “an iron monster” and other unflattering and sometimes offensive epithets.

But, despite the protests and dissatisfaction of a certain part of French citizens, the Eiffel Tower almost completely paid for itself in the first year of operation, and further operation of the structure brought solid dividends to its creator.

Hitler with the Eiffel Tower in the background

By the end of the lease period, it became clear that dismantling the tower could be avoided - by that time it was actively used for telephone and telegraph communications, as well as for placing radio stations. Gustave was able to convince the government and generals of the country that in the event of war, the Eiffel Tower would be indispensable as a radio signal transmitter. At the beginning of 1910, the lease of the tower by its creator was extended for 70 years. During the German occupation in 1940, French patriots broke all the lifting mechanisms to cut off Hitler's path to the top of the tower. Due to non-functioning elevators, the aggressors were unable to plant their flag on the iron Frenchwoman. The Germans even called their specialists from Germany to repair the elevators, but they were unable to get them working.

Gustave Eiffel

With the development of television, the Eiffel Tower becomes in demand as a place to place antennas, of which there are currently several dozen on it.

The designer, who initially used his structure for profit, subsequently transferred the rights to it to the state, and today the tower is the property of the French people.

Eiffel could not imagine that his creation would become a tourist magnet along with other “wonders of the world.” The engineer simply called it a “300-meter tower,” not expecting that it would glorify and perpetuate his name. Today, the openwork metal structure towering over the French capital is recognized as the most photographed and visited landmark in the world.

Replicas of the Eiffel Tower can be found in more than 30 cities: Tokyo, Berlin, Las Vegas, Prague, Hangzhou, London, Sydney, Almaty, Moscow and others.

Description

The base of the Eiffel Tower is a pyramid formed by four pillars. At a height of about 60 meters, the supports are connected by an arch, on which a square ground floor platform with sides of 65 meters is located. From this lower platform rise the next four pillars, forming another vault at a height of 116 meters. Here is the second floor landing, a square half the size of the first. The supports, soaring up from the second platform, gradually connect to form a giant column 190 meters high. On this colossal rod, at an altitude of 276 meters from the ground, there is a third floor - a square platform with sides of 16.5 meters. On the third platform there is a lighthouse, topped with a dome, above which, at a height of three hundred meters, there is a small one and a half meter platform. The height of the Eiffel Tower today is 324 meters thanks to the television antenna installed on it. In addition to television and radio equipment, the structure contains towers cellular communications, as well as a unique weather station that records data on atmospheric pollution and background radiation.

At the foot of the Eiffel Tower

At the foot of the Eiffel Tower there are ticket offices and an information desk with free booklets and brochures. There is a souvenir shop in each support of the structure, and there is also a post office in the southern column. There is also a snack bar on the ground level. Here is also the entrance to the premises where you can see outdated hydraulic lifting mechanisms. But access here is open only to organized excursion groups.

On the ground floor, visitors are greeted by the 58 Tour Eiffel restaurant, another souvenir shop and the Cineiffel center, where films about the construction of the Eiffel Tower are shown. Little visitors will be delighted to meet Gus, the tower's mascot and the hero of the guide book. In addition, on the first level there is a fragment of an old spiral staircase leading to the next floors, as well as to the office of Eiffel himself.

Visitors approaching the tower from the north side are greeted by a gilded bust of its creator with a simple inscription: “Eiffel. 1832-1923".

The second level is an observation deck. On this floor there is the Jules Verne restaurant and another souvenir shop. Many interesting details about the construction of the tower can be gleaned from the information stands located on this level. In winter, a small skating rink is installed on the second floor.

The main goal of the overwhelming number of visitors is the third level. Elevators ascend to it, through the windows of which you can admire Paris. On the top floor, those who wish can celebrate their ascent to the tower with champagne at the Champange Bar. A glass of pink or white sparkling drink costs 10-15 €. On the third floor site there can be 800 people at the same time. Previously, on the upper platform there was an observatory and the office of Eiffel himself.

You can climb to the top of the structure by elevator or by stairs consisting of 1,792 steps. The Eiffel Tower is served by 3 elevators, but they are never operational at the same time due to safety reasons and due to constant maintenance of the structure.

During its existence, the tower was both yellow and red-brown. Today, the bronze color of the structure is officially patented and is called “Eiffel brown.” Redecorating The Eiffel Tower is carried out every 7 years, this process takes one and a half years. Before applying fresh paint, the old layer is removed using steam under high pressure. Then the entire structure is carefully inspected, unusable parts are replaced with new ones. After this, the tower is covered with two layers of paint, which requires 57 tons for this procedure. But the color of the tower is not uniform everywhere; it is painted in different shades of bronze - from dark at the base of the structure to lighter at the very top. This method of painting is used to ensure that the structure looks harmonious against the sky. Interestingly, even today paint is applied with brushes.

In the 80s of the last century, the tower was reconstructed - some of the parts were replaced with stronger and lighter ones.

Eiffel designed his creation in such a way that it is not afraid of storms - during the strongest winds, the tower deviates from its axis by a maximum of 12 centimeters. An iron structure is much more susceptible to the sun - iron elements expand so much when heated that the upper part of the tower sometimes deviates sideways by up to 20 centimeters.

Visitors first saw the tower illuminated in 1889, on the opening day of the World Industrial Exhibition. The structure was illuminated for 10,000 gas lamps, two large searchlights and a lighthouse, whose blue, white and red beams symbolized the national colors of the country. In 1900, the tower was equipped with electric light bulbs. In 1925, the owner of the Citroen company placed a grand advertisement on the structure - with the help of 125,000 light bulbs, images of the tower appeared on it, zodiac constellations and products of the famous French automobile concern. This light show lasted 9 years.

In the 21st century, the lighting of the Eiffel Tower has been modernized several times. In 2008, when France held the EU presidency, the structure was illuminated in blue to represent the European flag. Nowadays the lighting of the tower is golden. It turns on for 10 minutes at the beginning of every hour, in the dark.

In 2015, the tower's light bulbs were replaced with LED ones to save energy and financial costs. In addition, thermal panels were placed on the structure, two windmills and a rainwater collection system.

Views from the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is the emblem of Paris and a high-altitude antenna.
There can be 10,000 people on the tower at the same time.
The project was drawn up by the architect Stéphane Sauvestre, but the tower was built by the engineer Gustave Eiffel (1823-1923), better known to the public. Other works by Eiffel: Ponte de Dona Maria Pia, Viaduct de Gharabi, iron frame for New York's Statue of Liberty.
Since the tower appeared, about 250 million people have visited it.
The weight of the metal part of the structure is 7,300 tons, and the weight of the entire tower is 10,100 tons.
In 1925, the rogue Victor Lustig managed to sell the iron structure for scrap, and he was able to pull off this trick twice!
IN good weather From the top of the tower, Paris and its surroundings can be viewed within a radius of up to 70 kilometers. It is believed that the optimal time to visit the Eiffel Tower, providing the best visibility, is an hour before sunset.
The tower also holds a sad record - about 400 people committed suicide by throwing themselves down from its upper platform. In 2009, the terrace was fenced with protective barriers and now this place is very popular with romantic couples kissing in front of the whole of Paris.

Champ de Mars Paris Statue of Liberty and Eiffel Tower

Tower address: Champ de Mars (Field of Mars). Metro stations: Bir Hakeim (line 6), Trocadero (line 9).

The bus numbers running to the tower are: 42, 69, 72, 82 and 87.

Operating mode. From June 15 to September 1 - opening at 09.00. The elevator to the 2nd floor stops working at midnight; ascent to the 3rd floor (top) is carried out until 23.00; the stairs to the 2nd floor close at 00.00; the entire tower is accessible until 00.45.

From September 2 to June 14, the Eiffel Tower welcomes visitors from 09.30. The elevator to the 2nd floor is open until 23.00; the elevator takes guests to the top until 22.30; the stairs to the 2nd floor are open until 18.00; the entire tower is open until 23.45.

During the spring and Easter holidays, access to the tower is open until midnight.

Sometimes the climb to the top of the tower is temporarily suspended due to dangerous weather conditions or too many visitors on it.

Entrance ticket prices. Until September 1: elevator to the 2nd floor - 9 € (for adults), 7 € (for visitors from 12 to 24 years old), 4.5 € (for children from 4 to 11 years old). Lift to the top - 15.50 € (for adults), 13.50 € (for visitors from 12 to 24 years old), 11 € (for children from 4 to 11 years old). Stairs to the 2nd floor - 5 € (for adults), 4 € (for visitors from 12 to 24 years old), 3.50 € (for children from 4 to 11 years old).

After September 1: elevator to the 2nd floor - 11 € (for adults), 8.50 € (for visitors from 12 to 24 years old), 4 € (for children from 4 to 11 years old). Elevator to the top - 17 € (for adults), 14.50 € (for visitors from 12 to 24 years old), 10 € (for children from 4 to 11 years old). Stairs to the 2nd floor - 7 € (for adults), 5 € (for visitors from 12 to 24 years old), 3 € (for children from 4 to 11 years old).

Visitors from disabilities can go to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower using an elevator.

In order to quickly get to the first and second platforms of the tower, it is better to use the stairs on the south side, since the elevators almost always have long queues.

If you want to get to the top of the Iron Lady without the queue, then you should buy electronic tickets in advance on the official website of the tower - www.tour-eiffel.fr. The ticket must be printed and paid for using a credit card. You need to approach the tower 10-15 minutes before the time indicated on the ticket, bypassing the queue. Those who are more than half an hour late for sightseeing will not be allowed in; in this case, tickets will be cancelled. You need to worry about pre-purchasing tickets as early as possible, since their sale for a specific day begins 3 months in advance at 08.30 Paris time, and there are a lot of people who want to get to the tower without a queue.

A table at the Jules Verne restaurant must be reserved several months in advance; the average check for lunch at an altitude of 175 meters is 300 €.

What is France like? And how much does the Eiffel Tower mean to the French? France is nothing without Paris, and Paris is nothing without the Eiffel Tower! Just as Paris is the heart of France, so the Eiffel Tower is the heart of Paris itself! It’s strange to imagine now, but there were times when they wanted to deprive this city of its heart.

The history of the Eiffel Tower

In 1886, in France, preparations were in full swing for the World Exhibition, where it was planned to show the whole world technical advances of the French Republic over the last 100 years since the storming of the Bastille (1789) and 10 years since the proclamation of the Third Republic under the leadership of a president elected by the National Assembly. There was an urgent need for a structure that could serve entrance arch to the exhibition and at the same time amaze with its originality. This arch should have remained in everyone’s memory as something embodying one of the symbols of the Great French Revolution - it was not for nothing that it was to stand on the square of the hated Bastille! It’s no big deal that the entrance arch was supposed to be demolished in 20-30 years, the main thing is to leave it in memory!

About 700 projects were considered: the best architects offered their services, including not only the French, but the commission gave preference to the project of bridge engineer Alexander Gustave Eiffel. There were rumors that he simply stole this project from some ancient Arab architect, but no one was able to confirm this. The truth was revealed only half a century after the openwork 300-meter Eiffel Tower, so reminiscent of the famous French Chantilly lace, had already firmly entered the consciousness of people as a symbol of Paris and France itself, immortalizing the name of its creator.

When the truth about the true creators of the Eiffel Tower project was revealed, it turned out to be not so scary at all. There was no Arab architect, but two engineers, Maurice Koechlen and Emile Nouguier, Eiffel employees, who developed this project based on the then new scientific and technological architectural direction - biomimetics or bionics. The essence of this (Biomimetics - English) direction is to borrow its valuable ideas from nature and transfer these ideas to architecture in the form of design solutions and use these information technologies in the construction of buildings and bridges.

Nature often uses perforated structures to build light and strong skeletons of its “wards”. For example, for deep-sea fish or sea sponges, radiolarians (a simple organism) and starfish. What is striking is not only the variety of skeletal design solutions, but also the “material savings” in their construction, as well as the maximum strength of structures that can withstand the gigantic hydrostatic pressure of a huge mass of water.

It was this principle of rationality that young French design engineers used when creating a project for a new arched tower for the entrance to the French World Exhibition. The basis was the skeleton of a starfish. And this magnificent structure is an example of the use of the principles of the new science of biomimetics (bionics) in architecture.

The engineers working in collaboration with Gustav Eiffel did not submit their own project for two simple reasons:

New construction schemes at that time would have rather frightened off the commission members than attracted them with their unusualness.
The name of the bridge builder Alexander Gustov was known to France and enjoyed well-deserved respect, but the names of Nouguier and Koechlen “weighed” nothing. And the name of Eiffel could serve as the only key to realizing his bold plans.

So, the information that Alexander Gustov Eiffel used the project of an imaginary Arab or the project of his like-minded people “into the dark” turned out to be unnecessarily exaggerated.

Let us add that Eiffel not only took advantage of the project of his engineers, he personally made some amendments to the drawings, using his rich experience in bridge construction and special methods he himself developed, which made it possible to strengthen the structure of the tower and give it a special airiness.

These special methods were based on scientific discovery Swiss professor of anatomy Hermann von Meyer, who 40 years before the construction of the Eiffel Tower began, documented an interesting discovery: the head of the human femur is covered with a fine network of tiny mini-bones that miraculously distribute the load on the bone. Thanks to this redistribution, the human femur does not break under the weight of the body and can withstand enormous loads, although it enters the joint at an angle. And this network has a strictly geometric structure.

In 1866, the architect-engineer from Switzerland Karl Kuhlmann brought the discovery of the professor of anatomy to the scientific technical basis that Gustav Eiffel used in the construction of bridges - load distribution using curved supports. He later used the same method to build such a complex structure as a three-hundred-meter tower.

So, this tower is truly a miracle of thought and technology of the 19th century in all respects!

Who built the Eiffel Tower

So, at the very beginning of 1886, the municipality of Paris of the Third French Republic and Alexander Gustav Eiffel signed an agreement in which the points were stated:

Within 2 years and 6 months, Eiffel was obliged to erect an arch tower opposite the Jena River Bridge. The Seine on the Champ de Mars according to the drawings he himself proposed.
Eiffel will provide the tower for personal use upon completion of construction for a period of 25 years.
Provide Eiffel with a cash subsidy for the construction of the tower from the city budget in the amount of 1.5 million francs in gold, which will amount to 25% of the final construction budget of 7.8 million francs.

For 2 years, 2 months and 5 days, 300 workers, as they say, “without absenteeism and weekends,” worked hard so that on March 31, 1889 (less than 26 months after the start of construction) could the grand opening of the greatest building, which later became a symbol of the new France, will take place.

Such advanced construction was facilitated not only by extremely clear and clear drawings, but also by the use of Ural iron. In the 18th and 19th centuries, all of Europe knew the word “Ekaterinburg” thanks to this metal. The construction of the tower did not use steel (carbon content no more than 2%), but a special alloy of iron, specially smelted in the Ural furnaces for the “Iron Lady”. “The Iron Lady” was another name for the entrance arch before it was called the Eiffel Tower.

However, iron alloys corrode easily, so the tower was painted bronze with a specially formulated paint that required 60 tons. Since then, every 7 years the Eiffel Tower is treated and painted with the same “bronze” composition and every 7 years 60 tons of paint are spent on this. The tower frame itself weighs about 7.3 tons, but the total weight, including the concrete base, is 10,100 tons! The number of steps was also calculated - 1 thousand 710 pieces.

Design of the arch and park-garden

The lower ground part is made in the form of a truncated pyramid with a side length of 129.2 m, with column-corners going up and forming, as intended, a high (57.63 m) arch. On this vaulted “ceiling” is fixed the first square platform, where the length of each side is almost 46 m. On this platform, like on an aerial board, several halls of a huge restaurant with huge display windows were built, from where a magnificent view of all 4 sides of Paris opened. Even then, the view from the tower of the Seine embankment with the Pont de Jena bridge evoked complete admiration. But there was no dense green area - a park on the Champ de Mars, with an area of more than 21 hectares.

The idea to redevelop the former Royal Military School parade ground into a public park came to the mind of the architect and gardener Jean Camille Formiget only in 1908. It took a whole 20 years to bring all these plans to life! Unlike the rigid framework of the drawings according to which the Eiffel Tower was built, the plan of the park has changed countless times.

The park, originally planned in strict english style, during its construction it grew somewhat (24 hectares), and, having absorbed the spirit of free France, democratically “settled” between the geometrically slender rows of tall, strict trees and clearly defined alleys, many flowering bushes and “village” ponds, in addition to classic English fountains.

The main stage of construction was not the installation of the “metal lace” itself, for which about 3 million steel rivets and ties were used, but the guaranteed stability of the base and maintaining the absolutely ideal horizontal level of the building on a square of 1.6 hectares. It took only 8 months to fasten the openwork trunks of the tower and give it a rounded shape, and a year and a half to lay a reliable foundation.

Judging by the description of the project, the foundation rests on a depth of more than 5 meters below the level of the Seine bed, 100 stone blocks 10 m thick are laid in the foundation pit, and 16 powerful supports are already built into these blocks, which form the backbone of the 4 tower “legs” on which the Eiffel Tower stands. Additionally, a hydraulic device is built into each “leg” of the “lady”, which allows the “madam” to maintain balance and horizontality. The carrying capacity of each device is 800 tons.

When installing the lower tier, an addition was introduced into the project - 4 elevators that rise to the second platform. Later, another one - the fifth elevator - began to function from the second to the third platform. The fifth elevator appeared after the tower was electrified at the beginning of the 20th century. Up to this point, all 4 elevators operated on hydraulic traction.

Interesting information about elevators

When the troops of Nazi Germany occupied France, the Germans were unable to hang their spider flag at the top of the tower - for unknown reasons, all the elevators were suddenly inoperative. And they remained in this state for the next 4 years. The swastika was only secured at the level of the second floor, where the steps reached. The French Resistance bitterly stated: “Hitler managed to conquer the country of France, but he never managed to hit it in the very heart!”

What else is worth knowing about the tower?

We must honestly admit that the Eiffel Tower did not immediately become the “heart of Paris”. At the beginning of construction, and even after during the opening (March 31, 1889), the tower, illuminated with lights (10,000 gas lamps with the colors of the French flag), and a pair of powerful mirror spotlights, which made it noble and monumental, was a lot of people , rejecting the unusual beauty of the Eiffel Tower.

In particular, such celebrities as Victor Hugo and Paul Marie Verlaine, Arthur Rimbaud and Guy de Maupassant even contacted the Paris mayor's office with an angry demand to erase from the face of the Parisian soil "the disgusting shadow of the hated building of iron and screws, which will stretch over the city like an ink blot, disfiguring the bright streets of Paris with its disgusting structure!”

Interesting fact: his own signature under this appeal, however, did not at all prevent Maupassant from being a frequent guest of the glass gallery restaurant on the second floor of the tower. Maupassant himself grumbled that this was the only place in the city from where one could not see the “monster in nuts” and the “skeleton made of screws.” But the great novelist was cunning, oh, the great novelist was cunning!

In fact, being a famous gourmet, Maupassant could not deny himself the pleasure of trying oysters baked and chilled on ice, delicate aromatic soft cheese with cumin, steamed young asparagus with a thin slice of dried veal and not washing down all this “excess” with a glass of light grape wine.

The cuisine of the Eiffel Tower restaurant to this day remains unsurpassedly rich in authentic French dishes, and the fact that the famous literary master dined there is the restaurant’s calling card.

On the same second floor there are tanks with machine oil for hydraulic machines. On the third floor there was enough space on a square platform for an astronomical and meteorological observatory. And the last tiny platform, only 1.4 m in diameter, serves as a support for the lighthouse, which shines from a height of 300 m.

The total height in meters of the Eiffel Tower at that time was about 312 m, and the light of the lighthouse was visible at a distance of 10 km. After replacing the gas lamps with electric ones, the lighthouse began to “beat” for as much as 70 km!

Whether connoisseurs of fine French art liked or did not like this “lady,” for Gustav Eiffel her unexpected and daring form completely paid for all the architect’s efforts and expenses in less than a year. In just 6 months of the World Exhibition, the unusual brainchild of the bridge builder was visited by 2 million curious people, the flow of which did not dry up even after the closure of the exhibition complexes.

It later turned out that all the miscalculations of Gustav and his engineers were more than justified: a tower weighing 8,600 tons, made from 12,000 disparate metal parts not only did it not move when its pylons sank almost 1 m under water during the flood of 1910. But in the same year it was found out in a practical way that it will not move even if there are 12,000 people on its 3 floors at the same time.

In 1910, after this flood, it would have been truly blasphemous to destroy the Eiffel Tower, which sheltered so many disadvantaged people. The period was extended first by 70 years, and then, after a full examination of the health of the Eiffel Tower, to 100.
In 1921, the tower began to serve as a source of radio broadcasting, and since 1935 – also of television broadcasting.
In 1957, the already high tower was increased by 12 m with a telemast and its total “height” was 323 m 30 cm.
For a long time, until 1931, the “iron lace” of France was the tallest building in the world, and only the construction of the Chrysler Building in New York broke this record.
In 1986, the external lighting of this architectural marvel was replaced by a system that illuminates the tower from the inside, making the Eiffel Tower not just dazzling, but truly magical, especially on holidays and at night.

Every year, the symbol of France, the heart of Paris welcomes 6 million guests. Photos taken at its 3 observation platforms are a good memory for any tourist. Even a photo next to it is already a source of pride; it’s not for nothing that there are small copies of it in many countries around the world.

The most interesting mini-tower of Gustav Eiffel is perhaps located in Belarus, in the village of Paris, Vitebsk region. This tower is only 30 m high, but it is unique in that it is made entirely of wooden blocks.

Russia also has its own Eiffel Tower. There are three of them:

Irkutsk Height – 13 m.
Krasnoyarsk Height – 16 m.
Village of Paris, Chelyabinsk region. Height – 50 m. It belongs to a cellular operator and is a real working cellular tower in the region.

But the best thing is to take a tourist visa, see Paris and... No, don’t die! And to freeze with delight and photograph the views of Paris from the Eiffel Tower itself, fortunately, on a clear day the city is visible for 140 km. From the heart of Paris - just a stone's throw - 25 minutes. on foot.

Tourist Information

Address – Champ de Mars, territory of the former Bastille.

The Iron Lady's opening hours are always the same: daily, from mid-June to the end of August, opening at 9:00, closing at 00:00. In winter, opening at 9:30, closing at 23:00.

The only thing that can prevent the Iron Lady from receiving new guests is a strike of 350 service personnel, but this has never happened before!

- a 300-meter metal tower, which is located in the center of Paris. The most famous French and world landmark, which only due to circumstances was not dismantled, as was intended during its construction.

The fate of the Eiffel Tower is quite interesting. Its construction was completed in 1889, the same year France hosted the World Exhibition, and the tower was the winner of a competition of designs that were supposed to determine the appearance of the exhibition complex and decorate it. According to the original plan, 20 years after the exhibition, this metal structure was to be dismantled, since it did not fit into the architectural appearance of the French capital and was not intended as a permanent building; radio development saved the most popular attraction in the world.

Facts about the Eiffel Tower

The height of the tower is 300.65 meters to the roof, 324.82 meters to the end of the spire;
Weight – 7300 tons for the tower and 10,000 tons for the entire building;
Year of construction – 1889;
Construction time – 2 years 2 months and 5 days;
Creator: bridge engineer Gustave Eiffel;
Number of steps – 1792 to the lighthouse, 1710 to the 3rd level platform;
Number of visitors – more than 6 million per year;

About the Eiffel Tower

Height of the Eiffel Tower

The exact height of the tower is 300.65 meters. This is exactly how Eiffel conceived it, who even gave it the simplest name: “three-meter tower” or simply “three hundred meters”, “tour de 300 mètres” in French.

But after construction, a spire antenna was installed on the tower and now its total height from the base to the end of the spire is 324.82 meters.

At the same time, the third and top floor located at an altitude of 276 meters, this is the maximum accessible to ordinary visitors.

The Eiffel Tower looks like an unusual pyramid. The four columns rest on a concrete foundation, and as they rise they intertwine into a single square column.

At a height of 57.64 meters, the four columns are connected for the first time by the first square platform - a floor with an area of 4415 square meters, capable of accommodating 3000 people. The platform rests on an arched vault, which largely forms the recognizable appearance of the tower and which served as a kind of gateway to the World Exhibition.

Starting from the second floor landing, the four columns of the tower are woven into a single structure. The third and last floor is located on it at an altitude of 276.1 meters; its area is not as small as it might seem - 250 sq.m., which allows you to accommodate 400 people at a time.

But above the third floor of the tower at an altitude of 295 meters there is a lighthouse, now it is controlled software. The tower is crowned by a spire, which was added later and modified several times. It serves as a flagpole and holder for various antennas, radio and television.

Eiffel Tower design

The main material of the tower is puddling steel. The weight of the tower itself is approximately 7,300 tons, and the entire structure with foundation and auxiliary structures weighs 10,000 tons. In total, 18,038 individual parts were used during construction, which were held together by 2.5 million rivets. Moreover, each of the tower parts weighed no more than three tons, which eliminated most of the problems with their lifting and installation.

During construction, many fairly innovative engineering methods were used, which its creator, Gustave Eiffel, drew from his experience in bridge construction. The tower was built in just 2 years by three hundred workers, thanks to high level safety precautions and structures that simplified assembly, only one person died during construction.

The high speed of work was achieved, firstly, by very detailed drawings that were created by the engineers of the Eiffel Bureau, and, secondly, by the fact that all parts of the tower arrived at the construction site ready for use. IN various elements there was no need to drill holes, adjust them to each other, and 2/3 of the rivets were already in place. So the workers could only assemble the tower like a construction set, using ready-made detailed drawings.

Eiffel Tower color

The question of the color of the Eiffel Tower is also interesting. Now the Eiffel Tower is painted in the patented color “Eiffel Tower Brown”, which imitates the color of bronze. But at different times it changed its color and was both orange and burgundy, until the current color was approved in 1968.

On average, the tower is repainted every seven years, last painting was held in 2009–2010, on the 120th anniversary of this attraction. All work was carried out by 25 painters. old paint removed with steam supplied under high pressure. At the same time, an external inspection of structural elements is carried out, and worn ones are replaced. The tower is then coated with paint, which requires approximately 60 tons, including 10 tons of primer and the paint itself, which is applied in two layers. Interesting fact: the tower has different shades at the bottom and top, so that the color is uniform to the human eye.

But the main function of paint is not decorative, but purely practical. It protects the iron tower from corrosion and environmental influences.

Reliability of the Eiffel Tower

Of course, a building of this size is greatly influenced by wind and other weather phenomena. During its construction, many people believed that engineering aspects were not taken into account during the design, and an information campaign was even launched against Gustave Eiffel. But the experienced bridge builder was well aware of the possible risks and created a completely stable structure with recognizable curved columns.

As a result, the tower resists the wind very effectively, the average deviation from the axis is 6–8 centimeters, even a hurricane wind deflects the tower spire by no more than 15 centimeters.

But a metal tower is greatly influenced by sunlight. The side of the tower facing the sun heats up and, due to thermal expansion, the top can deviate by even 18 centimeters, much more than under the influence of strong winds.

Tower lighting

Another important element The Eiffel Tower - its illumination. Already during its creation, it was clear that such a grandiose object needed to be illuminated, so 10,000 gas lamps and spotlights were installed on the tower, which shone into the sky with the colors of the French tricolor. In 1900, electric lamps began to illuminate the contours of the tower.

In 1925, a huge advertisement appeared on the tower, bought by Andre Citroen. Initially, on three sides of the tower there was a vertically written surname and the name of the Citroen concern, which was visible for 40 kilometers around. Then it was slightly modernized by adding a clock and signs. This lighting was dismantled in 1934.

In 1937, the Eiffel Tower began to be illuminated with light rays, and modern lighting based on gas-discharge lamps was installed in 1986. Then the lighting was changed and modified several more times, for example, in 2008 the tower was illuminated with stars in the shape of the EU flag.

The last modernization of the lighting was carried out in 2015; the lamps were replaced with LEDs to save energy. In parallel, work was carried out to install thermal panels, two wind turbines, and a system for collecting and using rainwater.

In addition, the Eiffel Tower is used to launch fireworks during various holidays - New Year, Bastille Day, etc.

Interesting fact: the image of the Eiffel Tower is public property and can be used freely, but the image and appearance of the tower with the backlight turned on is copyrighted by the management company and can only be used with their permission.

Floors of the Eiffel Tower

As already mentioned, the Eiffel Tower has three levels, not counting the lighthouse platform, which is accessible only to workers and the areas at the base. Each floor is not just an observation deck, there are also souvenir shops, restaurants, and other objects, so it’s worth talking about each level of the Eiffel Tower separately.

As already mentioned, it is located at an altitude of 57 meters from ground level. Most recently, this level of the tower underwent reconstruction, during which the individual elements on the floor and a transparent floor was built. There are a large number of different objects located here:

Glass balustrades and a transparent floor that give an unforgettable experience of walking through the void more than 50 meters above the ground. Don't be afraid, the floor is completely safe!
Restaurant 58 Tour Eiffel. Not the only one in the tower, but the most famous.
Buffet if you just want something to eat or drink.
A small cinema hall in which a film about the Eiffel Tower is broadcast by multiple projectors on three walls at once.
A small museum with interactive screens telling the history of the tower.
A fragment of the old spiral staircase that led to Gustave Eiffel's private office.
A seating area where you can just sit and look at Paris from a bird's eye view.
Souvenir shop.

You can get to the first floor either on foot, overcoming 347 steps, or by elevator. At the same time, an elevator ticket costs 1.5 times more, so walking is not only useful, but also profitable. True, in this case the third, highest platform will not be available to you.

The height of the second floor of the tower is 115 meters. The second and first floors are connected by stairs and an elevator. If you decide to climb to the second level of the Eiffel Tower on foot, then be prepared to overcome 674 steps; this is not an easy test, so soberly assess your strength.

This floor is half the size of the first floor, which is why there are not so many objects located here:

Restaurant Jules Verne, where you can treat yourself to exquisite French cuisine while looking at the city from a great height. Interestingly, this restaurant has a separate direct access from the ground through an elevator in the southern column of the bridge.
The historical window is a gallery telling about the construction of the Eiffel Tower and the operation of its elevators, both the first hydraulic ones and the modern ones.
Observation deck with large panoramic windows.
Buffet.
Souvenir kiosk.

The last, third floor of the Eiffel Tower is its most interesting part. Of course, restaurants at bird's eye view are interesting, but nothing compares to the panorama of Paris from a height of almost 300 square meters.

Visitors can only get to the third floor of the tower by taking a glass elevator, although it is reached by a staircase that originally had 1,665 steps, but was later replaced with a safer 1,710 steps.

The last floor of the tower is very small, its area is only 250 square meters, so there are few objects located here:

Observation deck.
Champagne bar.
Eiffel's office with original interior and wax figures.
Panoramic maps that allow you to determine the direction to other cities and attractions.
Scale model of the floor in its original form from 1889.

The main thing on this floor, of course, is the panoramic windows, allowing you to see Paris from a great height. Today, the observation deck of the Eiffel Tower is the second highest in Europe after the Ostankino TV tower in Moscow.

Where is the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is located in the center of Paris, on the Champ de Mars. From the Champs Elysees to the tower it is approximately two kilometers.

Walking around the center on foot it is impossible to miss the tower, just look up and you will see it, and then just walk in the right direction.

Nearest metro station: Bir-Hakeim, line 6 – from there you only need to walk 500 meters to the tower. But you can also get there from Trocadero stations (intersection of lines 6 and 9), Ecole Militaire (line 8).

Nearest RER station: Champ de Mars Tour Eiffel (line C).

Bus routes: 42, 69, 72, 82, 87, stops “Champ de Mars” or “Tour Eiffel”

In addition, near the Eiffel Tower there is a pier where boats and pleasure boats stop. There is also parking for cars and bicycles near the tower.

Eiffel Tower on the map

Information for those wishing to visit the Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower opening hours:

From mid-June to the end of September:

Elevator – from 9:00 to 0:45 (entrance until 0:00 on the 1st and 2nd floors and until 23:00 on the 3rd floor)
Staircase – from 9:00 to 0:45 (entrance until 0:00)

Rest of the year:

Elevator – from 9:30 to 23:45 (entrance until 23:00 on the 1st and 2nd floors and until 22:30 on the 3rd floor)
Staircase – from 9:30 to 18:30 (entrance until 18:00)

There are no days off, the Eiffel Tower is open all days of the year, and has extended opening hours on holidays (Easter and spring break).

Eiffel Tower ticket prices:

Elevator with access to the 1st and 2nd floor - 11 €;
Stairs with access to the 1st and 2nd floor - 7 €;
Elevator to the 3rd observation deck - 17 €;

Ticket prices are for adults. Group excursions, as well as tickets for children (4–11 years old), youth (12–24 years old) and people with disabilities are cheaper.

Important: the schedule and ticket prices may change, we recommend checking the information on the official website of the tower touriffel.paris

The Eiffel Tower is not just a symbol of Paris or France. This is a world famous landmark. The structure, called by the author a “300-meter tower,” is today one of the must-see sites for tourists.

More than 7 million people visit the tower every year. It is undoubtedly the most famous man-made object in Paris. If you ask people who have never been to the French capital what they know about the city, most will confidently answer: “The Eiffel Tower is there.”

Eiffel Tower: monument to the hundredth anniversary of the French Revolution

The main symbol of the French capital is today considered the most popular “commercial” (that is, one whose visit is paid for) attraction in the world. But during design and construction, this structure not only received no attention, but was also an object of ridicule for the townspeople. The design did not fit into the architectural ensemble of the city so much that its construction caused a wave of criticism.

Gustave Eiffel, by the way, is not the sole “father” of the tower. The World Exhibition of 1889, timed to coincide with the hundredth anniversary of the French Revolution, caused widespread excitement. On the Champ de Mars, in the center of Paris, the organizers decided to erect a monument in honor of a significant event in the history of the country. It was also supposed to serve as the entrance to the exhibition. A consulting and construction company owned by Eiffel, a famous bridge builder at the time, presented its own concept among others.

The author of the idea was an employee of the company with whom the owner of the engineering office had previously collaborated - Maurice Keshlin. Together they had worked several years earlier to create metal fittings for the equally famous Statue of Liberty in the United States. Keshlen's drawings were finalized by another hired architect, Emil Nurie (by the way, he also took part in the creation of the original sketch, developed back in 1884).

107 works took part in the competition announced by the government, many of which were worthy of attention. After Eiffel's design was approved as the winning design, architect Stéphane Sauvestre made a number of changes to ensure the design's "artistic value".

The initially presented version of the Eiffel Tower did not have much sophistication and represented a transfer of bridge building principles to the vertical plane. Before the design changes were made, the drawings showed a pyramidal column, the four supports of which, rising upward, were gradually united. Thanks to Sovestre, the tower received decorative elements, arches, glass halls, stone cladding of supports, etc.

The fate of a unique project

It is interesting that in the first half of the 19th century. metal construction was just beginning to gain popularity, taking over the “field” from stone architecture. Durable cast iron, which appeared in the middle of the century, became one of the key stages in the transformation of construction. It is worth understanding that Eiffel, who chose this material, was also an entrepreneur, one of whose tasks was the intention to demonstrate the suitability of the material for large-scale work. Let us note that all participants in the competition had two goals set by the organizers: self-sufficiency of the project and the possibility of demolition after the end of the exhibition.

Eiffel was a very enterprising man, so he was able to competently assess the prospects of the project. As a result, having received a patent together with Keshlen and Nurie, he then bought all the rights to the design from them.

Looking ahead, let's say that they tried very hard to make money on the Eiffel Tower. in original ways. For example, for nine whole years (until 1936) the building was used as a giant billboard: 125 thousand multi-colored light bulbs, flashing alternately, at Christmas 1925, formed an image of the building itself, star rain, zodiac signs and, finally, turned into the inscription “Citroën ”, which flared up regularly after sunset in subsequent years. The automaker's name was displayed on three sides of the tower.

From pillars to flagpole: the “birth” of the Eiffel Tower

It would seem that the construction of such a significant facility for an event that was planned to attract millions of guests from all over the world should have been financed by the government. But no, the Executive Committee of the Exhibition allocated only 25% of the required amount for the work. As a result, with a budget of 7.8 million francs, 2.5 million were personally invested by Eiffel. A significant portion of all funds were raised and loans.

Eiffel was not a man willing to make sacrifices to his own detriment. He entered into an agreement with representatives of state authorities and the capital municipality, according to which the building was given to him for an operating lease for 25 years. During this period, the architect received all income from the work of the Eiffel Tower.

The construction itself, which was quite complex for the end of the last century, was carried out at an accelerated pace. Thanks to the involvement of 300 workers, as well as an original solution for the preparation of structural parts, the work was completed on time. The construction of the Eiffel Tower was reminiscent of assembling a construction kit: rivets were prepared in advance, holes for them were drilled in the beams, and the beams themselves were of such a size that their weight did not exceed 3 tons. This made it possible to use mobile cranes that moved along the rails of future elevators. Of the 18 thousand parts, there was not a single one that had not been calculated in advance to the nearest millimeter. As a result, in two years and two months (and another five days), the construction was completed. Even today, this result looks impressive, given the scale: the metal elements of the Eiffel Tower alone weigh 7.3 thousand tons, and the weight of the entire structure reaches 10 thousand tons.

The first walk to the top of Eiffel's brainchild was made by Parisian officials. Among them, several of the most physically resilient were selected - the visit to the top was not easy, because they had to climb 1,710 steps.

Of course, such a test was not offered to ordinary citizens - an elevator had to take guests upstairs. The first lifting structure was very inconvenient: it worked thanks to hydraulic pumps. The pressure in them was created using two large containers of water. In winter they could not work, which created difficulties in getting to the upper tiers. Currently, electric motors for elevators are installed on the Eiffel Tower, but the old structures have also been preserved, and those interested can inspect them.

Eiffel Tower - construction
Eiffel Tower - After opening

Above are only the stars

The three-hundred-meter structure, built between January 26, 1887 and March 31, 1889, was considered the tallest building in the world until 1930. The author himself called his project “the tallest flagpole.” The total height of 300 m at that time was almost twice the “record” of the previous giant - the 169-meter Washington Monument. 31 years after the opening of the Iron Lady, the New York Chrysler Building rose 304 m, ahead of the French Lady. The status quo was restored in 1957, when a television antenna appeared on the top of the Eiffel Tower. The total height of the structure reached 320.75 m. But by that time, the Empire State Building, which had grown up in Manhattan, had already captured the championship. Meanwhile, the “growth” of the Eiffel Tower is still very impressive - it can be compared to an 81-story skyscraper.

It should be noted that from the first years of the tower’s existence, this height attracted extreme sports enthusiasts, some of whom paid with their lives for crazy stunts on one of the most recognizable landmarks in Europe. Already in 1912, Franz Reichelt, a tailor, died here when he tried to take off from the first floor using the “cloak parachute” he invented. And 14 years later, pilot Leon Collot died here when he tried to fly an airplane under the tier of the Eiffel Tower, but caught the antenna.

It is surprising that with its enormous height, the Eiffel Tower is almost unaffected by even the strongest winds. Thus, during the hurricane of 1999, a 12-centimeter tilt of the structure was recorded. This figure is actually an excellent indicator for such an original building. It shows the skill of the architect, who was able to ensure the mobility of the structure due to storms by no more than 15 cm. Achieving safety under wind loads was very important point, since the world still remembered the collapse of the longest bridge at that time, Tay Bridge. This crossing, unable to withstand the gust of wind, fell along with the train on it. But we must not forget that Eiffel demonstrated with his tower the reliability and promise of metal frames for high-rise construction.

At the same time, it is very interesting that the sun has a much greater impact on the Eiffel Tower. The side of the structure facing the luminary expands from heating, which leads to a deviation of the top to the side by up to 18 cm.

The Eiffel Tower is a symbol of Paris, the main attraction of France

The first critics of the Eiffel Tower

Not everyone was inspired by the construction plans. Today we consider the Eiffel Tower to be one of the symbols of romance. A century ago, Parisians were very wary of an alien element in the ensemble of urban architecture. Even before the construction work began, 300 representatives of the French intelligentsia prepared a manifesto in which they expressed their outrage at the appearance of the “useless and monstrous” Eiffel Tower in the capital. Sculptors, architects and simply “passionate admirers of beauty” noted that Parisian art and the history of the city were under threat. The “pearl” of world urban planning, Paris, according to the authors of the manifesto, was supposed to lose its elegance. The “giant black factory chimney” was supposed to depress such dear to the heart residents of the capital's buildings, like Notre Dame and the Invalides Palace. The message was published in the newspaper Le Temps on St. Valentina.

The fact that the Eiffel Tower was still built, despite the protest, which was joined by eminent citizens of the French Republic, shows how high the authority of the author of the project was in the eyes of the authorities. And he turned out to be right - the result of the courageous work of hundreds of workers over the course of two years became known to almost the whole world within a few days.

Despite the comments of contemporaries who called the structure “the tallest lamppost,” “an iron monster,” and “the skeleton of a bell tower,” time has put everything in its place. Already in the first year of operation, the structure was visited by more than 2 million people. At the same time, construction costs were fully recouped within 10 months; in 1989 alone, tourists returned 2/3 of all costs. And today the Eiffel Tower is not inferior in popularity to tourists to the famous hill.

Practical significance of the Eiffel Tower

The design turned out to be so successful that literally from the first years it was used for various kinds of experiments. The Parisian government planned to receive its share of the benefits from the existence of the Eiffel Tower after its dismantling by dismantling the structure for scrap metal. But Eiffel himself saved his brainchild from possible destruction, inviting the city to use the most high building cities as a radio antenna.

And even earlier, General Ferrier used the upper tier for his experiments with wireless telegraphy. By the way, it was here that one of the first telephone sessions in the country took place - between the Eiffel Tower and, in 1898. At the same time, Eiffel, who understood that he needed to find arguments in favor of the continued preservation of the building, financed experiments with wireless telegraphy with his own money. As a result, the ability to send and receive messages was highly appreciated by city officials. Understanding the importance of this method of communication, they extended the concession with the architect, although the contract expired in 1909.

Today, the Eiffel Tower serves not only as a place of pilgrimage for tourists, but also as a support for dozens of different antennas, including television ones. More than 100 of them provide reception and transmission of signals around the world. The antennas on the tower brought practical benefits to the armed forces. The French military used them to intercept enemy communications from Berlin during the First World War. It was thanks to them that the French were able to carry out a counter-offensive at the Battle of the Marne, when it became known that the Germans had stopped their advance in this direction.

In 1917, a coded message between Germany and France detailing the "Operative H-21" was intercepted from the Eiffel Tower. This message became one of the proofs of the guilt of Mata Hari, who was accused of spying for Germany and later executed.

Eiffel Tower - first level
Interior of Jules Verne restaurant
Eiffel Tower - elevator and stairs

Eiffel Tower: Historical facts

By the way, about Germany. Perhaps the only person who visited the Eiffel Tower and was unable to climb it was a “tourist” who did not experience any health problems. During the war, right before this guest’s visit, the elevator cable “accidentally” broke, so Adolf Hitler was never able to see Paris from a height of 300 meters. It was Hitler who wanted to end the existence of the structure: during the retreat of the German army, the Parisian military commandant was given the order to blow up this structure, like many other landmarks of Paris. Fortunately, he had enough prudence not to carry out the Fuhrer’s order.

The Eiffel Tower has long served as an object of scientific research. At the top of the structure, a laboratory was organized in which French scientists and the author of the tower himself conducted experiments and studied astronomy, meteorology, aerodynamics and physiology. In 1909, a wind tunnel was installed at the foot of the building, in which thousands of tests were carried out. Including the Wright brothers' planes and Porsche cars.

In memory of the French scientists and engineers, under the first balcony the names of the “List of 72” were engraved on the metal, which mainly included representatives of the exact sciences. By the way, a very loud scandal was associated with it on the part of representatives of feminist movements: among the names immortalized there is not a single woman. At the beginning of the 20th century. the names were painted over, but the Société Nouvelle d’exploitation de la Tour Eiffe company restored the inscriptions in 1986.

Eiffel Tower - evening illumination
Eiffel Tower - illuminated in the colors of the EU flag

Caring for the Iron Lady

Once every seven years, this gigantic structure undergoes painting. Over its history, it has been repainted in different colors. The first paint that was applied to the structure was reddish-brown. In the following decades " The Iron Lady" was successively covered with yellow, tan and chestnut. For the last few decades, the tower has been painted in a specially developed and patented shade of “Eiffel Brown” - similar to the natural shade of bronze. This color was mixed in 1968 and has not changed its composition since then. During the painting of the Eiffel Tower, up to 60 tons of dyes are used, and the time required for their application is from 15 to 18 months.

Since the Eiffel Tower is open to tourists 365 days a year, it is not surprising that regular cleaning is carried out here: to clean all tiers of debris and traces of the presence of guests, 4 tons of cleaning cloths, 400 liters of detergent, 25 thousand garbage bags are required. All this is done to make visiting the main attraction of the French capital both interesting and pleasant. By the way, people with disabilities are also taken care of here. Thus, guests confined to a wheelchair can take the elevator to the second level. However, there are no restrictions on movement. Surprisingly, each of the elevators travels more than 100 thousand km per year. common path.

Today the Eiffel Tower belongs to the city, and is managed by a special company hired by the Paris City Hall. In 2010, a new antenna was installed on the top, and the height of the structure reached 324 meters.

Thousands of Eiffel Tower lanterns

When the tower was built, its lighting consisted of two floodlights at the top and 10 thousand gas lamps. In 2003, the lighting of the structure was once again modernized. Today, the Eiffel Tower is shrouded in almost 40 kilometers of wires that power 20 thousand lamps specially designed for the tower. The new lighting cost 4.6 million euros. The Eiffel Tower's illumination turns on at nightfall, and at the beginning of every hour, for three minutes, the tower sparkles with a stunning radiance - flashing silver lights. A lighthouse shines from the top of the tower, rotating around its axis and emitting two powerful light beams.

By the way, lighting is often used during festive or, on the contrary, tragic events. Then the illumination is completely turned off as a sign of solidarity with those affected by terrorist attacks, or the flag of the country in which the tragedy occurred is projected onto the structure.

What to see inside the Eiffel Tower?

On the first floor of the Eiffel Tower, which is relatively low above the ground (only 57 m), guests will experience the incredible sensation of walking on a glass floor. There is no need to be afraid, it is completely safe. But an unforgettable experience is guaranteed. There is a buffet, a modest museum with exhibits from the history of the Iron Lady, and a cinema showing a film about the tower. In a special store you can stock up on souvenirs, admire the view of Paris from the seating area and see part of the old staircase that once led to Eiffel’s office. On the ground floor there is also a restaurant - the famous “58 Tour Eiffel ».

The second floor is located at a level of 115 m above the ground. You can also climb it by elevator or stairs. Hikers should be prepared for 674 steps. Almost the same number of steps need to be climbed to climb to the 25th floor in standard high-rise buildings. There is also a restaurant, a buffet and a souvenir kiosk here. But the observation deck with panoramic windows deserves special attention. History buffs can visit the “historical window,” an exhibition that tells the story of the stages of construction of the Eiffel Tower, as well as the peculiarities of its elevators.
Access to the third floor is limited to guests only by a glass elevator (although there are stairs here too). Here, at an altitude of 300 m, there is a unique observation deck, second in height in Europe only to its “rival” in the Ostankino Tower. Since the floor area is very modest, only 250 sq.m., there are few objects on it: Eiffel’s office with a restored interior and wax figures, a bar, a model of the floor with a design from 1889 and panoramic maps. Using the latter, you can determine where other attractions are located relative to the Eiffel Tower.

Eiffel Tower: Visit

When visiting the Eiffel Tower, it is worth considering its popularity among tourists. Waiting times in lines at the ticket office and then in the elevator can reach several hours. At the same time, you can get to the first floor on foot by climbing a staircase of 347 steps, which is good for your health and wallet - an elevator ticket will cost 1.5 times more.
Despite the fact that 500 employees (including staff of restaurants, museums, etc.) regularly monitor the comfort and convenience of visitors, the large number of people wishing to visit the attraction practically does not allow the queues to shorten.

On the official site towers you can purchase tickets online in advance at right time and date. Tickets are available 90 days before the date of visit, but most often tickets sell out quickly several days before the planned visit they may not be available.

There are two restaurants in the Eiffel Tower "58 Tour Eiffel" " and "Jules Verne " When booking a table, you will ascend to the desired tier via a separate elevator, without queuing.

Lifehack
The most physically prepared visitors can try to save time in queues by climbing the stairs to the first tier of the tower. Usually the line at the ticket office to go up the stairs is much shorter than at the elevator ticket office. The ticket office and entrance to the staircase are located on the far right pillar of the tower when looking at it from the river.
Having climbed the stairs, already on the first level you can buy a ticket to go to the upper tier by elevator (the queues here may be shorter).

Eiffel Tower Opening hours and cost of visiting:

Opening hours:
In winter 9:00 - 23:00
In summer 9:00 - 00:00

Price:

From 3 to 17 euros depending on the floor and age of the visitor.
Check the price on the official website Eiffel Tower.

Construction Eiffel Tower, which later became a symbol of Paris, was completed in 1889, initially it was conceived as a temporary structure that served as the entrance arch to the Paris Universal Exhibition of 1889.

The exhibition took place in Paris and was timed to coincide with the centenary of the French Revolution. The Paris city administration turned to famous French engineers with an offer to take part in an architectural competition. At such a competition, it was necessary to find a structure that visibly demonstrates the engineering and technological achievements of the country.

Sasha Mitrakhovich 19.01.2016 13:02

On May 1, 1886, a competition for architectural and engineering projects for the future World Exhibition opened in France, in which 107 applicants took part. Various extravagant ideas were considered, including, for example, a giant guillotine, which was supposed to be reminiscent of the French Revolution of 1789.

Among the competition participants was engineer and designer Gustave Eiffel, who proposed a project that was then unprecedented in world construction - a 300-meter metal tower, the tallest structure in the world. He drew the very idea of the tower from the drawings of his company’s employees, Maurice Koechlen and Emile Nugier. Gustav Eiffel receives a joint patent for the project with them, and subsequently buys from them the exclusive right to the future Eiffel Tower.

Eiffel's project becomes one of the 4 winners and then the engineer makes final changes to it, finding a compromise between the original purely engineering design scheme and the decorative option. Thanks to the changes made by the engineer to the decorative design of the tower, the competition organizers preferred his “Iron Lady”.

In the end, the committee settled on Eiffel's plan, although the idea of the tower itself did not belong to him, but to two of his employees: Maurice Koechlen and Emile Nouguier. It was possible to assemble such a complex structure as a tower within two years only because Eiffel used special construction methods. This explains the decision of the exhibition committee in favor of this project.

In order for the tower to better meet the aesthetic tastes of the demanding Parisian public, the architect Stéphane Sauvestre proposed covering the base supports of the tower with stone, connecting its supports and the ground floor platform with the help of majestic arches, which would simultaneously become the main entrance to the exhibition, and placing spacious glazed halls, give the top of the tower a rounded shape and use a variety of decorative elements to decorate it.

In January 1887, Eiffel, the state and the municipality of Paris signed an agreement according to which Eiffel was provided with an operating lease of the tower for his personal use for a period of 25 years, and also provided for the payment of a cash subsidy in the amount of 1.5 million gold francs, amounting to 25% of all expenses for construction of a tower. On December 31, 1888, in order to attract the missing funds, a joint-stock company was created with an authorized capital of 5 million francs. Half of this amount is funds contributed by three banks, the other half is the personal funds of Eiffel himself.

The final construction budget was 7.8 million francs.

Eiffel Tower- this is the emblem of Paris and a high-altitude antenna.
There can be 10,000 people on the tower at the same time.
The project was drawn up by the architect Stéphane Sauvestre, but the tower was built by the engineer Gustave Eiffel (1823-1923), better known to the public. Other works by Eiffel: Ponte de Dona Maria Pia, Viaduct de Gharabi, iron frame for the New York Statue of Liberty.
Since the tower appeared, about 250 million people have visited it.
The weight of the metal part of the structure is 7,300 tons, and the weight of the entire tower is 10,100 tons.
In 1925, the rogue Victor Lustig managed to sell the iron structure for scrap, and he was able to pull off this trick twice!
In good weather, from the top of the tower, Paris and its surroundings can be viewed within a radius of up to 70 kilometers. It is believed that the optimal time to visit the Eiffel Tower, providing the best visibility, is an hour before sunset.
The tower also holds a sad record - about 400 people committed suicide by throwing themselves down from its upper platform. In 2009, the terrace was fenced with protective barriers and now this place is very popular with romantic couples kissing in front of the whole of Paris.

Sasha Mitrakhovich 19.01.2016 13:32

One of the most talented swindlers of the 20th century was Count Victor Lustig (1890-1947). This man spoke five languages and received an excellent upbringing. He was bold and fearless. 45 of his aliases are known, and in the United States alone he was arrested 50 times.

“As long as there are fools in the world, we can live by deception.”

There are a great many smart scammers who take advantage of not very smart fellow citizens. But to your name entered not only into crime chronicles, but also into legends - you really need to have extraordinary abilities. One of these scammers is Victor Lustig.

His exploits include both minor sins and grandiose scams. A young man from a poor Czech family presented himself as a ruined Austrian count. And he stuck to this role so skillfully that no one doubted his title. Fluency in five languages, knowledge of all the intricacies of secular and business etiquette, the ability to behave freely in society - these are the qualities thanks to which he belonged both in high society and in the gangster environment. However, in addition to his native “count” surname, the swindler used several dozen more pseudonyms for his activities. Under them, Victor went on various cruises and organized various raffles and lotteries on board the ships from those that we today habitually call “scams.”

Fair play, or the Al Capone scam

One of the legends associated with the name of Lustig was the story of his “collaboration” with Al Capone. One day, in 1926, a tall, well-dressed young man visited a famous gangster of the time. The man introduced himself as Count Victor Lustig. He asked to give him 50 thousand dollars to double this amount.

The gangster was not at all sorry to invest such an insignificant amount in a dubious enterprise, and he gave it to the count. The deadline for completing the plan is 2 months. Lustig took the money, put it in a safe deposit box in Chicago, and then went to New York. Lustig made no attempt to double the amount he left in Chicago.

Two months later he returned, took the money from the bank and went to the gangster. There he apologized, said that the plan did not work and gave the money back. To this the gangster replied: “I expected 100 thousand dollars or nothing. But... get my money back... Yes, you are an honest person! If you are in trouble, take this at least.” And he gave the count 5 thousand dollars. But these 5 thousand were the goal of Lustig’s scam!

Scrap metal, or how the Eiffel Tower was sold

But what is a “bonus” of five thousand? And the sums that Victor earned as a result of lotteries, bank fraud and not very fair poker games seemed meager to him. The soul demanded scope. So that the fraud was grandiose. Well, the proceeds, of course, should not lag behind either.

Lustig was hungry for action and the right opportunity was not long in coming. In May 1925, Victor Lustig and his friend and companion Dan Collins arrived in Paris. On the very first day of their arrival, their attention was attracted by an article in the local newspaper. It said that the famous one was in terrible condition and the city authorities were considering the option of dismantling it.

The idea for a brilliant scam was born instantly. To implement it, a luxurious room was rented in an expensive hotel and documents were made confirming that Victor Lustig is the deputy head of the Ministry of Post and Telegraph. Then invitations were sent out to the five largest metal traders. The letters contained an invitation to an important and absolutely secret meeting with the deputy general director of the department at the Crillon Hotel, at that time the most prestigious hotel in Paris.

Having met the guests in the luxurious apartments, Lustig began to give a lengthy speech about the contents Eiffel Tower costs the state a pretty penny. That it was built as a temporary structure for the World Exhibition in Paris, and now, 30 years later, it has become so dilapidated that it simply poses a threat to Paris and the city authorities are considering demolishing the tower. Therefore, a kind of tender was announced among those present to purchase the tower.

Such a proposal could not fail to arouse interest among the invitees, but Andre Poisson was especially interested in it. He was inspired not only by the obvious financial benefits of the deal, but also by the opportunity to make history. Maybe it was this vain interest that was noticed by Lustig and it was he who became the reason that after some time it was Monsieur Poisson who was assigned a confidential meeting.

During this meeting, Victor Lustig was somewhat restless. He told Poisson that he had every chance of winning the tender and for complete victory he only needed to “promote” his candidacy a little with the help of a small reward to Victor personally. Before this meeting, Monsieur Poisson had suspicions: why all meetings related to the tender take place in such a secret environment, and not in the offices of the ministry, but in a hotel room. But such extortion on the part of an official, oddly enough, dispelled Poisson’s last doubts regarding the suspicious transaction. He counted out several large bills and persuaded Lustig to take them, then wrote a check for a quarter of a million francs, received documents for the Eiffel Tower and left satisfied. When Monsieur Poisson began to suspect something was wrong, Victor Lustig had already disappeared to Vienna with a suitcase of cash received from a check he had written.

Even though Victor Lustig fell into the hands of the police more than fifty times, he always managed to get away with it. The police had to let the talented swindler go because they simply did not have enough evidence to prove his guilt. Victor Lustig was not only a talented swindler, but also a good psychologist. Most of the victims he deceived did not contact the police, not wanting to look like fools in the eyes of the public. Even Monsieur Poisson, who “bought” the Eiffel Tower for a substantial sum, was more willing to part with his money than to become the laughing stock of all of Paris and lose his reputation as an astute businessman.

The story of the Eiffel Tower became Lustig's swan song. Some time after the deal with Poisson, he returned to Paris and decided to sell the tower again to one of the tenderers. But the deceived businessman quickly saw through the scammer and reported to the police. Lustig managed to escape from the French police to the United States. But there he was caught and put on trial. American justice has also accumulated many claims against the talented swindler. In December 1935, the count was arrested. He received 15 years in prison for counterfeiting dollars, as well as 5 years for escaping from another prison just a month ago. He was transferred to the famous Alcatraz prison island near San Francisco, where he died of pneumonia in March 1947.

Sasha Mitrakhovich 19.01.2016 14:08