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 as an 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 and construction solutions and the use of 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” is another name entrance arch, when it was not yet 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, the total weight, including concrete base, – 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 which the great view to all 4 sides of Paris. 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 Parade Ground Military school the idea of a public park came to the mind of the architect and gardener Jean Camille Formiget only in 1908. It took 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 “lady” is built into each “leg” hydraulic device, allowing “Madame” 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!” 
An interesting fact: his own signature on this appeal, however, did not 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 replacement gas lamps electric, the beacon 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 structure 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 smaller 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. Owned by the operator cellular communications and is a real working cell 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 time 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!
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 in decorative design towers, 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 TowerAll 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. Weight individual elements 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 moving on 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 backgroundBy 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 EiffelWith 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 houses cellular communication towers, as well as a unique weather station that records data on atmospheric pollution and background radiation.
At the foot of the Eiffel TowerAt 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. Actually top floor Those interested 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 security reasons and due to constant technical maintenance designs.
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 by 10,000 gas lamps, two large searchlights and a lighthouse, whose blue, white and red rays symbolized the country's national colors. 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 light bulbs The towers were replaced with LED ones in order 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 optimal time to visit the Eiffel Tower, which provides the best visibility - 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.
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 €.
Together with TV antenna height of the Eiffel Tower- 320 m, Eiffel Tower weight- 7000 tons, and the entire structure consists of 15 thousand metal parts. The entire mass rests on a foundation extending to a depth of 7 m, and on four colossal pylons, secured by huge cement blocks.
Weight metal structure— 7,300 tons ( total weight 10,100 tons). Today, three towers could be built from this metal at once. The foundation is made of concrete masses. The vibrations of the tower during storms do not exceed 15 cm.
The tower is divided into three levels:
- on the first floor, at an altitude of 57 m, there is a bar and a restaurant
- on the second, at an altitude of 115 m, there is another bar and restaurant
- the third is located at an altitude of 274 m
- the last level is 300 m high and contains television equipment and antennas.
You can take the elevator or walk (1,652 steps) to the top, which offers a magnificent view of the entire city.
Sasha Mitrakhovich 19.01.2016 12:21
Throughout its history, it has repeatedly changed its paint color - from yellow to red-brown. In recent decades, the Eiffel Tower has been invariably painted in the so-called “Eiffel brown” - an officially patented color close to the natural shade of bronze.
The Iron Lady resists the ravages of time thanks to 57 tons of paint, which must be renewed every 7 years.
Sasha Mitrakhovich 19.01.2016 12:24
Weight - 7,300 tons (total weight 10,100 tons). Today, three towers could be built from this metal at once. The foundation is made of concrete masses. The vibrations of the Eiffel Tower during storms do not exceed 15 cm.
The lower floor is a pyramid (129.2 m each side at the base), formed by 4 columns connected at a height of 57.63 m by an arched vault; on the vault is the first platform Eiffel Tower. The platform is a square (65 m across).
On this platform rises a second pyramid-tower, also formed by 4 columns connected by a vault, on which there is (at a height of 115.73 m) a second platform (a square 30 m in diameter).
Four columns rising on the second platform come closer together like a pyramid and, gradually intertwining, form a colossal pyramidal column (190 m), carrying the third platform (at an altitude of 276.13 m), also square shape(16.5 m across); there is a lighthouse with a dome on it, above which at an altitude of 300 m there is a platform (1.4 m in diameter).
On Eiffel Tower There are stairs (1792 steps) and elevators.
Restaurant halls were erected on the first platform; on the second platform there were tanks with machine oil for the hydraulic lifting machine (elevator) and a restaurant in a glass gallery. The third platform housed astronomical and meteorological observatories and physical office. The light of the lighthouse was visible at a distance of 10 km.
The erected tower was stunning with its bold design. Eiffel was severely criticized for the project and at the same time accused of trying to create something artistic and not artistic.
Together with his engineers - specialists in bridge construction, Eiffel was engaged in calculating the strength of the wind, well aware that if they build the most tall building in the world, you must first of all make sure that it is resistant to wind loads.
The original agreement with Eiffel was for the tower to be dismantled 20 years after construction. As you might guess, it was never implemented, and moreover, the lease was extended for another 70 years. The story of the Eiffel Tower continues.
Sasha Mitrakhovich 19.01.2016 12:32
Under the first balcony, on all four sides of the parapet, the names of 72 outstanding French scientists and engineers, as well as those who made a special contribution to the creation of Gustav Eiffel, are engraved.
These inscriptions appeared at the beginning of the 20th century and were restored in 1986-1987 by the Société Nouvelle d’exploitation de la Tour Eiffel company, hired by the mayor’s office to operate the Eiffel Tower.
The tower itself is today the property of the city of Paris.
Sasha Mitrakhovich 19.01.2016 12:36
Sasha Mitrakhovich 19.01.2016 12:42
In total, four levels can be distinguished: lower (ground), 1st floor (57 meters), 2nd floor (115 meters) and 3rd floor (276 meters). Each of them is remarkable in its own way.
On the lower level there are ticket offices where you can purchase tickets for Eiffel Tower, an information stand where you can pick up useful brochures and booklets, as well as 4 souvenir shops - one in each column of the tower. In addition, in the southern column there is a post office, so you can send a postcard to your family and friends right from the foot of the famous building. Also, before starting to conquer the Eiffel Tower, you have the option of having a snack at the buffet located right there. From the lower level you can enter the offices where old hydraulic machines are installed, which in the past raised elevators to the top of the tower. They can only be admired as part of excursion groups.
The 1st floor, which can be reached on foot if desired, will delight tourists with another souvenir shop and the 58 Tour Eiffel restaurant. However, in addition to this, there is a preserved fragment of a spiral staircase, which at one time led from the second floor to the third, and at the same time to Eiffel’s office. You can learn a lot about the tower by going to the Cineiffel center, where animation dedicated to the history of the structure is shown. Children will certainly be interested in meeting Gus, the hand-drawn mascot of the Eiffel Tower and the character of a special children's guide book. Also on the 1st floor you can admire posters, photographs, and all kinds of illustrations from different times dedicated to the “Iron Lady.”
On the 2nd floor, the first thing that attracts attention is the general panorama of Paris, opening from a 115-meter height. Here you can replenish your supplies of souvenirs, find out a lot of new things about the history of the tower at special stands, and at the same time order yourself a delicious lunch at the Jules Verne restaurant. The Eiffel Tower of restaurants, admiring the view of Paris - this is what many people dream of, so once you get to the top Do not deny yourself the pleasure of visiting a restaurant on the Eiffel Tower. In total, the tower houses two excellent restaurants, a bar and several buffets.
58 Tour Eiffel
Opened recently on the 1st level of the Eiffel Tower, the 58 Tour Eiffel restaurant offers its visitors both light lunches and classic dinners, which can be enjoyed in a cozy and friendly atmosphere of the restaurant, looking at Paris from a height of 57 meters. It's not a very fancy place, but it's a very nice place. You can book your two-course meal and lift ticket using the link below.
Le Jules Verne
The restaurant on the 2nd floor of the tower, named after the famous writer, is an excellent example of modern and refined French cuisine. Lots of delicacies and unique dishes combined with designer interior and impeccable ambience - all this turns an ordinary lunch at Jules Vernet into a real feast of taste.
Champagne Bar
The “Champagne Bar”, located at the top of the Eiffel Tower, and drinking a glass of sparkling drink there is a kind of logical conclusion to the ascent to the main one. You can choose pink or white champagne, which cost between 10-15 euros per glass.
Sasha Mitrakhovich 19.01.2016 14:22
Eiffel Tower- this is the most famous architectural landmark Paris, known as the symbol of France, erected on Field of Mars and named after its designer Gustapha Eiffel.
It is the most recognizable and tallest building in Paris, its height together with the new antenna is 324 meters, which is approximately equal to a house in 81st floor!
Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 and has amazing story origin. In 1889 V Paris, in memory of the centenary French Revolution, Was held World's Fair, it was thanks to the exhibition that the city authorities commissioned the creation and erection of a temporary structure to serve as its entrance arch.
Pan-French competition of architectural and engineering projects, which were supposed to determine the architectural appearance of the future World Exhibition, started May 1, 1886. Participated in the competition 107 applicants, most of which, to one degree or another, have already repeated the tower design proposed Eiffel. Thus the project Eiffel becomes one of the four winners, and then the engineer makes final changes to it, finding a compromise between the original purely engineering design scheme and the decorative option.
As a result, the committee still settles on a plan Eiffel, 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.
But in order for the tower to be more refined and meet the tastes of the demanding Parisian public, the architect Stefan Sauvestre was commissioned to work on its artistic appearance. He 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, placing spacious glazed halls on the floors of the tower, giving the top of the tower a rounded shape and using a variety of decorative elements to decorate it.
IN January 1887 Eifel, state and municipality Paris signed an agreement according to which Eiffel an operating lease of the tower for a period of 25 years was provided for personal use, and a cash subsidy in the amount of 1.5 million gold francs was also provided, amounting to 25% of all costs for the construction of the tower. The final construction budget was 7.8 million francs.
300 workers during two years, two months and five days carried out construction works. The record-breaking construction time was greatly facilitated by the drawings. High Quality indicating the exact dimensions. And already March 31, 1889, less than in 26 months after the start of digging pits, Eiffel invited several more or less physically fit officials to the first ascent to 1,710 steps!
The structure was a stunning and immediate success. For six months of the exhibition, see "iron lady" came more 2 million visitors.
But also opponents Eiffel Tower there was also enough, starting from the very beginning of its construction. The creative intelligentsia of Paris and France spoke in this guise; they feared that the metal structure would suppress the architecture of the city, violate the unique style of the capital, which had developed over the centuries, and therefore sent indignation and demands to the Paris mayor's office to stop the construction of the tower, and after construction, demands dismantling. But from the demolition planned under the contract, 20 years after the exhibition, the tower was saved by radio antennas installed at the very top - this was the era of the introduction of radio!
Throughout its history, the tower has repeatedly changed its paint color - from yellow to red-brown. Recent decades Eiffel Tower invariably painted in the so-called "brown-eiffel"- officially patented color, close to the natural shade of bronze
Weight of the metal tower structure - 7,300 tons(total weight 10,100 tons).
The lower floor is a pyramid formed by 4 columns connected at a height of 57.63 meters by an arched vault; on the vault is the first platform Eiffel Tower, which is a square.
On this platform rises a second pyramid-tower, also formed by 4 columns connected by a vault on which the second platform is located.
Four columns rising on the second platform, pyramidally approaching and gradually intertwining, form a colossal pyramidal column carrying a third platform, also square in shape; There is a lighthouse with a dome on it, above which there is a platform at an altitude of 300 meters. There are 1,792 steps and elevators leading to the tower.
Restaurant halls were erected on the first platform; on the second platform there are tanks with machine oil for the elevator and a restaurant in a glass gallery. The third platform housed the astronomical and meteorological observatories and the physics room. The light of the lighthouse was visible at a distance of 10 kilometers!
According to some estimates Eiffel Tower have already visited more than 200,000,000 people since its construction in 1889! It is the most visited tourist monument in the world!
The creator of the tower often spoke humorously about his brainchild: “I should feel jealous of the tower. After all, she is much more famous than me.". Gilt bust Gustave Eiffel installed at the northern "leg" of the tower with a simple inscription: "Eiffel: 1832 - 1923".
Chronology of the construction of the Eiffel Tower
The magnificent Eiffel Tower, also known as " The Iron Lady» France is often called one of the wonders of the world. Millions of tourists flock to Paris to spend unforgettable moments looking at this artificial beauty. What is the Eiffel Tower for Parisians? Exactly this high building in France - located near the Seine River. How tall do you think the Eiffel Tower is?
What is the height of the Eiffel Tower?
It can be seen from almost anywhere in Paris. And this is just one of the many charms of this tower. No one will allow themselves not to visit the Eiffel Tower when traveling to Paris. Eiffel simply called it a 300-meter tower. Initially, the "Iron Lady" of France rose 300.65 m above ground level. Today its height together with the new antenna is 324 meters. It's about 81 floors. And twice as tall as the dome of St. Peter's Church in Rome and the Pyramid of Giza in Egypt.
Why was the Eiffel Tower built?
The massive tower was built in memory of the French Revolution by a French engineer whose name was Alexandre Gustave Eiffel. The French authorities decided to organize a world exhibition and turned to the famous engineer with a request to make a corresponding proposal. At first, Eiffel was a little puzzled, but then, rummaging through his papers, he submitted drawings of a massive structure.
History of creation. In what year was the Eiffel Tower built?
Eiffel began building this architectural landmark of Paris on January 26, 1897. 2 years, 2 months and 5 days passed - and it happened, the tower was completed and opened for public viewing on March 31, 1889, and for visits by citizens and visitors - from May 6.
Gustave developed a never-before-seen project, 300 meters high, consisting of massive forged gratings. The base of the tower consists of four semicircular arcs. The Eiffel Tower is made of pure iron. Gustave Eiffel designed the tower in such a way that its worn parts could be easily replaced. It is interesting to note that a serious storm in 1999 in Paris left behind many damaged monuments, but did not cause any damage to this miracle tower. This masterpiece of engineering required 50 engineers, 5,300 drawings and 121 builders to construct.
Eiffel Tower, Interesting Facts, short description
The attitude of Parisians towards the tower was twofold - on the one hand, the structure was a stunning and immediate success. During the six months of the exhibition, more than 2 million city residents came to see the “Iron Lady” of Paris. But from the very beginning of construction, the creative intelligentsia of France was outraged by the engineer’s daring project, and sent indignant messages to the Paris mayor’s office demanding that the construction of the tower be abandoned. Writers and artists claimed that this was a "factory chimney""useless and monstrous" and that they do not want to "look at the disgusting shadow of the hated column of iron and screws." Several anecdotes have reached us from that time. For example, about Guy de Maupassant, who, despite the fact that the tower was his was not to his liking, he often dined at her restaurant. When asked why he did this, the writer replied: “This is the only place in all of vast Paris from where she is not visible.”
According to the original agreement, the tower was to be dismantled within 20 years from the date of construction. But the “iron lady” was saved from destruction - General Ferrier, fascinated by the possibilities of wireless telegraphy, used the tower for his experiments. And the building was left first for military purposes, and later in 1906 the first radio station was located here. Since 1922, a radio program began to be constantly broadcast, which was called “Eiffel Tower”. The transmission of regular television programs began in 1935. And since 1957, the tower has housed TV antenna, increasing the original height of the building.
The modern Eiffel Tower is a 108-story architectural miracle, where there are two large restaurants - the very expensive Jules Verne, awarded one Michelin star (according to the restaurant rating - a very good restaurant), and the simpler Le Tour Eiffel with traditional French kitchen (about 65 euros per person for a modest dinner). Big windows The restaurant overlooks Trocadéro Square. Both the first and second restaurant are one of the most romantic places in the world. This is the dream of many lovers - to spend one unforgettable evening under the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, however, you need to reserve a table in restaurants at least a month and two weeks in advance.
