Eiffel Tower in Paris

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EIFFEL TOWER

Eiffel Tower in Paris

How many man-made structures are more easily recognizable than the majestic Eiffel Tower? Just a few, of course. Actually after its completion in 1889, the tower created a good deal of controversy among French scholars and intellectuals, alarmed by how it might affect the beauty of Paris. They thought the monstrous and useless tower would threaten the elegant French culture and art. Whether the Eiffel Tower is really useless or not, it is definitely among the most loved and best known structures in the world and for decades it has been synonymous with French culture, despite what those concerned French scholars had to say.

Yes, this skeletal structure is indeed a great architectural wonder. Named after its architect Gustave Eiffel, it's still the tallest structure in Paris.

MAIN FEATURES :

The Eiffel Tower isn't only a stunning structure to behold; its concept and design still intrigues engineers to this day. Weighing around 10,000 tons, (including its non-metal components), it actually contracts and expands with the temperature. The height difference may reach 7 inches between the hottest summer days and the coldest winter nights; in windy days, it sways up to three inches.

Constructed on the Champ de Mars alongside the Seine in two years, two months, and five days, some 200 millions people have visited the impressive structure after its construction and its appeal for visitors hasn't diminished a bit. Modern-day touches also now include aesthetical illumination at night, a beautiful spectacle which now needs almost 8 million kWh annually. The Parisian skyline, particularly at night, is now really unthinkable without it.

The tower hosts an ice skating rink in the winter. There are also a couple of restaurants in it; on the first floor is ‘Altitude 95’ while ‘Jules Verne’, an insanely expensive restaurant is located on the second floor. Other interesting things to know about the must-see monument are; it stands 324 meters tall and held together with 2.5 millions rivets and 18,000 iron parts; it has dozens of antennas including a TV mast that is 80 feet high. The tower gets painted every seven years - with three shades of brown (the lightest one at the top).

Some vital information for visitors::

- Operating hours:

The Eifel Tower is open all the year long from 9:00 AM to midnight (Jun 18 - Aug 28) and from 9:30 AM to 11:00 PM (Jan 1 - Aug 29 and Sep 1 - Dec 31)

The stairs up to the 1st and 2nd floor are closed earlier than the main lifts.

- Ticket price : from €4.5 (stair entrance); €8.50 (elevator entrance to second floor); €13.00 (elevator entrance to top floor)

Other article on Eiffel Tower:

- The Eiffer Towel from Gustave Eiffel