Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is the emblem of Paris and of France itself, a 330-metre iron lattice built for the 1889 World's Fair and once the tallest structure on earth. Climbed by stairs or ridden by lift to its three levels, it gives the definitive panorama over the city, and every hour after dark it sparkles with thousands of lights.

History

The design is credited to Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier, senior engineers of Gustave Eiffel's company, who sketched a great pylon of four lattice girders in May 1884 as a centrepiece for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, marking the centenary of the French Revolution; the architect Stephen Sauvestre added the arches at the base and other decoration, and Eiffel bought the rights to their patent. He presented the plans on 30 March 1885, the competition terms of 1886 called for a 300-metre metal tower on the Champ de Mars, and on 8 January 1887 he signed a contract that gave him 1.5 million francs, less than a quarter of the estimated cost, and the income from the tower during the fair and for the next twenty years. Built by his company from 1887 to 1889, it was criticised at first by leading artists and intellectuals, became a monument historique in 1964 and part of the Paris, Banks of the Seine World Heritage Site in 1991 (Wikipedia, Eiffel Tower).

The main sights

• The summit view - the panorama over Paris from the top level.
• The tower itself - the intricate iron lattice up close and from the Champ de Mars.
• The hourly sparkle - the light show that twinkles on the hour after dark.
• Trocadero and the Champ de Mars - the classic viewpoints of the whole tower.

When to go

Year-round; a clear day for the summit view, and dusk to catch the sunset and the sparkle. Book a timed ticket ahead to skip the long queues, and consider the stairs to the second level.

Things to know

It is one of the busiest attractions in the world, so queues and security are long without a booked ticket, and the summit lift especially. The Trocadero view of the whole tower is free and, for many, the better photo. Beware pickpockets and persistent sellers around it.

Nearby

The Trocadero, the Seine boat tours and the Champ de Mars are alongside; the Musee du quai Branly is nearby.

Key facts