The antennas of the Eiffel Tower | Unsplash: Vladislav Glukhotko Temporary Structure
Originally, the Eiffel Tower was planned as a temporary structure that was to be dismantled after the World Fair of 1889. To keep the attraction, a radio antenna was erected on the Eiffel Tower. The plan worked, as the city's representatives recognized its use as a radio tower and decided not to demolish the Eiffel Tower.
The Eiffel Tower can be seen from everywhere in Paris | Unsplash: Isaiah B Critical Artists and Parisians
Today, the Eiffel Tower is considered a landmark of Paris. Previously, the iron lady was unfortunately not very popular. Intellectuals like Emile Zola referred to the Eiffel Tower as big perforated giraffe. The writer Guy de Maupassant even went so far as to dine daily on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower to avoid having to look at it.
The French wanted the tallest building
The tender for the building for the World Fair of 1889 demanded that the tower be at least 300m (984.25 ft) high. At the time, the Washington Monument at 169m (554,46 ft) was the tallest building, which was to be far surpassed.
Changing Heights
The Eiffel Tower was 300.51m (985.93 ft) high at its opening. Including the lantern and flagpole, it even reached a height of 312.27m (1024.51 ft). Over the years, additional antennas were added; thus, the tower varied in height again and again. An even longer antenna was last installed in March 2022 - the height of the Eiffel Tower today is therefore exactly 330m (1082.68 ft).
Growth in Heat
Due to the expansion of the metal in heat, the Eiffel Tower can grow up to 15cm (0.49 ft or 5.9 in) in height on a warm day.
Wind Resistance
The Eiffel Tower is constructed to withstand strong winds. Thanks to its flexible structure, it can even bend up to 12cm (0,065 ft or 4.72 in) when it blows hard.
Color Changes and Manual Labor in Painting
The Eiffel Tower has been repainted several times since its construction. It was originally red-brown, then yellow and red, before finally receiving its characteristic bronze color that it wears today. If you look closely, you can see that it is a bit darker on top than at the bottom. The Eiffel Tower is mostly painted by hand. It is repainted every seven years by 50 painters. On average, about 60 tons of paint are applied to the structure. In 2024, the Eiffel Tower received a golden coat of paint - as a symbol for the Olympic Games that year in Paris.
Hidden Apartment
Gustave Eiffel had a private apartment in the Eiffel Tower, which he used for guests and himself. This apartment is no longer accessible to the public today, but a reproduction of its furnishings can still be seen in the tower.
Role as a Research Laboratory
In the early years, the Eiffel Tower served as a laboratory for various scientific experiments, particularly for the exploration of radio technology.
The Eiffel Tower as Advertising Space
From July 4, 1925, Citroen used the Eiffel Tower as advertising space. The advertisement could still be seen from 40km (24,85 miles) away. At that time, 250,000 light bulbs formed the “Citroen” lettering. After 1934, the tower never served as advertising space again. An interesting fact is that the American pilot Charles Augustus Lindbergh Junior used the illuminated Eiffel Tower as a guide during the first solo non-stop transatlantic flight from New York to Paris.
72 Names
Gustave Eiffel had the names of 72 famous personalities engraved into the border of the tower's first floor. But how did he choose them, and why did he place them there?
The first floor of the tower is surrounded by a large continuous beam, which is interrupted by brackets carrying the balcony. In the spaces thus created, Gustave Eiffel had the names of scholars inscribed in golden, 60cm (1.97 ft) high uppercase letters under the patronage of science and progress as part of the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution.
However, these names were covered over the decades and were only made visible again during restoration measures. The names belong to scholars, scientists, and mathematicians who contributed to the successful construction of the tower and who were active as researchers.
Viewpoint | Unsplash: JOHN TOWNER No photos of the Eiffel Tower at night allowed
After nightfall, a light show takes place every hour. It is officially forbidden to post photos or videos of the Eiffel Tower at night. The light show of the 20,000 LEDs is actually a work of art and protected by copyright. Therefore, taking and sharing photos is only okay if it is for personal memories, but they must not be used for commercial purposes under any circumstances.
Wedding | Unsplash: Norbu GYACHUNG Will you marry me?
In the Jules Verne restaurant, an average of two marriage proposals are made every day. A marriage proposal might feel very special to you, but considering that about 700 couples get engaged at the Eiffel Tower every year, a proposal at the Eiffel Tower is somewhat basic.
View
From the very top you have a view of up to 80km (49,7 miles) in good weather conditions. This allows you to even see the outskirts of Paris, the landscape beyond the suburbs, the
Charles de Gaulle Airport, or clearly the
Parc des Princes (Paris Saint-Germain stadium) (Parc des Princes), the sporting home of Paris Saint-Germain football club.
Extreme Sports
Since its construction, the Eiffel Tower has fascinated extreme sports enthusiasts. Franz Reichelt, for example, jumped off the Eiffel Tower in 1912 with a homemade parachute. Unfortunately, he did not survive the jump. In 1991, a pilot, who remains unknown to this day, flew a stolen airplane through the Eiffel Tower and then returned the plane to another airfield. Climbers regularly scale the Eiffel Tower with their bare hands. Of course, Red Bull has also organised a sports event at the Eiffel Tower. Taïg Khris jumped from the first floor on inline skates and thereby secured a record in the Guinness Book of Records.
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