Previous photo Next photo

Now no one can imagine Paris without the Eiffel Tower, and most Parisians, if they did not love it, then, in any case, managed to come to terms with it. But this was not always the case - after construction, it caused strong discontent among many citizens who found it extremely awkward. Hugo and Maupassant, for example, repeatedly insisted that the tower should be removed from the streets of Paris.

Initially, the building was planned to be dismantled in 1909, 20 years after the construction - but after a stunning commercial success, the tower received an "eternal registration".

However, for most tourists, the Eiffel Tower invariably arouses admiration. Even after 120 years, it remains the most tall building in Paris and the fifth highest in all of France. Despite its majestic dimensions, its total weight does not exceed 10 thousand tons, it exerts pressure on the ground equal to the pressure of a person sitting on a chair, and if all the metal of the tower is melted into a single block, it will occupy an area of ​​25 by 5 m and will be only 6 cm in height! However, in our time, the construction of a similar structure would require three times less metal- Technology does not stand still.

France will be the only country with a 300m flagpole!

Gustave Eiffel

The most patriotic Parisian

During German occupation Hitler visited Paris and wanted to climb the Eiffel Tower. However, the Fuhrer's wish did not come true: the elevator broke down just in time, and Hitler left with nothing. After such an embarrassment, the Germans tried to fix the ill-fated lift for 4 years. In vain - the German masters could not figure out the mechanism, and the French only shrugged - there are no spare parts! However, in 1944, just a few hours after the liberation of Paris, the elevator miraculously started working and has been working without interruption to this day.

"Eiffel Brown"

It is curious that the Eiffel Tower is probably the only building in the world that has its own patented color - brown eiffel, giving the tower a bronze tint. Before that, she changed several colors - she was yellow, and red-brown, and ocher. IN Lately the tower is repainted every 7 years, and in total this procedure was carried out 19 times. About 60 tons of paint are needed for each painting (as well as about 1.5 thousand brushes and 2 hectares of protective netting), so over time the tower still continues to gain weight. And not only in weight - due to new antennas, its height is gradually increasing: today it is 324 m, and this is far from the limit.

In fact, the Eiffel Tower is not at all monochromatic, as it might seem at first. It is painted in three different shades of bronze - from the darkest at the first level to the lighter one at the third. This is done so that the tower looks more harmonious against the sky.

Everyone can buy a piece of the Eiffel Tower, and this is not about souvenirs with its image, but about the original itself - since the time of Gustave Eiffel, the Iron Lady has been owned by a private company, and its shares are traded on the stock exchange.

8 attractions in Paris that you can visit for free:

Eiffel Tower is the most famous architectural landmark Paris known as the symbol of France, erected on Mars field and named after its designer Gustaf Eiffel.

It is the most recognizable and tallest building in paris, its height together with the new antenna is 324 meters, which is roughly equivalent to a house in 81st floor!

Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 and has amazing story origin. In 1889 in paris, in memory of the centenary French Revolution, Was held world exhibition, it was thanks to the exhibition that the city authorities instructed to come up with and erect a temporary structure serving as its entrance arch.

The all-French competition of architectural and engineering projects, which were supposed to determine the architectural appearance of the future World Exhibition, has started May 1, 1886. Participated in the competition 107 applicants, most of which, to one degree or another, already repeated the tower project proposed by eiffel. So 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 version.

As a result, the committee still stops on the plan eiffel, although the very idea of ​​​​the tower did not belong to him, but to two of his employees - Maurice Koechlen And Émile Nougier. It was possible to assemble such a complex structure as a tower within two years only because eiffel applied special construction methods.

But in order for the tower to be marked by greater sophistication and meet the tastes of the demanding Parisian public, the architect Stefan Sauvestre was commissioned to work on her artistic appearance. He proposed sheathing the basement supports of the tower with stone, linking its supports and the platform of the first floor 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 various decorative elements to decorate it. .

IN January 1887 Eifel, state and municipality Paris signed an agreement under which eiffel provided for personal use operating lease of the tower 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, which amounted to 25% of all costs for the construction of the tower. The final construction budget amounted to 7.8 million francs.

300 workers during two years, two months and five days performed construction works. The drawings were extremely High Quality with exact dimensions. And already March 31, 1889, in less than 26 months after the start of digging pits, eiffel invited several more or less physically fit officials to the first ascent of 1,710 steps!

The construction was a stunning and immediate success. For six months of the exhibition see "iron lady" come over 2 million visitors.

But the opponents eiffel tower also enough, starting from the very beginning of its construction. The creative intelligentsia of Paris and France acted in such a face, they feared that the metal structure would suppress the architecture of the city, violate the unique style of the capital that had developed over the centuries, in connection with which they sent indignation and demands to the Paris City Hall to stop the construction of the tower, and after the construction of the demand 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 the color of its painting - 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

The weight of the metal structure of the tower - 7,300 tons(gross 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 the 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, approaching each other pyramidally and gradually intertwining, form a colossal pyramidal column bearing a third platform, also of a square shape; a lighthouse with a dome rises on it, above which there is a platform at a height of 300 meters. Stairs of 1792 steps and elevators lead to the tower.

Restaurant halls were built on the first platform; on the second platform there are tanks with engine oil for the elevator and a restaurant in a glass gallery. The third platform housed the astronomical and meteorological observatories and the physics office. The light of the lighthouse was visible at a distance of 10 kilometers!

According to some calculations Eiffel Tower visited more than 200,000,000 people since its construction in 1889! It is the most visited tourist attraction in the world!

The creator of the tower often spoke with humor about his offspring: “I should feel jealous of the tower. After all, she is much more famous than me.. Gilded bust Gustave Eiffel installed at the northern "leg" of the tower with a simple inscription: "Eiffel: 1832 - 1923".

Timeline of the construction of the Eiffel Tower

The world-famous symbol of France, the most famous landmark of Paris, filmed in hundreds of films, sung in verse, reproduced millions of times in souvenirs and postcards, an object of admiration and ridicule, captured in paintings and caricatures - all this is the Eiffel Tower. Caused at first a lot of controversy and mass discontent, it has become a favorite meeting place for Parisians and an integral part of the image of Paris. More than 6 million people visit the tower every year, and by popularity it ranks first in the world among paid attractions. In total, during its existence, the Eiffel Tower was visited by over a quarter of a billion people.

History of the Eiffel Tower

"There is nothing more permanent than temporary" is a common expression with with good reason applicable to the Eiffel Tower. In 1889, the World Industrial Exhibition was planned to be held in Paris, at which it was supposed to present all the latest achievements of mankind in science and technology. The year of the exhibition was not chosen by chance - France was preparing to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the storming of the Bastille.

As conceived by the organizing committee, the symbol of the exhibition was to be a building that embodies scientific and technological progress and demonstrates the achievements of the country. A competition was announced for which 107 projects were submitted. Among them were very peculiar ones, for example, a huge model of a guillotine, a sad attribute of the Great French Revolution. One of the requirements for the project was the ease of dismantling the future structure, since it was intended to be removed after the exhibition.

The winner of the competition was the French engineer and industrialist Gustave Eiffel, who presented a project for an openwork structure made of ductile iron 300 meters high. Eiffel's full partners were his employees Maurice Koechlen and Emile Nougier, who proposed the very idea of ​​a metal frame tower.

In the original version, the future construction had a too “industrial” look, and the Parisian public actively opposed the appearance of such a structure, which, in its opinion, destroyed the aesthetic appearance of Paris. The artistic processing of the project was entrusted to the architect Stefan Sauvestre, who proposed to decorate the lower supporting part of the tower in the form of arches and arrange the entrance to the exhibition under them. The supports themselves were supposed to be overlaid with stone slabs, glazed halls were built on some floors and a number of decorative elements were added.

The project was patented by Eiffel and two of his co-authors. Later, Eiffel bought out the shares of Köschelin and Nouguier and became the sole owner of the copyright.

The estimated cost of the work was 6 million francs, but in the end it rose to 7.8 million. The state and municipality could allocate only 1.5 million francs, and Eiffel undertook to find the missing funds, provided that the tower was leased to him for 20 years until dismantling. After signing the contract, Eiffel created a joint-stock company with a capital of 5 million francs, half of which was contributed by the engineer himself, half by three Paris banks.

The publication of the final draft and terms of the treaty caused a flurry of protests from the French intelligentsia. A petition was sent to the municipality, which was signed by more than three hundred artists, architects, writers and musicians, including Maupassant, Charles Gounod, Alexandre Dumas son. The tower was called "lamppost", "iron monster", "hated column", urging the authorities to prevent the appearance in Paris of a structure that would disfigure its architectural appearance for 20 years.

However, the mood changed rather quickly. The same Maupassant subsequently liked to dine in one of the tower's restaurants. When they pointed out to him the inconsistency of his behavior, he calmly replied that the Eiffel Tower was the only place in Paris from where it was not visible.

The entire structure consisted of 18,000 elements that were manufactured at the Eiffel's own machine-building plant in the town of Levallois-Perret near Paris. The weight of each part did not exceed three tons, all mounting holes and parts were carefully adjusted to make assembly as easy as possible and avoid rework. The first tiers of the tower were assembled using tower cranes, then they switched to the use of small cranes of Eiffel's own design, which moved along rails designed for elevators. The elevators themselves were supposed to be driven by hydraulic pumps.

Thanks to the unprecedented accuracy of the drawings (the error was no more than 0.1 mm.) And the filigree fitting of the parts to each other already at the factory, the pace of work was very high. 300 workers took part in the construction. Working at height was very risky, and Eiffel paid special attention to safety, so there was not a single fatal accident at the construction site.

Finally, 2 years and 2 months after the laying, Eiffel invited municipal officials to inspect the tower. The elevators weren't working yet, and the unfortunate employees had to climb a flight of 1,710 steps.

The 300-meter tower, which became the tallest building in the world, was a resounding success. During the first six months of the exhibition, about 2 million visitors visited the tower, dubbed the "iron lady" for its graceful silhouette. Income from ticket sales, postcards, etc. by the end of 1889 covered 75% of construction costs.

By the time of the planned dismantling of the tower in 1910, it became clear that it would be better to leave it in its place. It was actively used for radio and telegraph communications, in addition, the tower fell in love with the general public and became a recognizable symbol of Paris in the world. The lease was extended for 70 years, but subsequently Eiffel renounced both the contract and his copyright in favor of the state.

A number of technical breakthroughs in the field of communications are associated with the Eiffel Tower. At the beginning of the 20th century, experiments were carried out on it with a wireless telegraph, and in 1906 a permanent radio station was installed. It was she who allowed in 1914, during the battle on the Marne, to make a radio interception of a German transmission and organize a counteroffensive. In 1925, the first TV signal was broadcast from the tower, and 10 years later, permanent TV broadcasting began. Thanks to the installation of television antennas, the height of the tower increased to 324 meters.

The case of Hitler's arrival in occupied Paris in 1940 is widely known. The Fuhrer was about to climb the tower, but right before his arrival, the workers who were involved in the maintenance of the elevators put them out of action. Hitler had to limit himself to a walk at the foot of the tower. Subsequently, specialists were sent from Germany, but they failed to get the elevators working, and the German flag never flew at the top of the symbol of Paris. The elevators started working again in 1944, a few hours after the liberation of the city.

The history of the tower could have ended in the same 1944, when Hitler ordered to blow it up along with many other sights, but the commandant of Paris, Dietrich von Choltitz, did not comply with the order. Unpleasant consequences for him it didn't matter, as he immediately surrendered to the British.

"Iron Lady" of Paris

Today, the Eiffel Tower is one of the most popular places in the French capital, both among tourists and among the Parisians themselves. According to statistics the largest number tourists who come to Paris for the first time go to the Eiffel Tower. As for the inhabitants of the city, it is a common tradition among young Parisians to declare their love or make a marriage proposal on the Eiffel Tower, as if calling all of Paris to witness.

Eiffel himself, by the way, never called his brainchild the Eiffel Tower - he said "three hundred meters".

The metal structure weighs 7,300 tons and is highly durable and stable. Its deviation in a strong wind is 12 cm, at high temperatures - 18 cm. It is interesting that in working on the designs of the mounts, Eiffel was guided not only by technical calculations, but also by the work of the paleontologist Hermann von Mayer, who studied the structure of the joints of humans and animals, their ability to endure big load.

The lower floor is formed by four converging columns connected by an arched vault at a height of about 57 m. On the platform they support, there are also four columns carrying a square platform with a side of 35 m. It is located at a height of 116 m. The upper part of the tower is a powerful column on which there is a third site (276 m.). The topmost platform (1.4 X 1.4 m) is located at a height of 300 m. You can climb the tower by elevator or stairs in 1792 steps.

Between the third and fourth sites, television and radio equipment, cellular antennas, a lighthouse and a weather station are installed.

Initially, the tower was illuminated by gas lamps, of which there were 10,000. In 1900, electric lighting was installed on the tower. In 2003, the lighting system was modernized, and in 2015, LED lamps began to be used. Light bulbs (there are 20 thousand of them) are easily replaced, which allows, if necessary, to arrange multi-colored illuminations.

The color of the tower itself has changed several times. Now it has a bronze tint, specially patented specifically for the Eiffel Tower. They paint it every 7 years, spending 57 tons of paint each time. At the same time, all parts of the tower are inspected, which, if necessary, are replaced with new ones.

Souvenir shops are open for visitors of the tower in the columns of the first tier, and there is also a post office in the southern pillar. Here, in a separate room, you can see the hydraulic mechanisms that once lifted the elevators.

On the first platform there is the 58 Eiffel restaurant, a souvenir shop and a cinema center, which shows films about the construction of the Eiffel Tower. The old spiral staircase also begins here, along which it was once possible to climb to the upper tiers and to the apartments of Eiffel himself, located on the third platform. On the parapet you can read the names of 72 famous scientists, engineers and industrialists of France. In winter, there is a small skating rink on the ground floor for skate lovers.

Eiffel's apartment was his favorite place to hang out when he visited the capital. It is quite spacious, furnished in the style of the XIX century, there is even a piano. In it, the engineer repeatedly received guests of honor who came to look at the tower, including Edison. The Parisian rich offered Eiffel a lot of money for apartments, or at least for the right to spend the night in them, but he refused every time.

On the second platform is Maupassant's favorite restaurant "Jules Verne", an observation deck and a permanent souvenir shop. Here you can also see the exposition telling about the construction of the tower.

The rise to the third floor is carried out with the help of three elevators. Previously, an observatory and a meteorological laboratory were located here, but now the third platform is a magnificent observation deck with a fantastic view of Paris. In the center of the site there is a bar for those who want to admire the view of the city with a glass of wine in hand.

Now it is impossible to imagine that the Eiffel Tower was once going to be demolished. On the contrary, it is the most copied landmark in the world. In total, more than 30 copies of the tower of varying degrees of accuracy are known, how many of them, known only to local residents, in fact, no one will say.

The most talented, thoughtful and successful provocation in architecture - I can’t describe this iron lady in any other way. No, after all, she is not a madam, but a mademoiselle, graceful and slender. In short, the Eiffel Tower - la tour Eiffel!

We are with you in Paris. And, having visited, strolled along, studied the sculptures and commemorative inscriptions on Charles de Gaulle Square, slowly walked along the aristocratic Kleber Avenue to Trocadero Square. A very leisurely walk took only half an hour. And here it is, the Eiffel Tower. “Bergère ô tour Eiffel,” wrote the great French poet Guillaume Apollinaire at the beginning of the 20th century. - "Shepherdess, O Eiffel Tower!"

How to get to the Eiffel Tower

For us, traveling around the capital of France, the Eiffel Tower is located very conveniently. Firstly, as you know, it is visible from everywhere, and secondly, not only ground and underground, but also waterways. After all, she stands on the banks of the Seine.

Nearby are bus routes No. 82 - stop "Eiffel Tower" ("Tour Efel" - "Tour Eiffel") or "Champs de Mars" ("Champs de Mars"), No. 42 - stop "Eiffel Tower" , No. 87 - stop "Marsovo Pole" and No. 69 - also "Marsovo Pole".

River trams - bato-mouches (bateaux-mouches) - are moored right at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, and on the other side of the Seine, near the Alma bridge. Therefore, after you return from heaven (that is, from the tower) to earth, you can continue your acquaintance with Paris on the open deck of a fly boat that cuts through the waters of the Seine.

There are several metro stations near the big shepherd: Passy, ​​Champs de Mars - Tour Eiffel, Bir-Hakeim, which is named in honor of the battle of the French with the troops of Hitler's General Rommel in May-June 1942 in Libya. However, I highly recommend that you get to the Trocadéro station - it is in the picture above. From here is not the shortest, but the most beautiful walking path to the Eiffel Tower.

A bit of Trocadero

Arriving for the first time in Paris, I did not see any sights on the first day. But it was here, on Trocadero Square, when I stepped out onto the wide esplanade that tore apart the giant horseshoe of the Chaillot Palace, I realized: I really am in Paris! Because in all its glory and in full height the main symbol of the Parisian capital opened before me - the Eiffel tower in light lace from an iron head to stone heels.

Then it seemed to me that I came up with an original angle for photography: you need to lean slightly to the side, put your hand in the same direction, and if the photographer combines you with the tower, then the picture will turn out as if you are leaning on it (the tower). And you and her are almost the same height. Oh, how many such pictures have come across to me over the years since my "discovery"! ..

Take a bunch of photos, admire the stunning view of another architectural axis of Paris: Trocadero - Jena Bridge - Eiffel Tower - Champ de Mars - Military Academy - Place Fontenoy - Sax Avenue (not in honor of the inventor of the saxophone, but in memory of Marshal Moritz of Saxony). And another tower closes this axis - the Montparnasse tower, younger than the Eiffel one... Take your time, especially if you come here, to the esplanade, in the evening. It is especially beautiful here at sunset.

In the meantime, you can look into the Cinema Museum, the Naval Museum and the Museum of Man located in the Palace of Chaillot, and if you go a little down from the palace and take a little to the left, you will find the "Aquarium of Paris" - they say, as if with all the inhabitants of the French rivers and even with mermaids!

Well, now let's appreciate the Trocadero Park, which stretches right in front of us, with its largest fountain in Paris: among the gilded statues, tons of water escape from dozens of cascaded water cannons.

In the heat of the summer, I advise you to lie down on the emerald lawn by the fountain and refresh yourself with cool mist before throwing yourself across the Jena bridge to the Eiffel Tower.

History of the Eiffel Tower. world gate

In the meantime, we are refreshing ourselves by the fountain, let's remember where the Eiffel Tower came from.

At the end of the 19th century, a fashion appeared on our planet to hold world exhibitions and show them everything that your country invented the new and preserved the good old. In 1889, the honor of holding such an exhibition fell to France. In addition, the occasion was appropriate - the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution. How to surprise guests? The Paris City Hall decided to decorate the entrance to the exhibition with an unusual arch. A competition among French engineers was announced, in which Gustave Eiffel also took part. Here he is in the picture.

To be honest, Eiffel himself had no ideas about decorating the exhibition gates. But talented employees worked in the engineering bureau he headed. For example, Maurice Koechlin, who had a drawing of a high-rise tower lying around. It was taken, as they say, as a basis. Calling on the help of another colleague, Emile Nouguier (Émile Nouguier), polished the project to a shine. And they won the competition, eclipsing more than a hundred competitors! Among them is the one who proposed to build the gates of the exhibition in the form of a giant guillotine. What's wrong? Anniversary of the Revolution!

True, the city authorities wanted something more elegant than just a metal structure, even if it was very high-tech. And then Eiffel turned to the architect Stephen Sauvestre. He added architectural excesses to the tower project, which made it irresistible: arches, a rounded top, stone-trimmed supports ... In January 1887, the Paris City Hall and the Eiffel shook hands, and construction began.

It went on at an incredible pace even by today's times - in two years and two months the tower was ready. Moreover, it was assembled from 18,038 parts with the help of 2.5 million rivets, only 300 workers. It's all about the precise organization of labor: Eiffel made the most accurate drawings and ordered the main parts of the tower to be prepared for installation on the ground. Moreover, with drilled holes and for the most part rivets already inserted into them. And there, in the skies, high-rise assemblers had only to dock the details of this giant constructor.

The World Exhibition in Paris worked for six months. During this time, 2 million people came to look at the tower and from it to the city. Despite the protests of 300 representatives of the cultural community (including Maupassant, Dumas son, Charles Gounod), who believed that the tower was disfiguring Paris, by the end of 1889, the year the tower was born, they managed to “recapture” 75 percent of the costs of its construction. Taking into account the fact that Eiffel received another 25 percent from the city treasury already at the conclusion of the contract, the successful engineer was able to immediately move on to making money with the help of his iron brainchild. Indeed, under the same agreement with the city hall, the tower was leased to Gustave Eiffel for a quarter of a century! It is not surprising that he soon bought out from his fellow co-authors all the rights to their seemingly common idea and was even able to afford to equip an apartment on its last, third floor.

In this dwelling in seventh heaven, the Eiffel hosted the famous American inventor Thomas Edison in 1899. They say that their meeting - with coffee, cognac and cigars - lasted ten hours. But I saw with my own eyes: they are sitting there, at the very top of the tower, until now! And the maid on the sidelines froze in anticipation: what else do the gentlemen of the engineers want? But the engineers also froze in their age-old conversation. Are they waxy?

Check it out for sure! It's time to start climbing.

Now up

The tower does not know holidays and weekends, it is open to visitors every day in winter from 9.30 to 23.00, and in summer from 9.00 to 24.00.

I will warn you right away: the queue for tickets to the Eiffel Tower can be long: two or three hours (look at the photo).

It is best to come here in the evening, when the tower is beautiful not only with the pre-sunset views from it, but also with a certain decline in the tourist flow, washing all four of its pillars. By the way, they also have cash registers. After 20.00, you can spend only an hour and a half in line, or even an hour.

There is an option to order tickets online. Although on the Eiffel Tower website, tickets are usually sold out a month in advance. But then you do not have to waste precious Parisian time under the iron hem of the shepherdess of the clouds reflected in the Seine. True, you will have to pay her a visit exactly at the time indicated on the ticket. This is not an exaggeration: if you are late, they will not let you into any floor and your ticket will be cancelled.

Tickets cost the same at the box office and on the website. I ask you very much: do not buy tickets with your hands. Never and none! And in general, do not buy anything in Paris with your hands. Just roasted chestnuts.

Know and remember:

• climb on the elevator to 3rd floor The Eiffel Tower, to the very top, costs 17 euros for an adult, 14.5 euros for teenagers and youth from 12 to 24 years old, 8 euros for children from 4 to 11 years old;
• lift to the 2nd floor: adults - 11 euros, teenagers and youth from 12 to 24 years old - 8.5 euros, children from 4 to 11 years old - 4 euros;
• stairs to 2nd floor: adults - 7 euros, teenagers and youth from 12 to 24 years old - 5 euros, children from 4 to 11 years old - 3 euros. Keep in mind: when climbing stairs, you will have to climb 1674 steps. Kicks!

Prices for group visits are exactly the same, only 20 people are entitled to a free guide.

To get to the very, very top, tell the usher the word "sommet" (some), that is, "top". And if the third floor is not closed for repairs, you will go there without delay on the second floor, where you would have to buy a ticket again - now at the mark of "276 meters".

Go!

Having stood in line or having reached the deadline for your e-ticket, you enter the elevator. It will be one of two historic elevators installed in 1899 by Fives-Lill. He will take you to the second floor. And from there you will go higher on a more modern (1983) Otis elevator.

What, it would seem, can be seen on the Eiffel Tower? Not from her, but on her. Believe me, you should look not only from top to bottom, but also from side to side.

First floor of the Eiffel Tower

The Gustave Eiffel Salon was recently renovated here, and now it can accommodate from 200 participants of any conference to 300 buffet guests. Do you want to sit down? The hall accommodates 130 guests for dinner. For a private lunch (from 50 euros) or dinner (from 140 euros), you can book a table at the 58 tour Eiffel restaurant. The number in the name is not without reason - at such a height (in meters) is the institution. Its charm is also that the cost of your rise on a separate (!) Elevator is already included in the restaurant bill.

Here, on the first floor, a transparent floor appeared in 2013, so look ... Look, no matter how dizzy you are! Here you will be shown the performance “About the Universe of the Eiffel Tower” projected onto three walls by seven spotlights. Nearby there is a recreation area where you can sit down, there are shops where you can buy souvenirs. At exorbitant prices, but on the Eiffel Tower itself. And also, they say, in the winter, a skating rink is poured on the ground floor!

Second floor of the Eiffel Tower

Here, in addition to a wonderful overview of Paris, you will be offered to dine or dine at the Jules Verne restaurant (the entrance to the elevator that will take you personally to it is in the picture). The great science fiction writer and inventor, who predicted many inventions that are now familiar, is immortalized by a catering point at a height of 115 meters. The prices here, however, are also fantastic: two times higher than the floor below. Expensive? Both on the first and second floors there are buffets with "homemade sandwiches", pastries and drinks - hot and cold.

Third floor of the Eiffel Tower

And finally, the third floor will offer you to celebrate the ascent to the most high point Paris with a glass of champagne at an exorbitant price - from 12 to 21 euros per 100 grams. In addition, you can see Eiffel’s apartment through the glass (where he is still talking with Edison), look closely at the antennas that dotted the head of the iron shepherdess, and make sure that it was from here that the first radio broadcast went on the air in 1921, and in 1935 - television signal.

Another personal tip: we decided to climb the third floor of the Eiffel Tower - take warm clothes with you, even if the streets of Paris are extremely hot. At almost 300 meters high, a piercing cold wind blows. And the tower bends and creaks. Just kidding, it doesn't creak. It bends, but deviates only 15-20 centimeters at the highest point - at a height of 324 meters.

* * *

Here's what's surprising: the Mayor's Office of Paris signed an agreement with Gustave Eiffel for 20 years, and after that the tower was ordered to be dismantled. Where there! Who would allow! Everyone got used to it, fell in love with it... In 1910, Eiffel extended the lease agreement for the tower for another 70 years.

The controversy surrounding the Parisian shepherdess has long subsided, in 1923 its creator died, but she still stands and does not rust. Because it is repainted every few years, spending up to 60 tons of paint in a special “brown-eiffel” color scheme. And already a long time ago no one can imagine Paris without this windy mademoiselle.

As we flew up to the heavens and descended from the clouds to the earth, night fell. This means that we are waiting for you.

general information

Initially conceived as a temporary building, the Eiffel Tower has become a symbol of France and an object of admiration. However, the history of the creation and construction of an impressive structure was dramatic. For many Parisians, the tower evoked only negative emotions - the townspeople believed that such a tall structure would not fit into the appearance of their beloved capital or even collapse. But over time, the French appreciated the Eiffel Tower and fell in love with it. Today, thousands of people are photographed 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 witnesses, that her beloved will propose to her.

History of the Eiffel Tower

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

Construction of the Eiffel Tower, 1887-1889

It was proposed to make the structure from ductile iron, which at that time was the most progressive and economical building material. The Eiffel project was one of the four winners. Thanks to some changes made by the engineer to the decoration of the tower, the organizers of the competition gave preference to his "Iron Lady".

Stefan Sauvestre was involved in the development of the artistic appearance of the Eiffel Tower. To give the cast-iron construction more sophistication, the architect suggested adding arches between the ground floor piers. They symbolized the entrance to the exhibition and made the building more elegant. In addition, Sauvestre planned to place spacious glazed halls on different floors of the building, and slightly round the top of the tower.

The construction of the tower required 7.8 million francs, but the state allocated only one and a half million to the 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 Paris City Hall and the 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 the installation of 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, high cranes were used to lift parts. Then, when the tower became taller than them, Eiffel used small mobile cranes specially designed by him, moving along elevator rails. Two years, two months and five days later, 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 exposition alone, more than two million people came to admire the new attraction. 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 highest lamppost", "bell tower grill", "iron monster" and other unflattering and sometimes offensive epithets.

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

Hitler in front of the Eiffel Tower

By the end of the lease, it became clear that the dismantling of the tower could be avoided - by that time it was actively used for telephone and telegraph communications, as well as for radio stations. Gustave was able to convince the government and the generals of the country that in the event of war, the Eiffel Tower would be indispensable as a radio transmitter. In early 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-working elevators, the aggressors were unable to set their flag on the iron Frenchwoman. The Germans even called their specialists from Germany to repair the elevators, but they could not get them to work.

Gustave Eiffel

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

The designer, who at first used his building 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 the "300-meter tower", not assuming 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 attraction in the world.

Replicas of the Eiffel Tower can be found in more than 30 cities: Tokyo, Berlin, Las Vegas, Prague, Hangzhou, London, Sydney, Alma-Ata, 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 there is a square platform of the first floor with sides of 65 meters. From this lower platform, the next four supports rise, forming another arch at a height of 116 meters. Here is the platform of the second floor, - the square is half the size of the first. Supports, shot up from the second platform, gradually connecting, form a giant column 190 meters high. On this colossal rod, at a height 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 crowned 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 facility has cell towers, 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 pillar of the structure, and a post office in the southern column. There is also a snack bar on the ground level. There is also an entrance to the premises where you can see the obsolete 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 happy to meet Gus, the mascot of the tower 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 is the Jules Verne restaurant and another gift 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 poured 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 site of the third floor can be simultaneously 800 people. Previously, on the upper platform were the observatory and the office of Eiffel himself.

You can climb to the top of the structure by elevator or stairs, consisting of 1792 steps. The Eiffel Tower is served by 3 elevators, but they never operate at the same time due to safety reasons and due to the 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 "brown-eiffel". Cosmetic repairs of the Eiffel Tower are carried out every 7 years, this process takes a year and a half. Before applying fresh paint, the old layer is removed with steam under high pressure. Then the whole structure is carefully inspected, unusable parts are replaced with new ones. After that, 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 tones of bronze - from dark at the base of the structure to lighter at the very top. This method of painting is used to make the building look harmonious against the sky. Interestingly, even today the 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 brainchild in such a way that he is not afraid of storms - during the strongest wind, the tower deviates from its axis by a maximum of 12 centimeters. The iron structure is much more susceptible to the sun - iron elements expand so much from heating that top part towers sometimes deviate sideways up to 20 centimeters.

Visitors first saw the tower illuminated in 1889, on the opening day of the World Industrial Exhibition. The construction was illuminated by 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 grandiose advertisement on the structure - with the help of 125,000 light bulbs, images of the tower, zodiac constellations and products of the famous French automobile concern appeared on it. 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 presidency of the EU, the structure was lit up in blue, representing the flag of Europe. Today, the lighting of the tower is golden. It turns on for 10 minutes, at the beginning of every hour, at dark time days.

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

Views from the Eiffel Tower

• The Eiffel Tower is the emblem of Paris and a high-altitude antenna.
• At the same time, 10,000 people can be on the tower.
• The project was made by the architect Stephan Sauvestre, but the engineer Gustave Eiffel (1823-1923), better known to the public, built the tower. Other works by Eiffel: Ponte de Dona Maria Pia, viaduct de Garabi, iron frame for New York's Statue of Liberty.
• Since its inception, the tower has been visited by about 250 million people.
• The mass 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 all of Paris.

Field of Mars Paris Statue of Liberty and Eiffel Tower

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

Bus numbers to the tower: 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; the rise to the 3rd floor (top) is carried out until 23.00; stairs to the 2nd floor close at 00.00; the entire tower is available until 00.45.

From September 2 to June 14, the Eiffel Tower receives visitors from 09.30. The elevator to the 2nd floor is open until 23.00; an 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 spring and Easter holidays, access to the tower is open until midnight.

Sometimes the ascent to the top of the tower is temporarily suspended - due to dangerous weather conditions or too a large number visitors on it.

Prices for entrance tickets. 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). Lift 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 handicapped can go up to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower using the 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 a 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 with 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 late for more than half an hour are not allowed to go sightseeing, tickets in this case will be canceled. You need to worry about pre-purchasing tickets as early as possible, since their sale for a specific day starts 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.

In the Jules Verne restaurant, you need to book a table several months in advance, the average check for lunch at an altitude of 175 meters is 300 €.