Were you aware that taking pictures of the Eiffel Tower after dark is illegal?
The Eiffel Tower is one of the most well-known architectural wonders in the world.
It has become an emblem of France and attracts millions of visitors to Paris each year.
Have you ever wondered why this towering structure was built? Or who designed it?
Here are 12 fascinating facts about the Eiffel Tower that will leave you spellbound by its captivating history.
It held the record for the tallest man-made structure for 41 years.
The Eiffel Tower stands tall at an impressive height of 1,024 feet (312 meters).
Constructed on March 31, 1889, the Eiffel Tower became the world’s tallest man-made structure at the time.
It was only 41 years later when the Chrysler Building in New York was built and surpassed the height of the Eiffel Tower.
An antenna was added to the Eiffel Tower which extended its height to 1,063 feet (324 meters), regaining its title as the tallest man-made structure.
Other buildings were soon built in the United States, pushing the Eiffel Tower to second place.
Despite this, the Eiffel Tower remained the tallest structure in France until 1973.
This was when a military transmitter was built, exceeding the height of the Eiffel Tower.
As of 2021, the Eiffel Tower remains one of the largest structures in France, second only to military transmitters and a viaduct.
There is a hidden apartment inside the tower!
On the third floor of the Eiffel Tower, there is a secret apartment.
Although Gustave Eiffel did not design the tower, he had a say in its features.
One of the features was his own private apartment inside the tower, complete with a living room, bathroom, kitchen, and separate toilet.
He used it to entertain guests such as Thomas Edison, and wealthy Parisians often approached him to rent the apartment.
The apartment is now open to the public as a museum room, featuring wax figures of Gustave Eiffel and Thomas Edison.
The Eiffel Tower was only intended to stand for 20 years.
The Eiffel Tower was built by Eiffel to commemorate 100 years since the French Revolution.
It was erected for the Exposition Universelle, also known as the world fair.
The tower was meant to be dismantled after 20 years, once people had lost interest, but it remained standing.
There was a lot of scientific interest in the tower for its height and its potential as a transmitting tower.
As a result, the tower remained and became a crucial element in radio transmission.
The first public radio program was broadcast from the Eiffel Tower in 1925.
There used to be a post office on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower.
On the first floor of the Eiffel Tower, there used to be a small post office.
Regrettably, the option to send postcards and letters from the Eiffel Tower no longer exists. In the past, visitors could post their correspondence from this iconic landmark to loved ones back home, complete with a special Eiffel Tower stamp. Additionally, the first-ever French illustrated postcard of the Eiffel Tower was printed and sent from a post box on-site.
Interestingly, the Eiffel Tower has undergone many paint color changes over the years to keep up with Parisian fashion trends. It was originally a red/brown color when it first opened in 1889, followed by a yellow/brown coat of paint ten years later. The tower was then painted chestnut brown before being coated with a paint specially mixed in 1968 known as Eiffel Tower Brown. It is repainted every seven years, using around 60 tons (61099 liters) of paint each time.
Beneath the south pillar of the Eiffel Tower lies an old military bunker, which is said to have a secret tunnel connecting it to the Ecole Militaire in Paris. While the bunker remains somewhat mysterious to the public, it is open to small groups for pre-booked tours. Part of it has been turned into a museum featuring unique photographs of the Eiffel Tower’s early stages of construction.
The Eiffel Tower is made of iron, so it is affected by changes in temperature. In cold weather, the iron can shrink by up to 6 inches (15 centimeters), causing the tower to become slightly smaller. Conversely, during hot weather, the heat causes the iron to expand, with records showing up to a 7-inch (18 centimeter) expansion in the past. The tower was designed with a hollow structure to withstand wind, but it can still move up to 1-3 inches (2.5-7.6 centimeters) from side to side during high winds or on hot days when the iron has become more flexible.
Despite being an iconic symbol of Paris, the Eiffel Tower served as a billboard for the French car manufacturer Citroën from 1925 to 1936. The tower was illuminated with 250,000 light bulbs spelling out “Citroën,” with each letter of the brand spanning 100 feet (30.5 meters) and illuminated from top to bottom. The advertisement was so bright that it could be seen from 20 miles (32 kilometers) away.
Charles Lindbergh used the bright lights as a beacon for landing after his solo flight across the Atlantic in 1927. During World War II, the Nazis attempted to take over the Eiffel Tower by attaching a large Swastika flag to the top, but it immediately flew off and was replaced with a smaller flag. The tower is held together by 2,500,000 rivets, and weighs a total of 10,100 tons. The Eiffel Tower is one of the most visited monuments in the world, with around 7 million visitors each year, 75% of which are foreigners. However, taking photos of the tower at night is illegal due to copyright law. Despite not being intended as a long-term attraction, the Eiffel Tower has become an iconic landmark of France and a top tourist destination.
FAQ
1. What is the Eiffel Tower?
The Eiffel Tower is a world-famous landmark located in Paris, France. It was built in 1889 for the Exposition Universelle (World’s Fair) and was initially intended to be a temporary structure. However, it has since become an iconic symbol of Paris and a popular tourist attraction, receiving over 7 million visitors each year.
2. How tall is the Eiffel Tower?
The Eiffel Tower stands at a height of 324 meters (1,063 feet), making it the tallest structure in Paris. It held the title of the tallest man-made structure in the world until the completion of the Chrysler Building in New York City in 1930.
3. How long did it take to build the Eiffel Tower?
The construction of the Eiffel Tower took just over two years, from 1887 to 1889. It was designed by Gustave Eiffel and his team of engineers, who worked tirelessly to ensure its completion before the opening of the World’s Fair.
4. How much did it cost to build the Eiffel Tower?
The cost of building the Eiffel Tower was 7,799,401.31 French francs, which is roughly equivalent to 1.5 million US dollars today. It was a significant investment for the French government at the time, but it has since become a valuable source of revenue through tourism.
5. Is it possible to climb the Eiffel Tower?
Yes, visitors can climb the Eiffel Tower on foot or take the elevator. The tower has three levels, with the first two accessible by both stairs and elevator. The third level can only be reached by elevator and offers breathtaking views of Paris.
Zayn Anderson is a prolific writer with a passion for uncovering the world’s intriguing facts. Armed with an insatiable curiosity, he delves into various subjects, from history and science to nature and technology.