Eiffel Tower – History And All Things You Need To Know

The Eiffel Tower or Tour Eiffel has become synonymous with Paris and France.

This tower is probably the first thing you’ll ever see or look out for as your plane prepares for descent or as your train approaches the French capital.

One cannot simply visit Paris and not include Eiffel Tower in their France bucket list and have a photo with it in the background.

In fact, a lot of visitors in the city, even choose hotels with an Eiffel tower view just to enjoy it.

Standing proud by the Seine and dominating the city skyline, the Eiffel tower is more than an iconic landmark. It also symbolizes a milestone in French history. 

Eiffel Tower – History And All Things You Need To Know

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History of Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower was built in 1889 and unveiled at the World Fair (Exposition Universelle) which was held to honor the French Revolution’s centennial year.

The tower was constructed from a design by Gustave Eiffel, which was chosen from hundreds and hundreds of proposals.

However, when the construction started, there were plenty of dissenters.

A petition was even signed by many influential people at the time, such as Guy de Maupassant and Charles Garnier, who designed the grandiose Palais Garnier.

They called the tower “useless and monstrous”, and that it “dominated  Paris like a gigantic black smokestack,”. They also said that the tower’s sheer size overshadowed the city’s other iconic structures such as the Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, and the Notre Dame. 

Thankfully, there were also many influential personalities who were supportive of having the Eiffel Tower built.

The construction pushed through and the Eiffel Tower served as the entrance to the grand World Fair in Champs de Mars. It was said that apart from commemorating the centennial anniversary of the French Revolution, the tower was intended for another purpose.

The Eiffel Tower was also a symbol of the power and industrial abilities of France. The stunning iron structure marked the start of a new form of architecture. 

One of the famous visitors to the Eiffel Tower was inventor Thomas Edison.

In September of 1889, he wrote the following in the tower’s guestbook: 

“To Monsieur Eiffel the Engineer the brave builder of so gigantic and original specimen of modern Engineering from one who has the greatest respect and admiration for all Engineers including the Great Engineer the Bon Dieu, Thomas Edison”.

This was indeed a great validation for a structure that was initially met with criticisms. The tower was even supposed to stand for twenty years, then it will be destroyed.

However, since it has an antenna at the top used by the International Time Service telegraphy service, the tower was saved. The tower that was intended to be torn down by 1910 remained.

For the next few decades, the Eiffel Tower was the tallest structure in the world before it was taken over by the Chrysler Building in New York.

Today, the Eiffel Tower remains to be one of the world’s most recognizable landmarks. It was nicknamed the Iron Lady (“La Dame de fer”) by the locals, a structure that can be seen wherever you are in the French capital.

The Eiffel Tower is a magnificent sight by day as it stands surrounded by Paris’ exquisite architecture.

At night, it is the most magical sight you’ll ever see, as it lights up and seems to float along the glistening Seine. 

What to expect in Tour Eiffel

The Eiffel Tower is in the seventh arrondissement in Paris, at the Champs de Mars on Avenue Anatole 5.

You can’t possibly miss it – this imposing tower can even be seen from the airplane window as it descends to Charles de Gaulle airport.

The Eiffel is easily one of the most iconic structures on the planet. As it approached its centennial year in the late 1980s, the tower underwent a major facelift.

Since then, the Eiffel was repainted every seven years. 

It is also one of the most visited tourist attractions all over the planet.

After it was unveiled during the 1889 Exposition Universelle, more than 250 million people have visited this Parisian landmark.

Most people simply want to look at it or take photos and videos as a souvenir of their Paris visit.

However, the Eiffel isn’t just a tower. It is a functioning building that has elevators, restaurants, a theater, an information office, exhibitions, and viewing decks. 

Yes, visitors can climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower by using the elevator or taking the stairs. The first stage takes you at 57 meters high, where you can look out into the surrounding areas below from the promenade. This is the entertainment and relaxation area, where you’ll also find exhibitions about the tower’s history.

The second stage, meanwhile, is 115 meters from the ground.  There are shops, restaurants, and exhibitions here as well.

If you’re not afraid of heights, go check out the glass floor and its unique views of the city below.

Finally, the top floor of the Eiffel Tower is 276 meters above Paris offers unparalleled views of the beautiful city below.

On a clear day, you can see views up to fifty miles away. The top floor is also where you’ll find the reconstructed office of Gustave Eiffel. To celebrate getting to the top of this iconic landmark,  go have some champagne as you gaze out into the Parisian skyline. 

If you want to know how to get to Eiffel Tower from the airports, see below: 

• Charles De Gaulle Airport (CDG) to Eiffel Tower

Buy your ticket online here.