Eiffel Tower tour

Built in 1889, the Eiffel Tower was designed for the International Exhibition of Paris to commemorate the centenary (100 years) of the French Revolution. The Eiffel Tower tour was opened by then the Prince of Wales, who later became King Edward VII of England. The Eiffel Tower was the winning design of Gustave Eiffel, from a staggering 700 proposals that were submitted as entries in a national level design competition! The design met with some serious criticism because of the sheer amount and scale of metal that was to be used for its construction, and many like Maupassant, Emile Zola, Charles Garnier (architect of the Opéra Garnier) among others believed that it would spoil Paris’ appearance.

Standing really tall at 300 meters (320.75m with the antenna), the Eiffel Tower weighs only 7000 tones. The Eiffel Tower was the tallest building in the world until 1930. Here are some interesting bits of trivia that can help you enjoy this marvel from a bit closer when taking the Eiffel Tower tour:

1.    2.5 million rivets have been used
2.    Took 300 workers experienced with steel and from 1887-1889 to build it
3.    It can sway by around 12 cm during high winds
4.    Height changes by up to 15 cm according to the temperature
5.    Has 15,000 pieces of iron without the rivets
7.    Has total of 1652 steps
8.    Was almost destroyed in 1909, luckily it was saved because of the antenna

Everyday there are serpentine queues to the elevators at the north and east legs/pillars of the Eiffel Tower tour. Summer months of July and August are the most crowded and the tower attracts more than 35,000 visitors during this time who come to take the Eiffel Tower tour. One of the most redeeming aspects of your visit, after a grueling time spent to buy tickets, is the scene that unfolds at the second stage platform – 337 feet above Paris. The view is spectacular during the night-time as you can watch the illuminated bridges reflecting the Seine, the ingeniously lit tricolor fluttering at the peak of the crystal roof of the Grand Palais, the pyramid-shaped entrance of the Louvre, and the Ferris wheel rotating above the Jardin de Tuileries. Truly, the seductive magic of Paris is further enhanced by this panoramic and utterly unrestricted view of the city’s landscape leaving you spellbound in its magic!

If you want more thrills from the Eiffel Tower tour then you must visit the summit (1,000 feet) right at the top of the Eiffel Tower and feel the tower sway in the wind. This is truly an exhilarating experience and one you are not likely to forget! And since no tourist attraction is complete without the customary souvenir shop, the tower’s is housed on the top most of the three platforms, which also houses a bar, and the office of the architect Gustave Eiffel.