Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower is a structure designed by Gustave Eiffel as the main constructor but also other architects and structural engineers like Stephen Sauvestre, Maurice Koechlin or Emilie Nouguier. It was built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle and is located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Nowadays it is a symbol of France but in the beginning it was considered revolting or even offensive.

Its total height(together with the antenna spire) is 324 meters with the top floor at 273 meters. It is as high as an average 81-storey building and untill 1930 it used to be the highest structure made by man (it was surpassed by the Chrysler Building in New York but after the addition of its antenna the French structure defeated the American one).

The Eiffel Tower is composed of three levels available for visitors by 9 lifts and stairs hidden inside huge metal supporting pillars of the tower. The third floor can be accessed with a lift only.

It was built between 1887 and 1889 to create the entrance arch for the World Fair. It is constructed from 18,038 elements of puddled iron joined by two and a half million rivets creating an open frame with two platforms. To finish the structure three hundreds of workers were needed. The whole material used weights 10,000 tonnes. Because of the thermal expansion of the metal the top can shift away even 18 centimetres during hot sunny days. The shape of the tower is designed to withstand wind forces with its massive lower part and slender top. Even though the engineering of the then was not sufficient enough, Eiffel, thanks to his graphical methods, was still able to create a structure of the highest level.

The original elevators were supplied by different companies. The East and West were created by the French company Roux Combaluzier Lepape and were using hydraulically powered chains and rollers. The North and South elevators were prepared by the American company Otis with an improved hydraulic and cable scheme. The first ones were replaced by Fives-Lille using an improved hydraulic and rope scheme.

At ground level ther is the information desk between the West and South pillars, a post office from which you can send a postcard with the Eiffel Tower post mark, a couple of souvenir shops, a buffet, cash point servicies. There is also a chance to see the 1899 lift machinery. On the 1st floor is the best place to relax admiring different displays(for example connected to the history or the construction of the tower) which are prepared not only for adults, the Cineiffel, panoramic tables, the observatory of movements of structural elements, a souvenir shop, a buffet, the Gustave Eiffel Room and the 58 Tour Eiffel restaurant. On the 2nd floor one can find another souvenir shops, a buffet, the Jules Verne Restaurant, the story windows(telling the tower's story) and the vision well- a marvellous place for taking photos. At the top the Gustave Eiffel's office is located, panoramic maps can help to get an idea of locations of different cities. There is also a champagne  bar to cherish the moment even more.

From the top of the Eiffel Tower you can see the main attractions of the city. It is one of the most astonishing panoramic views of Paris.