Eiffel Tower Guide
More pages about Paris: Nightlife I Three days in Paris
The Eiffel Tower was inaugurated on March 31st 1889 at the International Exhibition of Paris to commemorate the centenary of the French Revolution. Those involved in the construction of the Tower were: Gustave Eiffel with the help of the engineers Maurice Koechlin and Emilie Nouguier, and the architect Stephen Sauvestre. The construction of the Tower began in 1887 and it finished in 1889. Originally, the plan was to demolish the structure after the exhibition since the construction was not very popular among the French. But once the exhibition was finished the Tower became an attraction to people from all over the world. This saved the Tower and now it is considered to be one of the most important tourist attractions in the world.
The Tower weighs 7,300 tons and it is 324 meters high. Many television companies have set up their antennas there. Although the ownership of the Tower is on the hands of Paris local government, it is administered by a French private company “Société Nouvelle d'Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel ". The illumination of the Tower consists of 352 projectors of 1000 watts, 20.000 bulbs and 800 fairy lights.
There are three levels in the Eiffel Tower . From each of the levels you can have an impressive view of the city. You can reach the first level walking or you can take the lift. The second and third levels are only reachable by lift.
On the first level of the Tower, which is 57.63 meters above the ground, you will find among other things the observatory, an electronic telescope, souvenirs shops and an area to relax. You can also eat at “Altitude 95” , one of the two restaurants in the tower which is named in that way because the first level is 95 meters above sea level. On this level you can also learn about the history of the Eiffel Tower .
The second level of the Tower is 115.73 above the ground and it offers its visitors the possibility to take photographs of the city and its monuments. Here it is located the luxurious restaurant “Jules Verne which has its own private lift. On this level there are telescopes, animated displays about the construction of the Tower.
The next level is 276.13 meters above the ground and the panoramic view here is the best. On this level you can visit the office of Gustave Eiffel, and learn about the history of the construction of this platform. There are two areas here, one is in open air and the other is covered in case of bad weather.
Tourists can visit the Eiffel Tower every day from 9.30 am to 11.45 pm and this allows visitors to enjoy Paris when other attractions are closed. The night view of Paris from the top level is amazing and unique.
