Europe
France
Paris
Landmark
Tour Eiffel
Name:Eiffel Tower
Construction Period:1887–1889
Commissioned by:French Ministry of Trade
Engineer:Gustave Eiffel
Dimensions:330 meters tall, 125 meters wide
Weight:10,100 tons
Material:Wrought iron
UNESCO World Heritage:Since 1991

43 fascinating facts about the Eiffel Tower:

 

  1. Location: The Eiffel Tower stands on the Champ de Mars in Paris, right on the banks of the Seine. Located in the “City of Love,” it is considered one of the most romantic places in the world and serves as the backdrop for countless marriage proposals, engagements, and wedding photos.
  2. Significance: The Eiffel Tower is the most visited paid monument in the world, attracting millions of visitors from across the globe every year. Its iconic silhouette has been captivating people for over a century, making it one of the most photographed landmarks worldwide.
  3. Former record holder: With an original height of 312 meters, the Eiffel Tower became the tallest structure in the world in 1889, surpassing the Washington Monument, which stands at 169 meters. It was the first structure to exceed both the 200-meter and 300-meter marks, before being overtaken by the Chrysler Building (319 meters) in 1930.
  4. Design competition: On May 1, 1886, the French Minister of Trade, Édouard Lockroy, announced a competition for the centerpiece of the 1889 World’s Fair, drawing around 100 architects and engineers. Gustave Eiffel’s revised design, based on the project by Koechlin and Nouguier, won over his final two competitors, Ferdinand Dutert and Jean Camille Formigé, and he was awarded the construction contract in January 1887.
  5. Gustave Eiffel: Gustave Eiffel (1832 to 1923) was a brilliant engineer who not only designed the Eiffel Tower but also created the supporting structure of the Statue of Liberty in New York and built numerous bridges and viaducts. His innovative use of metal structures revolutionized the construction industry, although his career ended abruptly after a financial scandal connected to the failed Panama Canal project.
  6. Construction history: The construction of the Eiffel Tower took just over two years and involved around 250 workers. All components were prefabricated in a nearby factory and transported to the construction site by horse-drawn carriage, and at the ceremonial completion, Gustave Eiffel climbed to the top with government officials to hoist the French national flag.
  7. Financing: Gustave Eiffel personally bore most of the construction costs, amounting to 7.8 million francs, taking on significant financial risk as the expenses far exceeded the original estimates. To secure funding, he founded a limited company, contributed half the capital himself, and thanks to the overwhelming number of visitors, managed to recoup his investment within the first year after the opening.
  8. Controversy: During its construction, the Eiffel Tower faced fierce opposition from leading artists and intellectuals, who described it as “hideous” and “monstrous.” A petition signed by 300 prominent figures, including writer Guy de Maupassant and architect Charles Garnier, complained that the tower would ruin the elegant skyline of Paris.
  9. Temporary structure: Originally, the Eiffel Tower was intended as a temporary installation for the 1889 Universal Exhibition and was scheduled to be dismantled after 20 years. However, because it proved useful for military and scientific purposes and became increasingly popular, the city of Paris decided to keep it permanently in 1909.
  10. Military use: During the First World War, the Eiffel Tower played a crucial role as a radio station, intercepting coded messages from the German army. It was particularly important during the Battle of the Marne in 1914, when intercepted communications enabled a successful French counterattack, and again in 1917, when a message led to the capture and execution of the famous spy Mata Hari.
  11. Secret bunker: Hidden beneath the Champ de Mars, right next to the Eiffel Tower, lies an underground military bunker that served as a communications center during the First World War, with the tower acting as a transmission mast. Today, this more than 100-year-old bunker can be visited during special guided tours.
  12. Scientific use: Since its construction, the Eiffel Tower has been used for numerous scientific experiments, including meteorological measurements, wind resistance tests, and astronomical observations. Particularly notable was the discovery of cosmic rays by physicist Theodor Wulf in 1909, as well as the tower’s pioneering role in the development of wireless communication.
  13. Today’s use: In addition to its importance as a tourist attraction, the Eiffel Tower continues to serve as a major broadcasting tower for radio, television, and mobile networks. With the installation of a new digital radio antenna in 2022, it remains a key telecommunications hub for Paris and beyond.
  14. Architecture: The Eiffel Tower is made up of more than 18,000 precisely manufactured iron parts, joined together with 2.5 million rivets. Its four curved pillars, which taper as they rise and are connected by three platforms, showcase a perfect blend of engineering expertise and aesthetic elegance.
  15. Height: Since its opening in 1889, the height of the Eiffel Tower has changed several times with the addition of new antennas. Its current height of 330 meters was reached in 2022 after the installation of the latest digital radio antenna, making the tower taller than ever before.
  16. First platform: At a height of 57 meters, the first platform of the Eiffel Tower offers a spectacular glass floor that allows visitors to look straight down and enjoy breathtaking views over Paris. Here, the “Madame Brasserie” restaurant, led by Michelin-starred chef Thierry Marx, invites guests to experience seasonal French cuisine in an elegant setting overlooking the Seine.
  17. Second platform: Standing at 115 meters, the second platform of the Eiffel Tower is one of the most popular vantage points, offering a panoramic view of the Arc de Triomphe, the Seine, and the Sacré-Cœur. Visitors can also enjoy an exclusive gourmet experience at “Le Jules Verne,” the Michelin-starred restaurant headed by chef Frédéric Anton.
  18. Third platform: At a height of 276 meters, the third platform of the Eiffel Tower is one of the highest publicly accessible observation decks in Europe, offering visibility of up to 70 kilometers on clear days. Visitors can enjoy a glass of fine champagne at the “Bar à Champagne” while taking in the spectacular views, and also explore Gustave Eiffel’s former private apartment, which has been faithfully restored.
  19. Gustave Eiffel’s private apartment: Gustave Eiffel designed a private apartment at the top of the Eiffel Tower, which he mainly used for scientific experiments and as a retreat. Today, it is furnished with original furniture and features wax figures of Eiffel and Thomas Edison.
  20. Color: The Eiffel Tower was originally painted reddish-brown before receiving its current shade, “Eiffel Tower Brown,” specially developed in 1968. To blend harmoniously with the sky, it is repainted every seven years in three different tones—lighter at the top and darker at the bottom—requiring around 60 tons of paint, 1,500 brushes, and 25 painters each time.
  21. Flexible tower: Due to its metal structure, the Eiffel Tower responds sensitively to temperature changes, expanding by up to 15 centimeters in hot weather and contracting again in winter. The top also sways slightly in strong winds, but its ingenious design ensures that it always remains stable.
  22. Lightning strikes: Because of its height and metal structure, the Eiffel Tower attracts lightning and is struck about 10 to 15 times a year. Thanks to its integrated lightning conductors and grounding systems, however, it remains completely unharmed.
  23. Gigantic billboard: In the 1920s, the Eiffel Tower served as a giant illuminated billboard when the car manufacturer Citroën displayed its name across three sides of the tower using 250,000 light bulbs. At the time, it was the largest advertisement in the world.
  24. Economic significance: With millions of visitors each year, the Eiffel Tower generates immense revenue through entrance fees, licenses, and merchandising. A 2012 study by the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Monza and Brianza estimated its symbolic brand value at 434 billion euros.
  25. Staircase race: Every March, a staircase race challenges athletes to climb the 1,665 steps to the top of the Eiffel Tower as quickly as possible. The current record holder is Piotr Lobodzinski from Poland, who completed the climb in 7 minutes and 48 seconds; the first race of this kind was organized by the newspaper Le Sport back in 1905.
  26. National Day: On July 14, France’s national holiday, the Eiffel Tower becomes the centerpiece of the celebrations and the backdrop for a spectacular fireworks display launched from the Champ de Mars. The festivities begin with the famous “Concert de Paris,” where world-renowned musicians, orchestras, and choirs perform classical works and French anthems, and the tower is illuminated in the blue, white, and red of the French flag.
  27. Nightly light show: Every night after sunset, the Eiffel Tower dazzles with its famous light show, sparkling for five minutes every hour until 1 a.m. Twenty thousand flashing bulbs create a breathtaking twinkling effect across the Parisian sky.
  28. Special light shows: On special occasions, the Eiffel Tower transforms into a giant canvas for light projections, such as during the New Year’s Eve celebrations of 1999–2000 when a digital clock counted down to the new millennium. Other remarkable illuminations included the tower glowing blue during France’s EU Council Presidency in 2008 and turning pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month in 2017.
  29. Special copyright feature: While the Eiffel Tower itself is in the public domain during the day, its nighttime illumination is protected by copyright and managed by the Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE). As a result, commercial images of the illuminated tower can only be published with prior permission.
  30. Opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games: The opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games took place along the Seine, with the Eiffel Tower providing a spectacular backdrop. Highlights included the unique parade of athletes on about 100 boats sailing through the heart of Paris, the breathtaking light show illuminating the Eiffel Tower in Olympic colors, and an emotional performance by Céline Dion, who sang “Hymne à l’amour” from one of the tower’s platforms.
  31. Olympic rings: During the Games, the iconic Olympic rings were mounted between the first and second platforms of the Eiffel Tower, making it a central symbol of the 2024 Olympic Games. After the event, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo decided to leave the rings on the tower permanently to honor the historical significance of the Games for the city.
  32. Soccer club logo: Since 1972, the Eiffel Tower has been the defining symbol in the logo of Paris Saint-Germain, emphasizing the club’s strong connection to the French capital. Paris FC, currently the city’s second-largest soccer club, also features the Eiffel Tower in its logo, highlighting its Parisian identity.
  33. Fatality (1889): Despite the great height and dangerous working conditions, the Eiffel Tower was completed without any fatal accidents during construction, a fact that Gustave Eiffel took great pride in. It was only after the official opening that a tragic incident occurred when an Italian worker had a fatal accident while installing the elevators.
  34. Franz Reichelt’s fatal parachute test (1912): Tailor Franz Reichelt was convinced he had invented a functional parachute suit that could safely bring people to the ground from great heights. However, when he tested his prototype himself from the first platform of the Eiffel Tower on February 4, 1912, the parachute failed to open, and Reichelt fell 57 meters to his death.
  35. The tragic accident of Léon Collot (1926): On February 4, 1926, French pilot Léon Collot attempted to fly his plane under the arch of the Eiffel Tower. He misjudged the height and collided with one of the tower’s aerials, causing his plane to crash and burst into flames, and Collot was killed.
  36. The unrecognized suicide (1928): In 1928, a young woman for unknown reasons jumped from the second platform of the Eiffel Tower. Although her fall was initially cushioned by the roof of a car and she survived the impact, she later succumbed to her internal injuries; her identity remains unknown to this day.
  37. The sabotaged elevator (1940): When the German Wehrmacht occupied Paris in 1940, the French sabotaged the elevators of the Eiffel Tower to prevent Hitler from ascending it. During his visit, Hitler posed for photographs in front of the tower with his architects Albert Speer and Arno Breker but chose not to climb it; the elevators were only repaired after the liberation of Paris in 1944.
  38. The heaviest visitor (1948): The heaviest visitor ever to the Eiffel Tower was an 85-year-old female elephant from the Bouglione Circus, which was performing on the Champ de Mars in June 1948. To promote the show, the circus director had the massive animal climb the stairs to the first platform, reaching a height of 57 meters.
  39. The Eiffel Tower was married (2007): On April 8, 2007, Erika LaBrie, a former U.S. soldier and skilled archer, held a symbolic wedding ceremony with the Eiffel Tower, to which she felt a deep emotional connection. Although the marriage was not legally recognized, she officially changed her name to Erika La Tour Eiffel and publicly declared her object sexuality, attracting worldwide attention.
  40. Replicas: There are numerous replicas of the Eiffel Tower around the world, including Tokyo Tower in Japan (1958), which serves as a radio tower, and a 165-meter replica in Las Vegas (1999). In Tianducheng, China, a 108-meter replica stands at the center of a miniature version of Paris, while the Petřín Observation Tower in Prague (1891) offers a smaller homage; a particularly creative tribute can be found in Paris, Texas, where the replica is topped with a red cowboy hat.
  41. Movie set: The Eiffel Tower is one of the most filmed landmarks in the world and has appeared in countless Hollywood blockbusters and French film classics. In A View to a Kill (1985), Roger Moore as James Bond races across the tower’s platforms in a thrilling chase scene, while Inception (2010) features dream sequences set against the backdrop of Paris, including the Eiffel Tower.
  42. Origin of the name: Although the original design came from Koechlin and Nouguier, Gustave Eiffel presented the project as his own and particularly emphasized its scientific benefits. Even during the planning phase, the structure became so closely associated with his name that it was known as the “Eiffel Tower” before it was even built, although Eiffel himself never used that name.
  43. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Since 1991, the Eiffel Tower has been part of the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the “Banks of the Seine in Paris,” which includes many historic monuments. These landmarks include world-famous sites such as Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, the Grand Palais, Pont Alexandre III, and the Sainte-Chapelle.
  • Gustav Eifel
  • Replica Eiffel Tower, Paris in Texas (USA)