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May 2025 (Part 12)

France Trip: Day 5: Eiffel Tower

We were scheduled to start our Seine River cruise the next afternoon, which left us a morning to go to the Eiffel Tower.  We joined a tour which helped us bypass the lines and speed the process to getting on the elevators, stopping at the observation deck before transitioning to a separate elevator for the ride to the top.  Had to enjoy some of the hanging gardens on balconies as we waited for the tour to begin.  Grabbed some croissants from a bakery down the street for breakfast.

Gustave Eiffel built the tower (or as the French call it, the "La dame de fer" ("Iron Lady") between 1887-1889 for the 1889 World's Fair in Paris, which was held to commemorate the centennial anniversary of the French Revolution.  At 330 meters (1,083 ft) tall, it is about the same height as an 81-storey building, and the tallest structure in Paris. During its construction, the Eiffel Tower surpassed the Washington Monument to become by far the tallest human-made structure in the world, a title it held for 41 years until the Chrysler Building in New York City was finished in 1930. It was the first structure in the world to surpass both the 200 meters and 300 meters mark in height.  Due to the addition of a broadcasting aerial at the top of the tower in 1957, it is now taller than the Chrysler Building by 5.2 metres (17 ft).  Excluding transmitters, the Eiffel Tower is the second tallest free-standing structure in France after the Millau Viaduct.

The tower was selected as the winner of a public competition for the centerpiece of the exposition.  Although the terms of the competition were incredibly biased, making Eiffel's design the only winner deemed practical and with enough details for a  300 m (980 ft) four-sided metal tower on the Champ de Mars.  The contract provided only a small portion of the estimated costs, forcing Eiffel to put up half the required $7.8 M Francs (about $1.5M at the time) capital himself and finance the remaining portion.  But, he received a 20-year lease for the commercial exploitation of the tower, after which the tower was to be dismantled.  Turned out to be a good deal, as he recovered his initial investment within about 6 months, even before the exhibition closed over which the tower saw a bit under 2 million visitors

While beloved now, the tower initially drew criticism from those who did not believe it was feasible and those who objected on artistic grounds. Prior to the Eiffel Tower's construction, no structure had ever been constructed to a height of 300 m, or even 200 m for that matter, and many people believed it was impossible

 In all, 18,038 pieces were joined using 2.5 million rivets.  Although construction involved 300 on-site employees, due to Eiffel's safety precautions and the use of movable gangways, guardrails and screens, only one person died.  the tower was not opened to the public until nine days after the opening of the exposition on 6 May; even then, the lifts had not been completed.

The tower has three levels for visitors, with restaurants on the first and second levels.  The first level is still open in the middle and has large glass sections to stand on.  The second level is has several restaurants and gift stores, and is where most people stop.  The top level's upper platform is 276 m (906 ft) above the ground—the highest public observation deck in the European Union.  The climb from ground level to the first level is over 300 steps, as is the climb from the first level to the second, making the entire ascent a 600-step climb. On the top, third level, is a private apartment built for Gustave Eiffel, who decorated it with furniture made by Jean Lachaise and invited friends such as Thomas Edison.

You could see the elevators going up through the different legs, which were designed to change their orientation allowing the interior floor to remain level as it ascended.

Some interesting views from the elevators during the ascent.

Once at the top, you could look up to the radio towers at the top.  There was also a small apartment preserved showing wax figures of Eiffel, his daughter, and Thomas Edison who visited during the fair, and gave as a gift one of his newly invented phonographs (show in the back of the room).  There were pictures of famous people who visited early, including Buffalo Bill Cody, whose Wild West show was an attraction at the exposition.

The view from the top was fun, although we were challenged to pick out landmarks.  We took a number of pictures of the Seine and following it to the distance to see the Musee du Louvre and Ile de la Cite with the Cathedrale Notre Dame de Paris.

Looking down the Champs-de-Mars with the Ecole Militaire (Military School) built in 1750 to house a military training complex & national monument that Napoleon attended in 1784.  Just beyond and to the left is the nearby Hotel de Invalides, which houses Napoleon's tomb.

To the left is green topped spire of the  Eglise Americaine de Paris (American Church in Paris), while to the right is the pointed spire of the American Cathedral in Paris.

To the northeast was the Eglise Saint Augustin.

To the right below is the Basilique Sainte-Clotilde.

In the distance was the Pantehon,  To the rights is right is the Eglise Saint Pierre-de-Chaillot catholic church with its more Roman dome and tower

Across the Seine is the Musee de l'Homme

Interesting view up to Montmarte.

Here is the Arc de Triomphe

Here is our hotel, the Pullman Paris Hotel-Eiffel, right next to a small stadium and sports complex.  Surprisingly, this did not host any events during the Paris Olympics in 2024, despite being so close to the Eiffel Tower and the Champ-de-Mars where volleyball, judo, and wrestling were staged.  In the distance is the Tour Maine-Montparnasse, the rather ugly office skyscraper.

Still some evidence of the Olympics around the area.

We took a couple pictures at the top before heading back down.

Some more time for pictures on the middle deck, which actually has two levels.

We walked down from the second level, stopped at the first level to stand on the glass flooring. 

Back at the bottom, we took a picture of this statue of Gustave Eiffel, before having some fun taking pictures look back up.

We headed out to get lunch, taking a couple images as we left.

Interesting display of the various colors they've painted the tower since 1889. when it was originally bright red called Rouge de Venice, although it looks like it was immediately painted a darker red called Bruin Rouge.