Paris's most famous landmark has been towering above the city for more
than a hundred years, and attracts a great number of visitors. The Tour
Eiffel was built by the engineer Gustave Eiffel as a temporary attraction
for the 1889 World Exhibition. At the time, its 300-m height made it the
tallest building in the world and an unprecedented technological achievement,
although it is now dwarfed by several buildings worldwide.. It met with
instant success, was celebrated by poets and artists, and its spindly silhouette
was soon famous all over the world. In spite of this, it was nearly pulled
down when the concession expired in 1909 but was saved because of its invaluable
radio aerial, joined in 1957 by television aerials. It was later raised
by another 20m to accom-modate a meteorological station.The iron frame
weighs 7,000 tonnes, yet the pressure it exerts on the ground is only 4kg
per square cm; 40 tonnes of paint are used to repaint it every seven years.
To celebrate its one hundredth birthday, it was renovated and halogen lighting
was installed making it even more spectacular at night than before. There
are three levels, all acces-sible by lift, or by stairs - first and second
floors only. Information about the tower is available on the first floor
(57m above ground); there are also a restaurant, a gift shop and a post
office, where letters are post-marked 'Paris Tour Eiffel'. The second floor
(115m above ground) offers a fine panoramic view of Paris, several boutiques
and a gastronomic restaurant appropriately named 'Jules Verne'. For a unique
aerial view of the capital go up to the third floor, 1276m above ground.
There is also a reconstruction of Gustave Eiffel's study and a diorama
retracing the history of the building.
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