Let’s Hear It for the 'Iron Lady'—21 Fun Facts About the Eiffel Tower That Will Surprise You
Ah, Paris! The city that has been described as the "City of Love" time and time again houses one of the most famous monuments, the Eiffel Tower. And there's plenty to be said about the infamous French landmark, which is why we've gathered up 21 of the most surprising Eiffel Tower facts!
While we do know that this building has inspired many romantic moments and plenty of planned or impromptu trips and vacations, we didn't quite know what inspired it. Come to find out, the Eiffel Tower was built to act as the entrance archway to the 1889 World's Fair, which marked the 100-year anniversary of the French Revolution.
The tower's history is one that involves opposition, conflict, alterations and victories. As the Eiffel Tower is still a modern success, it's a wonder that it was never meant to be permanent! Continue reading to discover more facts about the tallest building in Paris.
21 Fun and Interesting Eiffel Tower Facts
1. The Eiffel Tower Is the Tallest Building in Paris
Standing at 803 meters, or 1,083 feet, tall it is the equivalent of an 81-story building. When it was unveiled during the Paris World's Fair in 1889, it was the tallest building in the world!
2. Its Height Changes
Depending on the season, the Eiffel Tower can be up to seven inches taller or six inches shorter. During hotter months, over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, to be exact, the iron expands and causes the tower to be about seven inches taller. In colder temperatures, the iron contracts and shortens the tower by about six inches.
3. It Was Supposed To Be Demolished
20 years after its assembly, the tower was supposed to be torn down! It was only supposed to be a display of the industrial mastery of France during the World Fair. In order to keep this landmark a part of living history, a radio antenna was placed at the very top. Deemed too important to destroy by city officials, the now-radio-transmission tower was saved from demolition. The addition of this antenna caused the height of the tower to go from 1,024 feet to its current 1,083.
4. The Tower Was Once Yellow
In order to preserve the wrought iron from any natural elements, the tower was once given a coat of yellow paint. However, since 1968 the official color has been "Eiffel Tower Brown" with the top being somewhat darker than the bottom, giving the tower an ombre effect.
5. It Can Only Be Painted by Hand
Speaking of the paint job, this massive structure can only be painted by hand. It takes 50 painters and 60 tons of paint to get the job done, and is performed every seven years. To date, it has been repainted 19 times, most recently being a golden upgrade for the 2024 Olympics.
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6. Engraved Names at the Base
There are 72 names engraved on the base of the Eiffel Tower. Once covered up, they have since been restored to their golden glory. These engravings pay homage to the mathematicians, scholars and scientists who are attributed to the tower's successful construction.
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7. There Are 1,665 Steps
Made of three sections, the Eiffel Tower includes much more than just glittering lights and many steps! The first section sits at 189 feet and includes an observation area, a gift shop and the restaurant Madame Brasserie. There is also a glass floor that will allow you to view the city beneath your feet! The second section is 379 feet high and includes another observation deck, where you can see the Louvre and Arc de Triomphe, as well as the Michelin-starred restaurant Le Jules Verne. The third section is at 905 feet! As well as stunning views of the city you'll find the Bar à Champagne where you can get some much-needed wine to celebrate your ascent!
8. Photographs Cannot Be Published
Every evening for the first five minutes of every hour, the tower is lit and its beacon shines over Paris. While lit up with its 20,000 bulbs, the Eiffel Tower is a sight to see! During this daily show, many onlookers revel in its beauty while trying to capture it. Posting to your story or on your own personal page is fine, but if you are attempting to do so for commercial purposes, you will have to answer to the French authorities! The tower's light display is technically an artwork protected by copyright laws.
9. The Hidden Apartment
During construction, architect Gustave Eiffel secretly included a private apartment within his namesake tower. Sitting at 1,000 feet and overlooking Parc du Champ de Mars, this address is quite possibly one of the most interesting in the world! Today it isn't so much a secret as a place to visit and brag about as somewhere you've been!
10. The Weight of the Frame Is 7,300 Tons
The total weight of the Eiffel Tower is a whopping 10,100 tons! That would be the equivalent of 10 cargo ships altogether. In order to keep the hefty tower standing, the construction crew of 300 used 2.5 million rivets and over 18,000 iron parts. Each pillar is 82 feet wide and all four total 410 square feet.
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11. Construction Took Two Years, Two Months and Five Days
The construction of the Eiffel Tower demonstrated the sophisticated level of French engineering at the end of the 19th century. Beginning on January 26, 1887, the total construction took two years, two months and five days to complete. The finish date of the tower was a defining moment in the Industrial Era and is largely possible because of its architect, Gustave Eiffel.
12. The Most Visited Monument
With nearly seven million visitors per year, the Eiffel Tower tops the list of the most visited monuments that require payment to see. Since its inception in 1889, there have been close to 300 million visitors from all over the world.
13. Artists Were Against Its Construction
On Valentine's Day in 1887, the Le Temps newspaper included the vehement opposition of over 300 Parisian artists to the Eiffel Tower. The proclamation stated, "We, writers, painters, sculptors, architects, passionate lovers of the beauty, until now intact, of Paris, hereby protest with all our might, with all our indignation, in the name of French taste gone unrecognized, in the name of French art and history under threat, against the construction, in the very heart of our capital, of the useless and monstrous Eiffel Tower.” Their rantings even included that the "gigantic black factory chimney" was so appalling that "even commercial-minded America does not want" it!
14. There Was Once a Laboratory in the Tower
Eiffel installed a laboratory used by himself and the aforementioned 72 scientists to study astronomy, meteorology, aerodynamics and physiology. In 1909, Eiffel established a wind tunnel at the base of the tower to test aerodynamics, including tests done on the Wright Brothers' airplanes and Porsche vehicles.
15. The Tower Moves
Even though the tower was built to withstand natural weather occurrences, the tower can sway during storms. If the weather conditions are bad enough you can even see it move. The sun can cause the tower to expand, as mentioned when the heat causes its height to change, which can make the tower tilt because the sunlight only hits one side of the tower.
16. The Designers of the Tower
Gustave Eiffel is named the architect of this monument, but this was done so because he funded a large portion of the project and eventually purchased the patent rights. Two senior engineers that worked for Eiffel's company are the ones who actually designed it. The engineers Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier worked with French architect Stephen Sauvestre to make the structure more aesthetically pleasing.
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17. WWI Achievements
In 1914, the tower housed a radio transmitter that jammed German radio communications and therefore impeded German advancement into Paris. French troops used the tower's wireless station to intercept enemy signals from Berlin, which is thought to have played a significant role in the Allied victory at the First Battle of the Marne.
18. Hitler Ordered Its Destruction
In 1944, Hitler ordered that if Paris could not be held from the Allied liberation, it should be demolished—and the tower along with it. He believed that the destruction of Paris would essentially be the destruction of France. He sent this order to Field Marshal Walther Model and von Choltitz, but when he did, Choltitz was so shocked by the order that he never actually carried it out. Thank goodness!
19. Public Adoration
The 1889 World's Fair was one of the only fairs to turn a profit due to the two million visitors who purchased tickets to see the Eiffel Tower, totaling $1.4 million! Despite the petition from the artists, the public met the tower with great success and adoration.
20. The Tower Can Hold Up to 5,000 Visitors at One Time
The platform on the first section can hold 3,000 people at the same time, the second platform can hold 1,600 and the third can hold no more than 400 on its two levels that are linked by a staircase.
21. The View From the Top
From the very top of the Eiffel Tower, you can view 70 kilometers, or about 43 and a half miles, all around. This allows visitors to see the outskirts of Paris, the Charles de Gaulle Airport and the countryside that rests beyond the suburbs.
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