13 Interesting Facts and Secrets About the Eiffel Tower

September 17, 2024

A world famous romantic proposal spot, picturesque photo background, a serene place to roam around, guess the place? It’s world famous, La Tour Eiffel! The Eiffel Tower has been one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world, symbolizing the romance and inspiration of the City of Light. Designed as the centerpiece of the 1889 World’s Fair, it was meant to commemorate the centennial of the French revolution. This core highlighted the modern industrial prowess of France globally.

This piece of attraction was finished in just two years, two months, and five days which showed the engineering expertise of Gustave Eiffel to the whole world. With the visit of 300 million people since its debut, it became an iconic landmark which is well known by all the travelers. But still La Dame de Fer has few secrets to share. Here are some favorite Facts about the Eiffel Tower !

Interesting facts about Eiffel Tower – No one knows

If you are lucky enough to have visited Paris, then you might have some curiosity to know this most beloved landmark.

• Original height without the antennas : 1024 feet
• Total width : 410 feet (on the ground)
• Width of a pillar : 82 feet (on the ground)
• First floor : 187 feet, 14,485 square feet
• Second floor : 377 feet, 4692 square feet
• Third floor : 906 feet, 820 square feet
• Lifts : 5 Lifts from the esplanade to second floor, 2 x 2 duolifts from second floor to the top
• Weight of meta frame : 7300 tons
• Total weight : 10,100 tons
• Number of rivets used : 2,500,000
• Number of iron parts : 18,038
• Pillars : The 4 pillars form a 410 square feet sideways square

Do you know, there’s a penthouse apartment at the top!

The way Gustave Eiffel planned its creation was a smart one. Do you know that the uppermost level of the tower was his penthouse apartment where he used to host famous guests like Thomas Edison. The space was then transformed into Eiffel’s office which comprises wax statues of himself, his daughter, and Edison which is fully open to the public.

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It almost wasn’t built! Confused?

World famous figure has been emulated world wide in places like Las Vegas, Paris, Texas, and Tianducheng (China), the design wasn’t without its detractors. This story was based on a letter. A “Protest against the Tower of Monsieur Eiffel” letter which was signed by Guy de Maupassant, Alexandre Dumas, and other well known artists and published in newspaper Le Temps before the construction completion. The main reason behind opposition was that it will take over the charm of other monuments and architectures nearby and would prove to be a black factory chimney for them leading to their decline. But despite such opposition, this iconic landmark stood out and is now the most visited monument in the world.

Shockingly, Gustave Eiffel didn’t actually design it!!

Like every successful movie has some behind the scenes, the same goes with this landmark. It was two engineers Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier, who were the backbones behind this great formation. These were the real ones who designed this structure.Although they also commissioned French architect Stephen Sauvestre to work on this project, but finally beat up more than 100 other projects to choose the main attraction.

It was also destroyed during world war II

This was a long story dated back to 1944 when the countries were immersed in the war. This was the time when Nazuis were losing control over their occupied city, Paris which provoked Adolf hitler to command his generals to explode the tower. But the interference of allies stopped this decision and that’s how this tower survived.

The Eiffel Tower moves! Amazing right?

Surprisingly, this massive iron structure is wind-resistant and will sway during a storm. Although wind is not the only thing that is accusing thai tower to move or swing but there is a scientific phenomenon behind it. The what of the sun causes the iron to expand making the tower grow a few centimeters during summers. An interesting fact is it also leans an average of six inches.

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The Eiffel Tower’s sparkling lights are copyrighted art

The Eiffel Tower’s first light show coincided with the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in 1925. Automaker Andre Citröen financed a 200,000 bulb show that featured a shower of stars, alternating comets. The now-famous sparkling Eiffel Tower Light Show, consisting of 20,000 bulbs, first lit up the night sky on New Year’s Eve of 1999 to ring in the new millennium. Today, you can see it nightly for the first five minutes of every hour starting at 8 p.m. (depending on the time of year and how dark it is), with a 10-minute grand finale display at 1 a.m. While the Eiffel Tower is in public domain, its illumination is protected by copyright under French law. But a lot of travelers inquire that, Is Taking Photos of the Eiffel Tower Light Show Illegal?

It was once the tallest building in the world

At the time of it’s opening Eiffel tower became the tallest building in the world, standing proudly over Paris at 312 meters (1,024 feet). Forty years later, New York City;s Chrysler Building took this record which emerged at 319 meters (1046 feet), until the Empire State Building’s debut in 1931 at a whooping 381 meters (1250 feet).

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There’s a Champagne bar at the top! Fascinating?

For all the drink lovers, the Eiffel tower has a surprise. You can enjoy an uninterrupted view of Paris at such a dizzying height at the Champagne Bar, located at the topmost level of this iconic landmark. The bar also offers alcohol free beverages, which makes it a perfect spot for delicious treats. Remember, this bar needs a ticket to visit!

It housed a post office and a theater!

After its construction it housed several businesses, which doesn’t exist now. Some of the renowned were the French newspaper Le Figaro during the 1889 world’s fair, a radio station, a post office and a wooden theater designed by Sauvestre.

The Eiffel Tower was supposed to be torn down.

Main intention behind constructing this tower was showcasing the industrial strength during the 1889 World’s Fair and initially it was decided to tear it down after 20 years. That was until the realization of the radio antenna and wireless telegraph transmitter in the tower. After proving its usefulness , it was granted an extension of 70 years and by 1980 the site was free of any danger of demolition.

Some Fun Facts of Eiffel tower

• It was used as an internal frame of the Statue of liberty.
• Construction of the Eiffel tower cost 7,799,401.31 French gold francs.
• The Eiffel tower weighs 10,000 tons.
• There are 5 billion lights on the tower.
• The french have a nickname for the tower: La Dame De Fer, “the Iron Lady”
• The tower has 108 stories, with 1710 steps.

Conclusion

Eiffel tower is definitely the most popular paid attraction in the world which captures the attention of seven million people each year. Featuring a museum, several restaurants, and apartment, it provides space for everything from business conferences toi cultural events. If you wish to catch the sight of this best city from the topmost height, then Tower is a big yes. Once you add on the Eiffel tower in your travel list, then book your France Schengen visa, search hotels near eiffel tower and pack your bags!

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