Today we are going to talk about a monument that we have seen thousands of times on television and in images, and that many of us have already visited, at least once. If we had to make a list of those monuments that everyone should see at least once in their life, we are sure that the Eiffel Tower would be among the first. And it is not for less, because this great metal tower has become an icon of France.
Using the Eiffel Tower in any image or drawing is evoke the French or Parisian spirit. But it was not always such a beloved and popular monument, since in its beginnings it had its functionality and there were those who criticized it for its lack of aesthetics. Be that as it may, today is another of those places where you have to get lost for a few hours to live another unforgettable experience.
History of the Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower was a project that was started to represent the Universal Exhibition of 1889 in Paris, being its central point. It was an important landmark in the city, as the centenary of the French Revolution was also being commemorated. Initially it was called the 300-meter tower, later it would go on to use the name of its builder.
The iron structure was designed by Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier and built by the engineer Gustave Eiffel. It is 300 meters high, later extended by a 324 meter antenna. For 41 years it held the title of tallest structure in the world, until the Chrysler Building was built in the United States. Its construction lasted two years, two months and five days, being ready to be the highlight of the Universal Exhibition in Paris.
Although at present it is quite a parisian symbolAt the time, many artists criticized it, seeing it as a great iron monster that did not add aesthetic value to the city. Nowadays it is the monument that charges the most visitors a year, with about seven million, so it can be said that now its aesthetics is appreciated. However, it is not only a monument, since for many years it was an antenna with a radio and television station and programs.
Visiting the Eiffel Tower
If you are thinking of taking a trip to Paris, the Eiffel Tower will be one of the first places you will want to visit. Above all, patience is recommended, since there are usually long lines to go up to the top, especially if you go in high season. Sometimes you have to queue for more than an hour. Open every day of the year, and the hours are usually from nine in the morning to eleven at night, and until twelve in the summer months and seasons like Easter. Everyone wants to reach the top, but the truth is that access can be restricted due to meteorological reasons or due to excessive influx.
Upon reaching the tower you can buy elevator tickets, for the elevator to the top and also for access to the stairs that go up to the second floor. The adult rate is 17 euros with elevator and top, 11 with elevator and 7 euros to the stairs.
Once inside the Eiffel Tower, we must know the different levels and what is in each of them. It is not about going up in an elevator to the top without rest, since in the tower there are many more interesting things to discover. On the first level, at 57 meters, we find the largest viewpoint, with a capacity of up to 3000 people and with 360-degree views of the city of Paris in a circular gallery with maps to locate the monuments of the city and with spyglasses. In addition, here is the Altitud 95 restaurant with panoramic views of the exterior and the interior of the tower. You can also see a part of the spiral staircase section that formerly climbed to the top and was dismantled in the XNUMXs.
At second level from the tower, at 115 meters, we find a platform of 1650 square meters, which can accommodate about 1600 people. Here are undoubtedly the best views, given its altitude and the possibility of having a panoramic view of the city. On this floor there is also the restaurant Le Jules-Verne, which appears in the Michelin Guide and which, of course, has large windows.
At third level, which is only accessible by elevator, there are only about 350 square meters of surface, with 275 meters of altitude. It is a closed space, in which there are orientation maps. There are stairs by which you can reach an outside platform a little higher, although it is the same floor. You can not always climb, but if you have the chance, do not waste it, although it is not suitable for those who have vertigo.