Paris's iconic iron tower
The Eiffel Tower pierces the city’s skyline. An iron giant soaring 330 metres (1,080 feet) upwards. Paris wouldn’t be Paris without it – but it wasn’t always so beloved.
Gustave Eiffel built the tower for the 1889 World’s Fair. It was meant to be a temporary structure celebrating the French Revolution’s centenary. Parisians hated it. Critics called it monstrous, an eyesore, a metal skeleton ruining the beautiful city.
Locals demanded its removal, but once its capabilities as a transmission antenna were discovered, the tower stayed. Paris eventually fell in love.
Today, it’s the world's most visited paid monument. Nearly 7 million people ascend its floors annually. Three levels offer different perspectives – the first at 57 metres (187 feet) with glass floors, the second at 115 metres (377 feet) with the best views, the summit at 276 metres (906 feet).
The tower sparkles for 5 minutes every hour after dark. Twenty thousand light bulbs flicker gold against the inky black sky. Make sure you watch at least one of these displays – it's an unforgettable sight.
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