It’s almost impossible to think of Paris without picturing the Eiffel Tower. Whether admired from afar or visited up close, this iron landmark remains one of the most recognisable symbols in the world. Below is a brief collection of key facts to keep in mind — especially if you’re planning to see it for the first time — along with a short note on the man behind it: Gustave Eiffel.

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THE LAYOUT

The Eiffel Tower stands at a height of 324 meters and features three floors that offer breathtaking views. The highest floor, located near the top, is situated at 276 meters. From the third floor, visitors can capture panoramic shots of the surrounding scenery. This floor consists of two levels: a fully sheltered lower level and an upper level that is open but secured with a net. The first floor of the Eiffel Tower is expansive in size and offers various attractions. During the winter season, an ice skating rink is constructed at one of its corners, adding a delightful activity for visitors to enjoy. The second floor, positioned at a height of 115 meters, provides an excellent vantage point for capturing photos of the intricate metal structures of the tower. It offers the opportunity to explore at least two levels, allowing visitors to freely move around and explore the area.

You can use elevators to reach all floors, but you need to decide where you want to go before getting a ticket. You can skip the first floor and take an elevator directly to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower. Once you’re on the second floor, you can either end your visit or take another elevator to the top level. When coming down from the top level, you must use the elevator. However, on the second floor, you can choose to take the elevator or use the stairs to go back to the ground level. During my last visit to the Eiffel Tower, I chose to take the stairs from the second floor to the ground. It was a bit of a workout to go down more than 100 meters, but it was worth it because you can see the metal structure up close.

EIFFEL TOWER INTERIOR IN PICTURES

Eiffel Tower – Key facts | Tour Eiffel – Infos clés | Eiffelturm – Wissenswertes | Torre Eiffel – Lo esencial que debes saber | Torre Eiffel – Cosa sapere | Wieża Eiffla – Co warto wiedzieć | Эйфелева башня – Что важно знать | 埃菲尔铁塔 – 你需要知道的要点 | エッフェル塔 – 知っておきたいこと | 에펠탑 – 알아두면 좋은 정보

THE CONSTRUCTION

The tower’s framework is composed of iron, which was a revolutionary material in the late 19th century. Around 18,000 individual iron pieces and over 2.5 million rivets were used to assemble the tower. Gustave Eiffel and his team paid careful attention to wind resistance during the tower’s design and construction. The open lattice structure and strategic placement of supports contribute to the tower’s stability in windy conditions. The Eiffel Tower features a unique arch design, which provides both strength and aesthetic appeal. The arches intersect at the tower’s second level, creating a visually captivating pattern. The tower originally had hydraulic elevators that were later replaced with electric elevators. These elevators, equipped with modern safety features, efficiently transport visitors to different levels of the tower. Diagonal bracing elements were incorporated into the tower’s design to enhance its structural integrity. These elements help distribute loads and reinforce the tower against external forces. The Eiffel Tower’s foundation consists of concrete footings, deep underground, to provide stability and support for the towering structure. The foundation was carefully engineered to withstand the immense weight of the tower. The weight of the Eiffel Tower is approximately 7,300 metric tons.

ABOUT GUSTAVE EIFFEL

Gustave Eiffel is recognized as the architect and chief engineer behind the renowned Eiffel Tower. He was 55 years old when construction began on the Eiffel Tower in 1887. By the time Gustave Eiffel worked on the Eiffel Tower, he was already an established chief engineer and had his own design and construction company. Eiffel founded Gustave Eiffel & Cie in 1866, his own engineering firm, which specialized in metal construction. He had been involved in prominent projects, including designing railway bridges and the internal structure of the Statue of Liberty. His engineering firm was responsible for the design and construction of the Eiffel Tower, though the tower itself was initially conceived by two of his employees, Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier, with Eiffel lending his full support and expertise to the project. During my travels, I came across his name also in Porto, Portugal, as he designed or co-designed two do the bridges spanning the Douro River.

Eiffel Tower – Key facts | Tour Eiffel – Infos clés | Eiffelturm – Wissenswertes | Torre Eiffel – Lo esencial que debes saber | Torre Eiffel – Cosa sapere | Wieża Eiffla – Co warto wiedzieć | Эйфелева башня – Что важно знать | 埃菲尔铁塔 – 你需要知道的要点 | エッフェル塔 – 知っておきたいこと | 에펠탑 – 알아두면 좋은 정보

Gustave Eiffel, born Alexandre Gustave Eiffel in 1832 in Dijon, France, was a renowned engineer and architect. There was no engineering tradition in his family; however, his mother ran a successful business, which allowed him to attend prestigious schools, including the Lycée Royal in Dijon and later the École Centrale des Arts et Manufactures in Paris, where he initially studied chemistry but eventually shifted his focus to engineering.

Eiffel specialized in metal construction, showcasing his talent and innovation in structural engineering. While the Eiffel Tower remains his most celebrated achievement, Gustave Eiffel’s influence extended far beyond it. His engineering brilliance and forward-thinking approach led him to undertake various noteworthy projects around the world. He left his mark on several other remarkable structures like the Statue of Liberty’s interior iron framework, the Garabit Viaduct in France, and the Porto Bridge in Portugal. These structures showcase his expertise in metal construction and innovative use of iron, blending engineering excellence with aesthetic appeal.

These projects, among many others, demonstrated Eiffel’s ability to push the boundaries of structural engineering and his penchant for combining functionality with artistic beauty. His meticulous attention to detail, understanding of wind resistance, and innovative use of iron revolutionized the field of construction. Beyond his architectural feats, Eiffel’s later career saw him establish the Société des Établissements Eiffel, a company focused on constructing bridges, railway stations, and other impressive metal structures around the world. His expertise and reputation allowed him to leave a lasting impact on the field of engineering, inspiring future generations of architects and engineers.

After Gustave Eiffel’s involvement in the construction of the Eiffel Tower and other significant projects, Société des Établissements Eiffel faced a major challenge in 1892. Eiffel became embroiled in a scandal related to the failed Panama Canal project, in which he had been contracted to design locks for the canal. The project faced financial difficulties and accusations of fraud, leading to legal investigations. Although Eiffel was initially convicted and sentenced to two years in prison and a fine, he was later fully exonerated by the French Supreme Court in 1893. However, the scandal had damaged his reputation, and it prompted Eiffel to step back from business. He retired from active management of his company around this time. Following his retirement, Société des Établissements Eiffel continued to operate under different leadership. The firm diversified and became involved in other engineering projects, but its activities were no longer tied to Eiffel himself. Over the years, the company underwent several transformations and mergers. Eventually, it became part of larger engineering groups.

Eiffel Tower – Key facts | Tour Eiffel – Infos clés | Eiffelturm – Wissenswertes | Torre Eiffel – Lo esencial que debes saber | Torre Eiffel – Cosa sapere | Wieża Eiffla – Co warto wiedzieć | Эйфелева башня – Что важно знать | 埃菲尔铁塔 – 你需要知道的要点 | エッフェル塔 – 知っておきたいこと | 에펠탑 – 알아두면 좋은 정보

The Eiffel Tower might be one of the most visited landmarks in the world, but it still offers something unique — whether it’s the view, the engineering, or simply the experience of standing beneath it. Even if you decide not to go up, seeing it from the ground is worth the stop.

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