Eiffel Tower
Ideal: Ideal for first-time Paris visitors, city landmarks, views, and photography.
Built in under two years for the 1889 World's Fair from 18,038 wrought-iron pieces joined by 2.5 million rivets. It was planned for demolition after twenty years; what saved it was the radio antenna placed on top. At the time, a petition signed by Maupassant among others protested it as 'useless and monstrous'. The iron expands in heat, so in summer it grows about 15 centimetres; every seven years it gets a fresh coat using nearly 60 tonnes of paint.
Quick facts
- Built
- 28 January 1887
- Opened
- 31 March 1889
- Architect
- Stéphen Sauvestre
- Commissioned by
- Gustave Eiffel
- Height
- 330 m
- Annual visitors
- 6.2 million
Facts from Wikidata, photos from Wikimedia Commons.
Did you know?
Why was the Eiffel Tower never demolished?
It was built as a temporary structure for the 1889 World's Fair and due to be dismantled after 20 years. Radio antennas installed on top made it indispensable to the military, so it stayed — during the First World War it was used to intercept German radio traffic.
Does the tower really grow in summer?
Yes. Iron expands in heat, so the tower can grow by up to 15 cm in summer and leans a few centimetres away from the sun-facing side.
Is it legal to photograph the tower's night lighting?
The tower itself is out of copyright, but the lighting design added in 1985 counts as an artwork. Personal photos are fine; commercial use of the illuminated night view technically requires permission.
Why go?
- To see Paris's most iconic structure up close
- Because it offers a strong viewpoint over the city from above
- Because day and night feel completely different
Travel tip
For the best photo angles, try the Trocadéro side and the evening lighting.
