The tower that has become a symbol of Paris was constructed from 1887 to 1889. It is named after the engineer whose company designed and built the tower on Champ de Mars. It was the centrepiece of the 1889 World’s Fair.
It is a wrought-iron lattice tower, 330 metres high at the tip. It is possible to climb to the top floor 276 metres above the ground. (Or take 2 lifts, as we did) Its base is square, 125 metres on each side. Although it wasn’t popular at first, it is now the most visited monument with an entrance fee in the world.
The tower has 3 levels for visitors. There are restaurants on the first and second levels. The top level platform is the highest observation accessible to the public in the EU.
Once in the grounds around the tower it looks very impressive.
We paid €28 each for a ticket to the top level. There were long queues to enter, to wait for the first lift and another for the second. It was well organised and we didn’t have to wait too long.
We went straight to the top from where there are spectacular views over the city below.
There is a closed area before a short walk up some stairs to the open area. There are some places mentioned with the distance from the tower. Sydney gets a mention, along with the Gold Coast and Heksinki. Brisbane missed out.
It was windy and crowded at the top.
The buildings are easier to pick out from the lower floor.
Soon it was time to take the 2 lifts back to the bottom and walk off to our next stop, Les Invalides and Napoleon’s tomb.
Climbing the tower was a fun and easy thing to do. It is a good things that the Eiffel Tower was not dismantled after the World Fair.
How great are the views of Paris from top of Eiffel tower & how lucky we all are. Cannot imagine Paris without the tower. It was windy when we visited but think it always is. Paris looks so crowded from above but all the magnificent buildings stand out & easy to identify. Love your Post – magnificent!!!
By: Camillus Davall on September 21, 2023
at 9:24 pm
It was fun to climb the tower for the first time. I have seen it from many angles in the city but this time is was up close. It was fun.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 22, 2023
at 6:18 am
Isn’t that the most fascinating city-scape and when you get a close up view of the structure of the tower it’s amazing that it was built in what is really quite a short time. (Good job our late Premier, Joh, didn’t get his hands on it😀’
By: Jan on September 22, 2023
at 1:46 am
It is an amazing structure, especially up close.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 22, 2023
at 6:18 am
The funniest thing about the Tower is that Parisians hated it when they saw the plans and did not want it to be built. Nowadays, you could not imagine Paris without the Tower…
By: Mulino Dominillo on September 22, 2023
at 5:53 am
Yes, it was not liked at first. Paris would not be the same without it.
By: Debra Kolkka on September 22, 2023
at 6:19 am
You certainly chose a lovely clear day to go up to the top of the tower. The photos are great. I can’t imagine Paris without the Eiffel Tower.
By: Kerry & Jim on September 26, 2023
at 10:59 pm