Situated in the Paul Mistral public park, with a striking octagonal silhouette and towering 95 meters, the Perret tower earned its original name, La tour pour regarder les montagnes ('The tower for looking at the mountains'). A pioneering structure made of reinforced concrete, it was the very first of its kind built in Europe. The International Exhibition of Hydropower and Tourism, which took place between the 21st of May and the 25th of October, 1925, showcased the generation and transmission of electricity and tourism, with the Perret tower serving as the orientation tower and the symbol of the event.
During its construction, the tower faced criticism, but it was later deemed a success and cost half as much as the other buildings in the exhibition. During the exhibition's grand opening on the 6th of September, 1925, the Prime Minister of France, Paul Painlevé, made an appearance, joined by Édouard Herriot and André Hesse. More than 2,000 visitors reached the observation platform on the day of the opening, that is, until Herriot and Hesse found themselves trapped in one of the lifts, creating some panic among the police.
The International Exhibition of Hydropower and Tourism attracted more than a million visitors, making it a significant event. Today, the Perret tower remains as the only remnant of this historic exhibition.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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