Is the Eiffel Tower just a heap of iron? It was initially criticised by some of France's leading artists and intellectuals for its design. Yet, it stood tall as the centrepiece of the 1889 World's Fair to crown the centennial anniversary of the French Revolution. It has since become a global cultural icon of France and one of the most recognisable structures in the world.
Two engineers, Koechlin and Nouguier, spent 1884 sketching a pylon from their own living rooms. Gustave Eiffel initially showed little enthusiasm, but he eventually approved the study and bought the rights to the patent on the design. He presented his plans to the Société des Ingénieurs Civils, stating the tower would symbolise the century of Industry and Science.
You can pay for a trip up the levels, where the first and second floors house restaurants. You could take the stairs from ground level to the first level, which is over 300 steps, and then another 300 steps to the second. At the top level's upper platform, 276 metres above the ground, is a private apartment built for Gustave Eiffel. He decorated it with furniture made by Jean Lachaise and invited friends such as Thomas Edison to visit.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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