Eiffel Tower, located on the Champ de Mars in Paris, is the most prominent symbol of both Paris and France in the modern age. Built in 1889 as the entrance of the 1889 World’s Fair, this iron lattice tower happens to be the tallest structure in France and is one of the most well known in the world.
History
Eiffel Tower was designed by Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier, two engineers who worked for Gustave Eiffel, for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, a World Fair to celebrate 100 years of the French Revolution. The structure was conceptualized as a ‘giant pylon, consisting of four lattice girders standing apart at the base and coming together at the top, joined together by metal trusses at regular intervals’. Though the artistic aristocracy of Paris opposed the construction of the towers on the grounds that it was not sophisticated enough, Eiffel’s arguments prevailed and work started in 1887. The foundation was laid with concrete slabs and the ironwork, much of it prefabricated, was built upon the slabs. The work continued for 2 years and finally on 31st March 1889, the 7300 tonnes heavy and nearly 300 m tall Eiffel Tower was opened to the public, and became an instant hit with the masses. It remained the tallest man made structure in the world till it was replaced by the Chrysler building in 1930. During the Nazi occupation of France, Hitler once decided that the tower be demolished along with the rest of Paris, but his commander chose to disobey him (thankfully!).
Information
How to reach
| Metro | Bir – Hakeim Station | Line # 6 |
| Trocadéro Station | Line # 9 | |
| RER | Champs de Mars – Tour Eiffel | Line C |
| Bus | Routes | 82, 42, 87, 69 |
| Stops | Tour Eiffel or Champ de Mars | |
| Boat | Tariffs | Starts at 15 € |
| http://www.batobus.com/index.htm | ||
| Car | Nearest Parking | Quai Branly car park |
Days and Timings
| Days | Everyday | |
| Opening Timing | 15th July to 1st Sept | 9:00 AM to Midnight |
| Rest of the year | 9:30 AM to 11:00 PM | |
| Extension up to midnight – Easter weekend and Spring holidays | ||
| Lift Timing | ||
| 15 July to 1 Sept | 9:00 AM to 12:45 AM | Last lift for 2nd Floor – Midnight |
| Last lift for Top – 11:00 PM | ||
| Rest of the year | 9:30 AM to 11:45 PM | Last lift for 2nd Floor – 11:00 PM |
| Last lift for Top – 10:30 PM | ||
| Stair Timing | ||
| 15 July to 1 Sept | 9:00 AM to 12:45 AM | Last Admission – Midnight |
| Rest of the year | 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM | Last Admission – 6:00 PM |
| Group Admission Timing – Last Ticket Sales | ||
| 2 nd Floor | 10:00 PM | |
| Top | 9:30 PM | |
Tickets
| Ticket type | Adults | 12-24 years | 4-11 years /Disabled persons (and person accompanying) |
| Lift (upto 2nd Floor) | 8.50 € | 7.00 € | 4.00 € |
| Lift (to the Top) | 14.50 € | 13.00 € | 10.00 € |
| Stairs(upto 2nd Floor) | 5.00 € | 3.50 € | 3.00 € |