Standing tall in the heart of Paris, the Eiffel Tower is a globally recognized symbol of France. More than just a landmark, it holds a fascinating history and unique features that continue to amaze visitors. This iconic structure, built in 1889, was initially the world’s tallest tower, reaching a staggering 312 meters. Although it’s no longer the world’s tallest, its impressive height, now 324 meters including the antenna, still dominates the Parisian skyline. But its height isn’t fixed; it fluctuates with the temperature, much like a metal ruler on a hot day. During the summer, the metal expands, adding up to 20 centimeters to its height. In contrast, it shrinks by as much as 10 centimeters during the winter. This constant expansion and contraction are a testament to the tower’s metal structure.
A Tale of Paint and Preservation
Imagine painting a tower the size of the Eiffel Tower! It’s a monumental task! To ensure its longevity, the Eiffel Tower undergoes a meticulous painting process every seven years. This practice has been in place since its construction, honoring the words of its designer, Gustave Eiffel. He believed, “One cannot overemphasize the principle that paint is the essential element for preserving a metal structure, and that the care taken in applying it is the only guarantee of its longevity.” Over the years, the tower has sported various colors, including red and ochre. Since 1968, it’s been adorned in a light brown hue, reminiscent of bronze, with a slight gradient from bottom to top for a seamless visual blend with the Parisian sky. This impressive coat of paint weighs a whopping 60 tons! To mark the 2024 Olympic Games, the tower will be painted a shimmering gold, adding to its grandeur.
A Ride Up Through Time
The Eiffel Tower’s iconic elevators are a marvel of engineering, and their history is as fascinating as the tower itself. The first five hydraulic elevators were installed shortly after its inauguration, making it a technological marvel in its time. These elevators, particularly those in the east and west pillars, are a hybrid of elevators, funiculars, and cable cars. Their unique design poses challenges for maintenance teams, as they don’t conform to modern machinery standards. Despite these challenges, these elevators continue to transport millions of visitors, racking up an incredible 103,000 kilometers of travel every year—that’s two and a half times the circumference of the Earth!
Gustave Eiffel’s Private Perch
At the top of the Eiffel Tower, Gustave Eiffel created a unique space for himself—a 100-square-meter apartment with a breathtaking open-air balcony. While the balcony offered stunning views, most of the space was occupied by an elevator cabin. The apartment was more of a welcoming space for visitors than a home, featuring a living room, three offices, a bathroom, and a toilet, but no bedroom. This space has been transformed into a technical area, but it still retains a reproduction of Gustave Eiffel’s office. Inside, wax figures of Gustave Eiffel, his daughter Claire, and the inventor Thomas Edison stand as a reminder of the tower’s rich history.
A Towering Love Story
The Eiffel Tower is known as a romantic landmark, with many couples choosing it as the perfect spot to propose. However, one woman took her love for the tower to a whole new level. In 2018, an American woman named Erika LaBrie, who identifies as an objectophile, married the Iron Lady in a small ceremony on the second floor. Objectophilia is a sexual or romantic attraction to inanimate objects. After a lengthy administrative process, LaBrie officially added “Eiffel” to her name and now visits the tower annually.
Whether you’re marveling at its engineering, taking in the panoramic views, or simply enjoying its iconic presence, the Eiffel Tower continues to captivate hearts and imaginations around the globe.
