DISCOVERING THE EIFFEL TOWER

History of the Eiffel tower

The Eiffel tower was imagined by Gustave Eiffel in 1887 and it was inaugurated on March 31st 1889. It was built for the Universal Exhibition which had to celebrate the centenary of the French Revolution. In the newspapers a big concourse was launched. On the place of the Champ de Mars, people who participated had to do an iron tower, and the Eiffel tower was chosen among the 107 others.

Mr. Eiffel & Cie was the contractor, the engineers were Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier and the architect was Stephen Sauvestre.

It is composed of 18,038 metal castings and 2,500, 000 rivets. The Eiffel Tower is 324m high and it weighs 10 000 tons. There are 1665 steps to go up to the second floor and we must take the elevator to go up to the last floor. Since 1889, about 250 million visitors have visited this monument.

Activities on the Eiffel Tower!

This monument is located in a vibrant neighbourhood. In the Eiffel Tower there are lots of activities to do. You can eat, play and learn.

You can eat in three different restaurants:
- Le Jules Verne (on the second floor) is a very expensive and classy restaurant. You can read an article about this exceptional restaurant here : Le Jules Verne
- 58 Tour Eiffel (on the first floor) : it’s not really cheap but it is not expensive either.
- Les buffets de la Tour Eiffel (on the first and second floors) : it’s not very good food but you can eat fast and it’s cheap.

You can play and learn with games for children too.  Children are given a little book with many little games. That’s good when you have to wait for the big lifts which take you to the top of the Tower.

This winter there is an ice rink on the first floor. It is free for the visitors of the Eiffel Tower and it is open from December 15^th to February 9^th.

The Eiffel Tower is open every day from 9:30am to 11pm but you can go to the Champs de Mars and only have a look at it. Every hour at night there are illuminations. That is so beautiful!

An interview of William, our English language assistant! 
Is the Eiffel Tower his favourite monument in Paris...?

To know more about William's favourite place in Paris click here !

Amélie, Anaëlle, Anne & Bérangère