The Eiffel Tower it is one of the most representative icons of France and also one of the most recognizable monuments in the world. Without a doubt, one of the most visited attractions in Paris and in the world, receiving approximately 25,000 visitors a day and 7 million a year. But with more than 100 years of history, this iconic and beloved monument still hides some fascinating facts worth knowing.
Get to know some of them below and discover why it is one of the most visited monuments and why it has been emulated in other parts of the world.
The project required a lot of metal and a lot of labor
Three hundred steelworkers spent two years, two months, and five days, from 1887 to 1889, building the Tower. They used more than 18,000 individual metal parts, 2.5 million rivets and 40 tons of paint.
the tower shrinks
The Eiffel Tower weighs 10,100 tons and is 324 meters high including the antennas. But surprisingly, this measurement is not static, since it can vary in size by approximately 15 centimeters during the year. Growing 3 millimeters in the heat and shrinking about 12 centimeters in the cold weather. This is due to the expansion coefficient of the material from which it is made.
It was the tallest structure in the world until 1930
For 41 years, the Eiffel Tower stood taller than any building or structure in the world, until it was surpassed by the Chrysler Building in New York, which reached 1,046 feet. Just one year later, the Empire State Building became the tallest in the world at 1,454 feet with the spire. In 1957 an antenna was added which increased the height of the Tower by 67 feet, making it 6 feet taller than the Chrysler Building.
There’s a secret apartment at the top
When Gustave Eiffel designed the tower that bears his name, he cleverly included a private apartment for himself where he entertained famous guests such as Thomas Edison. The apartment is now open for the public to tour.
Gustave Eiffel did not design the tower
While Eiffel earned the naming rights to the Tower, it was actually two men who worked for his company, Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier, who drew the original design, according to Live Science. The two engineers teamed up with French architect Stephen Sauvestre on plans for the monument and entered them into a contest to choose the main attraction for the World’s Fair.
It was only supposed to last 20 years
As mentioned above, the Tower was intended to showcase France’s industrial prowess during the World’s Fair, but the plan was to tear it down after 20 years. Eiffel had cleverly placed a radio antenna and wireless telegraph transmitter on the Tower, and the government eventually decided it was too useful to demolish.
Hitler ordered the destruction of the Eiffel Tower
When Germany occupied France during World War II, Hitler ordered the Eiffel Tower to be torn down, but the order was never carried out. However, the French resistance fighters took revenge: they cut the elevator cables of the Tower, for which the Nazis were forced to climb the stairs to raise their flag.
The Eiffel Tower is kind of a cousin to the Statue of Liberty
Before the Eiffel Tower was built, Eiffel’s firm was asked to design the internal framework of the Statue of Liberty, a task assigned to his trusted employee, Maurice Koechlin. They first demonstrated their iron work with Lady Liberty.
There is a post office at the Eiffel Tower
Hidden away on the first floor of the Tower next to the gift shops is a small post office. Pick up a carte postale and a stamp and mail it from the Eiffel Tower Post Office and it will be delivered with the unique postmark.
The Eiffel Tower was used as a scientific laboratory
Eiffel housed a meteorology laboratory on the third floor of the Tower, where he studied physics, aerodynamics and built a wind tunnel. Eiffel also opened the lab doors for other scientists to use in experiments, and cosmic rays were discovered there.
The Eiffel Tower moves
The massive iron frame is wind resistant and will sway during a storm. If the weather is bad enough, you can even move around. However, the wind is not the only thing that can make the huge Tower move, because as we mentioned, the heat of the sun and the cold also affect the Tower, causing the iron to expand and contract.
The Eiffel Tower is covered in names of scientists
The French scientists and engineers who worked in the 19th century were not forgotten by history; not only did they lend their names to Parisian streets, but 72 of their names are also engraved on the Eiffel Tower. The engraved tributes were covered up, but thanks to a restoration effort, they are visible again, and eagle-eyed visitors can see names like Foucault, Dumas, and Perrier carved into the iron.
It takes a lot of work to keep it in good condition
Every seven years, around 60 tons of paint are applied to the tower. It not only keeps the so-called Iron Lady ( La dame de fer ) in good condition, but also helps prevent the iron from rusting.
There is a military bunker under the Eiffel Tower
Beneath the south pillar of the Tower lies a bit of history: a secret military bunker that can be connected to the nearby Ecole Militaire through a long tunnel. The bunker has now been converted into a small museum and tour groups can explore the tiny space.
There’s a champagne bar at the top
If you are brave enough to make it to the top of the Tower, you can reward yourself with a glass of champagne from the integrated Champagne Bar on the top floor. There’s nothing like a glass of champagne with a spectacular view.