posted by Travel Cat on Jun 21
“How tall is the Eiffel Tower?” and “Where is the Eiffel Tower located?” are 2 of the many questions always asked about this majestic structure in the center of Paris, France.
Whenever travelers think of France, they think of the romance attached to the city and the tower itself! They know other great sights in the city - but this is the one they can’t leave without seeing. Even if they only spend one night in Paris - they want to see it!
Built in 1889 and named after it’s designer - the engineer Gustave Eiffel - it is the most visited paid for monument in the whole world! Over 200,000,000 people have been here in the 220 years since it was unveiled beside the Seine!
How Long Did It Take To Build The Eiffel Tower?
Well, around about 2 years really. The designer apparently wanted to build the tower in Barcelona at first!
300 workers were involved in the structure - joining over 18,000 pieces of iron together using over 2.5 million rivets!
It actually only had a license to stand for 20 years - and really was in the firing line for being dismantled in 1909 - until it helped the city with radio communication……
How tall is the Eiffel Tower?
Including the radio mast - that saved it from destruction - the Eiffel Tower is 324 meters high - that’s 1063 feet - about 81 stories high.
At the time of it’s completion it was the tallest structure in the world! And it held this title until 1930 when the Chrysler Building was completed in New York.
Today, the Eiffel Tower isn’t even the tallest structure in France anymore - it is the 5th tallest - which it won’t hold for much longer……
Other Facts About The Eiffel Tower:
The whole structure weighs 10,000 tonnes - but the metal alone is 7,300 tonnes.
The tower can sway up to 7 cm in the wind!
It has over 710 steps spread over the floors - with markers along the way to let you know how many more you have to climb!
It takes up to 60 tonnes of paint every time it needs a new coat! And they stagger the paint colors to look the same from the ground!
Where Is The Eiffel Tower Located?
Get yourself a map of Paris, as there is plenty more to see after you stroll under the massive leg-span of the Eiffel Tower beside the Seine.
Cross the river to the jumble of junctions that is the Arc de Triomphe and on to the great park of Longchamps.
Or, follow the Seine to the west and you will find the delightful Champs-Elysees leading to the Place de la Concorde on the other shore which becomes the Louvre Museum!
A little bit further down on one of the Islands in the great river is the famous Notre Dame Cathedral!
So much to see - and all the time in the world to do it! Bonne Chance!
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