Eiffel Tower

About

The Eiffel Tower, or la Tour Eiffel, is a 330 metre wrought iron lattice structure designed by Gustave Eiffel for the 1889 Exposition Universelle celebrating the centenary of the French Revolution. Built as a temporary installation meant to stand for 20 years, it was saved from dismantling because of its usefulness as a radio antenna. Today the Paris tower is the defining symbol of Paris and one of the top things to do in Paris. There are three public levels: the first at 57 metres and the second at 116 metres, both accessible by stairs or lift, and the summit at 276 metres reached by a separate lift from the second floor. Every hour after dark, the tower sparkles for five minutes with 20,000 flashing bulbs, a display introduced for the year 2000 celebrations and kept as a nightly ritual loved by Paris people and visitors discovering where is Paris in Europe along the Seine.