The Eiffel Tower is an iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. It was named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower. Erected in 1889 as the entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair, it has become both a global cultural icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The tower is the tallest structure in Paris
and the most-visited paid monument in the world; 7.1 million people
ascended it in 2011. The tower received its 250 millionth visitor in
2010.
The tower stands 324 metres (1,063 ft) tall, about the same height as
an 81-story building. During its construction, the Eiffel Tower
surpassed the Washington Monument to assume the title of the tallest man-made structure in the world, a title it held for 41 years, until the Chrysler Building in New York City
was built in 1930. Because of the addition of the antenna atop the
Eiffel Tower in 1957, it is now taller than the Chrysler Building by 17
feet. Not including broadcast antennas, it is the second-tallest structure in France, after the Millau Viaduct.
The tower has three levels for visitors. The third level
observatory's upper platform is at 915.7 ft, the highest
accessible to the public in the European Union. Tickets can be purchased to ascend, by stairs or lift
(elevator), to the first and second levels. The walk from ground level
to the first level is over 300 steps, as is the walk from the first to
the second level. Although there are stairs to the third and highest
level, these are usually closed to the public and it is usually
accessible only by lift. The first and second levels have restaurants. Needless to say, thankfully, we took the lifts to both the second and third levels and were able to skip the lines with our tickets. We did not eat at the restaurants, as we understood they were very overpriced for what we would get. Not to worry.....we didn't suffer with any meals we had in Paris!
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