Learn all about the most visited tourist spot in the world

Only those who have ever been to Paris know how exciting it is to come across the Eiffel Tower for the first time. And for the second, for the third ... The icon of the French capital is one of the most famous in the world, often attracting tourists from everywhere possible.

When Paris is the focus, the trip can be of many different types: it's great for those who like to know new places and it's ideal for lovers who kiss in front of Heloise and Abelard's tomb at the giant Père-Lanchaise - being in this same cemetery who are buried Jim Morrison, Oscar Wilde and Édith Piaf, just to name a few.


And if you've always wanted to see the little big Mona Lisa, it's the Louvre, one of the largest in the world. For those who like shopping, the Champs-Élysées is a must stop and if your dream is to know the immensity of Versailles Castle, you can do that too. Don't forget to visit Montmartre, of course, to check out the street art, visit the Sacre Coeur and have a coffee at Le Deux Moulins, famous after "Amélie Poulain's Fabulous Destination".

Anyway ... You will have a busy schedule with the kind of programming that makes up your mind when you go to Paris. But once in the City of Light, dare not miss the Eiffel Tower. And if you like to know more about the places you visit, check out some amazing curiosities about the huge structure:

  • The name is a tribute to the tower's design designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel. He has already designed other monuments, bridges and even is responsible for the armor of the Statue of Liberty;
  • The Eiffel Tower was originally planned for Barcelona for the 1888 Universal Exposition, but the project was not approved. The following year, Eiffel presented the same idea to Paris, and this time he heard a yes answer;
  • The tower was not built in Barcelona on the grounds of being “very expensive and strange”;
  • In all, 50 engineers participated in the tower construction and analysis of the 5, 300 drawings the project contained, detailing every inch of the structure;

  • All 18, 000 metal parts of the tower were built separately;
  • Even though it is a high-risk building, mainly due to the lack of common safety features today, “only” one man died during the construction of the structure;
  • The works began in 1887 and ended on March 31, 1889;
  • The tower weighs 10, 100 tons;
  • During the time of construction, many protests occurred asking for the work to be stopped;
  • Even after its construction was completed, the monument was rejected by many Parisians. Writer Guy de Maupassant was one of the people who disliked the Tower, but went to lunch at his restaurant every day. When asked about this contempt and going to lunch at the tower restaurant, Maupassant replied that he had lunch there because it was the only place in Paris where you can't see the structure;


  • Thanks to the grumpy who didn't like the news, the tower would be destroyed after 20 years. Fortunately, it remained intact even after the deadline expired. Over time, people began to like the structure and today Parisians love it;
  • The Eiffel Tower was also occupied by Germans during World War II. The French cut the cables that facilitated the climb to the tower. Hitler would have to face the 1, 665 steps if he wanted to climb to the top of the structure. Well done. During his stay in Paris, Hitler never climbed to the top;
  • With the liberation of Paris in 1944, the Eiffel Tower became a symbol of French freedom when a nation flag was placed on top of the structure;
  • To protect the metal, the tower is covered with a special paint that prevents material aging. It is hard to see, but it is painted in three different shades of paint, the lighter shade being at the top of the Iron Lady, as it is also known. The darker shade is at the lower end;
  • The tower needs to be repainted every seven years - this process takes between 15 and 18 months;
  • The tower is the most visited tourist spot in the world;

  • It is estimated that 200 million people have been in front of the tower since its construction;
  • The structure is 324 meters high, the equivalent of a 108-story building;
  • The building has three levels, all of which are open for visitation, usually. The first two are accessible by elevators or by stairs. To go to the third, only with elevator;
  • It is important that you visit the tower also at night to see the light show that the 20 thousand illuminated points guarantee to the place;
  • The tower is located in central Paris, in the Parc du Champ de Mars. You can go to her by subway. If so, get off at Trocadèro station - so your first view of the monument will be from Trocadèro square, which will make the moment even more unforgettable;

* Posted on 4/4/14

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