The metal structure 300 m high in the shape of the letter "A" was built by a team of three hundred workers under the leadership of the engineer Gustave Eiffel, after whom it was named. Crowds of tourists stand in huge queues in order to climb to its top.
The Eiffel Tower is the main symbol of France. It was not originally conceived as a tourist attraction in Paris. Its construction was timed to coincide with the beginning of the World Exhibition, and the structure itself was supposed to serve as the main entrance to the event.
Where is the Eiffel Tower
The top of the Eiffel Tower is visible from almost every corner of Paris. And the tower itself is located in the north-west of the Champ de Mars, which separates it from the Military Academy. There are several ways to get to it.
Take Metro Line 9 to Trocadero station. You will exit on the right bank of the Seine and find yourself on the observation deck, where you can take beautiful photographs. If you are traveling as part of an excursion group, you will be brought here by bus. To get closer to the tower, you need to cross the river.
The second way is to take the sixth metro line to Bir-Hakeim station. Then at the exit you will immediately find yourself on the left bank of the river, and all you have to do is walk along Quai Branly. The distance from both stations to the tower is about the same, but in the first case, you can enjoy a stunning view from the observation deck.
Three levels of the tower
Once at the foot of the tower, do not try to limit yourself to this spectacle. The tower has three levels that are accessible to tourists. You can climb the first two with the help of an elevator or on foot, passing a total of 668 steps.
On the first level of the tower, you can see a fragment of the staircase that used to connect the second and third floors of the tower. There is also a souvenir shop and a restaurant "Height 95". Many photographs and posters will tell the story of the main symbol of France.
The second level of the tower is at an altitude of 115 m. From here you can see the panoramas of the city, buy gifts for friends and family, and also visit the Jules Verne restaurant.
The last floor is located at an altitude of 226 m. Not all visitors decide to climb to such a height. In addition, the third level is closed in windy weather. But, if you are lucky enough to be here, you will surely appreciate the stunning views of Paris, and in the evening you will see the sunset. At the very top of the tower there is a reconstructed office of the chief architect G. Eiffel and a bar.
The Eiffel Tower is open to the public from 9:00 to 00:00 in the summer and from 9:30 to 23:00 the rest of the year. There are fewer queues in the morning, and at night, the structure glows with multi-colored flashing lights. On the Champ de Mars, from which the tower is fully visible, you can organize a picnic.
