Eiffel Tower - SpeedyLook encyclopedia

General presentation

Disputed by some in the beginning, the Eiffel tower was initially, at the time of the World Fair of 1889, the window of French technological know-how. Voted by plebiscite by the public as of its presentation with the exposure, it accommodated more 220 million visitors since his inauguration. Its exceptional size and its immediately recognizable silhouette made an emblem of Paris of it.

Imagined by Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier, respectively chief of the office of the studies and chief of the office of the methods of Eiffel & Co, the Eiffel tower is designed to be the “nail of the Exposure of 1889 being held in Paris. ”. She also greets the centenary of the French revolution. The foreground is carried out in June 1884 and is improved by Stephen Sauvestre, the architect as a chief of the projects of the company, which brings more esthetics to him.

May 1st 1886, the Minister Commercial and Industry Edouard Lockroy, enthusiastic defender of the project, signs a stopped which declares open “a contest for the World Fair of 1889”. Gustave Eiffel gains this contest and a Convention of the January 8th 1887 lays down the methods of exploitation of the building.

Built in 2 years, 2 months and 5 days, of 1887 to 1889, by 250 Working S, it is officially inaugurated the March 31st 1889. Its frequentation erodes quickly; the Eiffel tower will be truly a massive and constant success only as from the years 1960, with the rise of the international Tourisme. She accommodates now more than 6 million visitors each year.

Its 300 meters height enabled him to carry the title of “higher structure of the world” until construction in 1930 of the Chrysler Building, with New York. The Eiffel tower, built on the Field-of-March, close to the the Seine, in the 7 {{E}} district of Paris, is currently exploited by the Development company of the tower Eiffel (SETE). The site, which employs 500 people (250 directly employed by the SETE and 250 by the various dealers installed on the monument), is open the every day of the year.

Description of the tower stages by stage

Information below describes the principal technical data of each stage, as well as principal curiosities which are offered to the visitor, once on the spot.

The base

The tower falls under a square of 125 side meters, according to the same terms of the contest of 1886. High with its 116 antennas, it 325 meters is located at 33,5 meters above the Sea level.

the foundations : The two pillars located on the side of the Military academy rest on a concrete bed of 2 meters, which itself rests on a gravel bed, the pit making in all 7 meters of depth. The two pillars side the Seine are even located in lower part of the level of the river.

The workmen worked in tight steel caissons into which compressed air (proceeded Triger) was injected. 16 foundation units support each edge of the four pillars and of enormous bolts 7,80 meters length anchor fix the steel cast iron shoe on which each pillar rests.

the pillars : Each of the four pillars is directed in direction of the cardinal points. The base of the pillars is each time concrete a base of 25 meters side and 4 meters height.

Nowadays, the cases for the purchase of the tickets occupy the pillars north and west, the elevators are accessible since the pillars is and western, the staircases (opened with the public to the second stage, and including/understanding on the whole 1 665 steps until the top) are accessible since the pillar is, and finally, the southern pillar includes/understands a private elevator, reserved to the personnel and to the customers of the gourmet restaurant Jules-Verne , located on the second floor.

the arcs : Tended between each of the four pillars, the arcs rise with 39 meters above the ground and have a diameter of 74 meters. Although very richly decorated on the initial sketches with Stephen Sauvestre, they are it much less nowadays and have especially an architectural function: to rigidify the whole of the structure at its base.

The first stage

Located at 57 meters above the ground, of a surface of approximately 4.200 square meters, it can support the simultaneous presence of approximately 3.000 people.

A circular gallery makes the turn of the first stage and makes it possible to embrace a sight in 360° on Paris. This gallery is punctuated several tables of orientation and telescopes making it possible to observe the Parisian monuments. Face outside are registered the names of soixante-douze personalities of the scientific world Des.

This first stage shelters the restaurant Altitude 95 which extends on two levels. This one offers on a side, a very beautiful sight panoramic on Paris, and other, a sight on the interior of the tower. Its name comes from the altitude of the first stage of the Eiffel tower, located at 95 meters above the sea level.

One can also see certain vestiges related to the history of the Eiffel tower, in particular a section of the Staircase spiral which, at the origin of the monument, went up until the top. This staircase was dismounted in 1986, at the time of very important renovation works of the tower. It was then cut out of 22 sections of which 21 was sold with the biddings, and was bought for the majority by American collectors.

Lastly, an observatory of the movements of the top allows to recall the oscillations of the tower under the effect of the wind and thermal dilation. Gustave Eiffel had required that it be able to support an amplitude of 70 centimetres, which was never the case since in the facts, at the time of the heat wave of 1976, the amplitude of the oscillation was of 18 cm and 13 cm at the time of the storm of December 1999 (wind of 240 km/h).

The second stage

Located at 115 meters above the ground, of a surface of approximately 1.650 square meters, it can support the simultaneous presence of approximately 1.600 people.

Currently, the staircase beyond the second stage is not opened with the public. To reach on the third floor, it is thus necessary to borrow the elevator.

It is of this stage that the sight is the best, altitude being optimal compared to the buildings downwards (on the third floor, they are less visible) and with the general prospect (more limited necessarily on the first floor). When time is released, one estimates that one can see up to 55 kilometers in the south, 60 in north, 65 in the east and 70 in the west.

Through the floor, glazed port-holes were installed in order to downwards allow a view from above on the ground. Metal nettings of protection prevent any attempt at jump in the vacuum, which it is of a suicide or a sporting exploit.

The restaurant Jules-Verne is a famous gourmet restaurant of a capacity of 95 covers, rewarded for a star by famous the Guide Michelin , of one 16/20 and three hats with the guide Gault-Millau. Unchanged since 1983, year of the opening of the restaurant, the decoration, very dark, is melted with discretion in the metal structures of the tower and a large picture window makes it possible to have a very beautiful sight on Paris. Its chief, Alain Reix is helped permanently by about thirty cooks and waiters (the personnel counts 90 people in all), seven days over Sept. a “private” elevator (it is also used for the personnel of maintenance of the tower), located southern pillar leads directly to a platform of approximately 500 m ², with exactly 123 meters height. The customers coming often by far, covers are reserved a long time in advance, one month for midday in three months for the evening.

The third stage

Located at 275 meters above the ground, of a surface of 350 square meters, it can support the simultaneous presence of approximately 400 people.

The access is done obligatorily by an elevator (the staircase is interdict with the public starting from the second stage) and gives on a punctuated closed space of tables of orientation. While assembling some steps, the visitor arrives on an external platform, sometimes called - wrongly - “fourth stage”.

One can see on this floor a reconstitution of the type “Musée Grévin” showing Gustave Eiffel receiving Thomas Edison which does nothing but reinforce the idea according to which Gustave Eiffel would have used the place as office. Historical reality is different. In the facts, the place was initially occupied by the weather laboratory, before it is it by Gustave Ferrié in the years 1910 for its experiments of wireless telegraphy (TSF).

All in top of the tower, a mast of remote transmission was installed in 1957, then supplemented in 1959 to cover approximately 10 million hearths in hertzian programs. The January 17th 2005, the device is increased first transmitter TNT French, bearing to 116 the number of antennas of remote transmission and broadcasting of the unit. The addition of this 116^ème antenna made pass the height of the tower of 324 meters to 325 meters.

History

Chronology

See also: detailed Chronology of the tower Eiffel

History

Chronological approach

The Third Republic and the rise of the techniques

Imagined in 1884, built between 1887 and 1889 and inaugurated for the World Fair of 1889 to Paris, the Eiffel tower symbolizes nowadays, a country in entirety, France.

But the painter most prolific and inspired with respect to the Eiffel tower remains Robert Delaunay, which makes of it the subject central of about thirty fabrics, carried out between 1910 and 1925.

; Music The Eiffel tower also attracted many singers, the place offering for the spectacle, of the exceptional possibilities, that it is for the artist as for the public, asset in advance or simply curious. Thus, the September 25th 1962, for the launching of the film the longest day , the producer Darryl F. Zanuck organizes an imposing spectacle in Paris. On this occasion, Edith Piaf, accompanied by a fireworks of 1500 rockets, sings since the first stage of the Eiffel tower in front of 25.000 Parisian. In 1966, for the launching of the worldwide campaign against the hunger, Charles Aznavour and Georges Brassens sing there. July 14th 1995, it is with the turn of Jean-Michel Jarre to give a concert to the foot of the Eiffel Tower to celebrate the 50 years of UNESCO, owe more than one million spectators. Lastly, the June 10th 2000, Johnny Hallyday gives a concert and a pyrotechnical spectacle to it, in front of 600.000 people, from which it will draw a disc: 100% Johnny - Live with the tower Eiffel .

; Photographs In Photography, almost all the largest known artists carried out at least a stereotype representing it in backdrop or like central subject.

; Literature In Literature, the Eiffel tower was approached more once by the writers. Central subject of a book or simple decoration, it enamelled the literary creation of the 19th century at our days. The effect of innovation and progressively being dissipated mode, the monument less frequently appears in the contemporary literature than in that of the end of the 19th century and first half of the 20th century.

It is also to note that the authors having treated building, are in French majority, or at least, French-speaking.

At the time of its construction and the whole beginning of its exploitation, the monument before all things was the subject of personal criticism analyzes, generally published in newspapers of the time and generally negative, the artists approaching the recurrent themes of the technical, industrial and commercial challenge that the tower represented at the time, of its influence on the radiation of France abroad, the esthetic aspect or on the contrary unaesthetic of the tower or of its potential scientific interest or contrary to its uselessness.

Thereafter, in front of the popular success which it gained near the general public, a great number of writers re-examined their considerations, sweeping their last reserves.

Undoubtedly this is Roland Barthes which describes best this feeling of attraction/repulsion of the artists with respect to the Eiffel tower:

Glance, object, symbol, the tower is all that the man puts in it, and this whole is infinite. Spectacle looked at and looking at, useless and irreplaceable building, familiar world and heroic, pilot symbol of one century and always new monument, inimitable object and unceasingly reproduced, it is the pure sign, opened at all times, all the images and all the directions, the metaphor without brake; through the tower, the men exert this great function of the imaginary one, which is their freedom; since no history, however dark it, can forever theirs remove| Roland Barthes, the Tower Eiffel , Delpire Editor, 1964.

It was thus approached in novels: Leon-Paul Fargue reconsiders the critical analysis of its pars, on the lathe at its beginnings ( the pedestrian of Paris , 1932 - 1939), just as Pierre Mac Orlan, which while recalling that at the beginning, for the artists, “to vituperate against the tower was a patent of literary and artistic sensitivity”, underlines the scientific interest and soldier which was then recognized with the tower ( the Tower, Javel and Bélandres, Villes , in complete Œuvres ), finally lately, Pascal Lainé approach the history of the design, construction and first years of exploitation of the tower through a fictionalized narration ( the Mystery of the tower Eiffel , 2005). In that, it approaches Dino Buzzati, which in K. , put in scene a fictitious workman who would have worked on the building site of the tower in 1887 - 1889. Nevertheless, Buzatti proceeds differently from Woolly, its text being a news, not a novel, and the fantastic and nonrealistic tone used being as for Pascal Lainé.

In Poetry, Guillaume Apollinaire made of it a nationalist calligramme ( Calligrammes , 1918) and a text that Rene Étiemble considers, in Essais of literature (really) general , as an example of successful Western Haïku (“Shepherdess O Eiffel Tower/the herd of the bridges/Bêle this morning”). In July 1888, François Coppée, fustigates the Eiffel tower which it treats of “iron mast with the hard tackles/Inachevé, confused, deformed”, of “useless symbol of force”, “monstrous and missed work” or of “ridiculous mast” ( On the lathe Eiffel, second plate , Poésies ). In May 1889, by interposed poetry, Raoul Bonnery answers him: “You put the flower of your science have to call me “hideous Monster”/A little more recognition/had agreed to You perhaps better. ”, or “Which blood in your veins circulates/to clean you with contempt,/That I am a ridiculous mast/On the ship of Paris. /A mast? I accept the epithet,/But a mast proud, daring,/Which will know, carrying high the head,/Parler about progress to the skies. ” ( the Eiffel tower in François Coppée, the day of its 300 meters , in the Frank newspaper ). Contrary to the preceding examples, Vicente Huidobro, Blaise Cendrars and Louis Aragon pays homage to him (respectively in North-South , n°6-7, 1917, the tower in 1910 in Nineteen poems elastic , 1913 and the tower speaks in the Eiffel Tower about Robert Delaunay ). Pierre Bourgeade, in a news entitled Committed suicide the , reports, via the testimony of a guard, the suicide of an unknown factor having jumped of the 3rd stage of the tower (in Immortal the , Gallimard, 1966).

With the Theater, the Eiffel tower was the subject of the parts a visit with the exposure of 1889 , light comedy in 3 acts and 10 tables (Henri Rousseau) and the Grooms of the tower Eiffel (Jean Cocteau, 1921).

The monument of Field-of-March was also treated in particular forms: newspaper (Jules de Goncourt and Edmond de Goncourt, Newspaper , volume VIII, May 6th and July 2nd, 1889), account of voyage (Guy of Maupassant, , 1890), where the writer say his dislike of the Eiffel tower, semiological study (Roland Barthes, the Tower Eiffel , 1964), but also foreword of books, speech to a conference, article in a review etc

; Cinema-television

As soon as cinematographic engineering started to develop, the Eiffel tower was filmed by the most famous scenario writers, but initially, only in the form of documentary ( Panorama during the rise of the tower Eiffel , Louis Lumière, 1897, Images of the exposure 1900 , Georges Méliès, 1900).

The first fiction having the Eiffel tower as principal decoration is a French medium-length film, Paris which sleeps (Rene Clair, 1923). In this short film (35 minutes), a scientist plunges Paris in the sleep. A handle of men and women, who take refuge in the heights of the Eiffel tower, escape the fate reserved to the other inhabitants from the capital.

In 1930, with the End of the world , Abel Gance carries out the first feature-length film (1h45) and pushes research to emphasize the esthetism of the structures of the tower.

In the years 1940, the imagery conveyed by the Eiffel tower starts to be integrated in American films. Thus, Ninotchka, one of greatest successes of the realizer of German origin emigrated to the the United States Ernst Lubitsch, uses the image of the Eiffel tower in a manner symbolic system.

In 1949, Burgess Meredith carries out the Man of the tower Eiffel ( The Man one the Eiffel Tower ), the first adaptation to the cinema of a novel of Georges Simenon. Charles Laughton which incarnates the Commissaire Maigret, must solve a murder made with the Eiffel tower, which pushes it to reconsider several times the spot in the search of indices.

The June 4th 1966, is diffused the first important telefilm having a relationship with the tower Eiffel, the Rose of iron , 39e episode of the first series (1958-1973) of the Five Last Minutes .

From the years 1980, the Eiffel tower will appear in several large American films. In 1985, Dangerously yours ( has View to has Kill ), the fourteenth James Bond produces with the cinema by EON Productions and the last of seven films turned by Roger Moore in this role, puts in scene the Eiffel tower in an action film general public (budget of 30.000.000 of $, 42.9 million entries in the world and 152.400.000 of $ of receipts on the whole for the exploitation with the cinema.

Then the American cinema will be increasingly fond of delicacies appearances of the tower, in particular for its practical effect and symbolic system. It makes it possible, indeed, to mean in only one plan or only one sequence, even short, whether the action is in France, or in Paris. Thus, as of 1953, Byron Haskin the watch destroyed in its adaptation of the War of the worlds .

This kind of images (destroyed the Eiffel tower) thereafter will be often used in American films to mean immediate and serious planetary danger, as in 1996 in Independence Day and Attacks Mars! or Armageddon in 1998.

; Other artistic forms In addition to one century of existence, the image of the famous Parisian monument was used many times, in very many forms (currencies, banknote, stamps, logotypes, etc), but quote as example the following fields:

Jeux vidéo : In the Strategy game in real-time Command & Conquer (1995), the Eiffel tower is one of the objectives of possible mission of the GDI (in French, Groupement of international defense or in original version Global Defense Initiative). Five years later, it appears again in Command & Conquer: Red Alert 2 (2000) In the play for Playstation Twisted Metal 2 (1996), the Eiffel tower appears in one of the 11 levels (the level “Monumental Disaster” which occurs to Paris). The tower also appears in a more or less important way in Onimusha 3: Demon Sits (2004), Evil Genius (2005) and lately in Blazing Angels: Squadrons off WWII (2006).

Bandes dessinées : One of the cartoons most known for her use of the Eiffel tower, is perhaps Adèle Blanc-Sec, T2: The Demon of the tower Eiffel of Jacques Tardi.

The Eiffel tower appears on the cover of an album of Blake and Mortimer drawn by Edgar P. Jacobs, S.O.S. Meteors (volume 8), without however playing the least part in the history.

Without being strictly speaking a cartoon, André Juillard carried out 36 sights of the tower Eiffel , with the manner of Hokusai with its Trentesix Sights of the mount Fuji (Estampe S, 1831) and Henri Rivière with his 36 sights of the tower Eiffel (Lithographie S, 1902).

Illuminations of the tower

Since its beginnings, the Eiffel tower always knew to emphasize its particular structure by plays of light, that it is by the means of the fireworks, of the Gaz, the electricity, the Néon S or of the Sodium to high pressure.

Thus, as of 1888, before even its completion, of fires of artifices were drawn since the second stage, and still now, it is the place of appointment of Parisian all the July 14th.

In 1889, and initially, the lighting S of the tower are done using 10.000 gas burners, but as of 1900, within the framework of the World Fair which is held with Paris, they is done with electricity.

In 1925, André Citroen makes install enormous a luminous Publicité for its mark, extending in height. The illuminations by 250.000 bulbs six colors appear nine tables, the last being the name Citroen with a lettering stylized version Art Déco. It is installed until 1933 although the city multiplied by six its tax since 1926.

In 1937, for the International exhibition of the applied arts, André Granet conceives a new lighting emphasizing the lace structure of the tower the luminous fountains are harmonized with those of the gardens of Trocadéro.

In 1985, the SNTE (new Company of exploitation of the Eiffel tower), the new one exploiting since January 1st 1980, makes install an orange yellow lighting placed inside the structures of the tower, composed of a device of 352 projectors to sodium.

Then the tower was symbolically equipped with the manner of a Phare, with the manner of a universal reference mark. Two beams of light sweep the Parisian sky until a distance of 80 kilometers. This “headlight” is composed of four motorized projectors of type “marinades” provided with lamps with xenon of 6000 W of longevity approximately a 1200 hours, controlled by microcomputer and synchronized to form a double swivelling beam in cross with 360°.

For the passage of the Year 2000, the Eiffel tower, in addition to its usual lighting, was equipped with 20.000 flashes. These 20.000 bulbs with bayonets crépitaient the every day during 10 minutes at midday, and of fallen the night at 1 o'clock in the morning, in addition to usual gilded lighting, they were illuminated during 5 minutes with each new passage of hour. Lastly, at 1 o'clock in the morning, to close the spectacle, the bulbs shone during 10 minutes, but this time alone, i.e. without the usual lighting of the tower.

In June 2003, the Eiffel tower positions back the scintillating device of the year 2000, but with a novel method. Fallen the night at 1 o'clock in the morning the winter or 2 hours of the morning the summer, in the passing of each hour, it comes to be superimposed on the usual lighting which the tower raises since 1986. Composed of 20.000 flashes, the flutter takes place during 10 minutes and to finish, that is to say at 1 o'clock in the morning the winter and 2 hours of the morning the summer, it is only done, gilded lighting being extinct.

The January 24th 2004, an exceptional device is set up to celebrate the Chinese new year with Paris, which actually, took place officially this year the January 22nd on a world level. Set up with the partnership of EDF (intervening via the Citelum Group), this system was launched on Saturday, January 24, 2004 following a procession organized on the Fields-Élysées celebrating the Chinese new year in Paris. It was inaugurated by Jean-Jacques Aillagon, the French minister for the Culture and the Communication, by Sun Jiazheng, its counterpart, Chinese Minister for the Culture and the mayors of Paris, Bertrand Delanoë and Beijing, Wang Qishan.

Sporting exploits

Among the principal sporting exploits having marked the history of the Eiffel tower can be quoted the following facts: In April 1900, Henry Deutsch of Meurthe offers a price of 100.000 francs (approximately 320.000 €) to the first flying machine able to traverse the way return ticket of Saint-Cloud to the Eiffel tower in less than 30 minutes, this before October 1904. The October 19th 1901, Alberto Santos-Dumont carries out the exploit in 30 minutes 42 S, with its airship n°6 and gains the price which it will share with his collaborators.

The February 4th 1912, Franz Reichelt, a Tailor of Austrian origin, decides to jump of the first stage of the Eiffel tower, provided with an aerofoil of its invention. Its jump was filmed and the document of a few tens of seconds always exists. In this document, the man starts by rotating, vis-a-vis the camera, trusting to show his “Parachute”, which is in fact only one kind of improved overcoat. He then climbs on the edge of the first stage, taken long hesitations before the jump. He jumps. The fall is very fast. It is crushed. The crowd of curious piled up with the foot about the Eiffel tower observe her body then and the hole which it left in the ground of Field-of-March. The Autopsie showed that Reichelt had died of a Heart attack, before to have even touched the ground.

This “man-bird” was the precursor of long series of adventurers who will try, sometimes to the danger of their life, to jump since the Eiffel tower.

It is that, if the Eiffel tower had known one fatal accident (see higher) during its construction, the statistics were different afterwards. Thus, there would have been on the whole, 366 died since the beginnings of the tower Eiffel, all confused reasons: sporting challenges failures, accidents, suicides, etc For several decades, the company exploiting the monument has set up a system of safety nets preventing the accidents and dissuading the adventurers. In spite of that, some still manage to pass in addition to and to face the danger. For example, it was thus the May 17th 2005, when a Norwegian 31 years, accompanied by two friends, all followers of the “Base jump”, was killed around 10 p.m. while wanting to jump in parachute of the second stage of the Eiffel tower. In spite of protections, it had succeeded in springing tower but had been embedded shortly after on the structures of the first stage, dying on the blow.

Victor Lustig: “the man who sold the Eiffel tower”

One of the most outstanding exploits, although without sporting value, undoubtedly remains that of the swindler Victor Lustig, who succeeds in 1925 selling the Eiffel tower in spare parts to a scrap merchant. Lustig, helped of daN Hakes, called “Dapper daN”, an assistant met in New York, had read in the press which the Eiffel tower could be demolished soon. It had then the idea to manufacture false documents with the heading of the ministry for the Stations and Télégraphes, organization responsible for the tower, and to invite the five more important companies récupératrices of ferrous metals to the Hôtel of Crillon, Place of the Harmony, with Paris, supposedly to carry out the transaction in any discretion. Only being in the confidence the president of the Republic, the minister, the deputy minister were supposed (incarnated by Victor Lustig) and his principal private secretary (incarnated by Dapper daN, its accomplice). He announced to them: “Sirs, the government will have to demolish the Eiffel tower! And you are here to tender! ”. Then it led them to the Eiffel tower in the limousine and made them visit, before announcing to the most credulous scrap merchant whom it had gained the market. This one agreed to make a large check, supposedly representing the quarter of the tender, increased in addition to a Pot-de-vin!

After having cashed the check, the two swindlers fled for the Austria. Some time later, they returned to Paris for retenter their chance with new scrap merchants, but the police force supervised the two accomplices, who had to escape in boat from New York.

This exploit was included in the book the man who sold the tower Eiffel ( The Man Who Sold the Eiffel Tower ) of James F. Johnson and Floyd Miller, published in 1961 at Doubleday for the original version and in 1963 at Calmann-Levy for the French translation. In 1964, Claude Chabrol carried out a short-measuring inspired of this history and heading the man who sold the tower Eiffel in the Film with sketches the Most beautiful Swindles of the world .

Statistical data

A tower very great height

Higher building of all times to its inauguration in March 1889, the Eiffel tower for summer has largely exceeded in the race with the height.

Currently, the most Gratte-ciel is Taipei 101 (508 meters), if one takes into account only the building alone, i.e. the distance ground-roof of the building, but if one also takes into account the antenna, it acts this time of the Tour Sears (529 meters, for 442 meters without antenna). So now, beyond the inhabited buildings or sheltering offices, one extends to all types of structures, the records in fact are held by turns of télétransmission. Thus, the building highest having ever been built by the man is the Tour of transmission of Radio Warsaw with 646 meters. This mast being broken down the August 8th 1991, the current record is in fact held by the mast of remote transmission of station KVLY (North Dakota) with 629 meters.

But for a few months with Dubai work of a building site and a gigantic project has started: the construction of a building of which the estimated total height would be about 810 meters. Burj Dubai should thus see the day in 2008 and become - by far the most monument from the world. August 2nd 2007, the height of this tower is of 143 stages (521.7 bills of quantities) out of the 189 envisaged with the final one.

In less than 120 years, the record height of the Eiffel tower would thus be multiplied by 2,7 (of 300 meters for the Eiffel tower at the origin with 810 meters for Burj Dubai).

It does not remain about it less than the building of Gustave Eiffel beat at his time several records. First of all world records height, certainly largely beaten since, then record (relative) of longevity while remaining 41 years the most building of the world (the Grande pyramid of Gizeh held this same place for one length of time 100 times longer) and finally, with the inauguration in 1889, by increasing by only one blow of 130 meters the record which was held at the time by the obelisk of Washington (300 meters for the Eiffel tower against 169 meters for the obelisk). At the 19th century, to build a monument very great height was ambivalent. Although criticized by some, this idea was nevertheless in the air of time. As will say it Eugene-Nickel silver of Vogue in connection with the project of the Eiffel tower, to build a tower great height is a dream and a challenge which “had stirred up obscurely for a few years in the brain of the engineers”.

Built over long periods and with many workmen, the religious buildings were the first to prove that to build structures great height could be technically possible. Thus of is it Cathedral of Rouen, which after a fire in 1822, is seen capped into 1837 of a cast iron arrow 40 meters height, which will increase its height to 150 meters and will make of it the most building of the world of 1876 to 1880, that is to say 9 years only before the inauguration of the Eiffel tower which will make… the double height. The stone alone makes certainly it possible to reach great heights, but it has however its limits. The obelisk of Washington of it is the proof. The foregrounds of the column are drawn in 1838, work began in 1848 and it was envisaged in the beginning that the monument, fact of marble, sandstone and granite, reaches 180 meters height. The building site will last 37 years, without however never achieving the initial objective. Completed on December 6th, 1884, inaugurated on February 20th, 1885, Washington Monument will be officially opened with the public on October 9th, 1888, posting 169 meters, that is to say 10 less than envisaged. From 1884 to 1889, it will be the highest structure of the world, before the Eiffel tower does not come the détrôner with its 300 meters.

But actually, the engineers of the 19th century know that only the control of the technique of iron can enable them to seriously plan to build a very high structure. That it is in England, France or in the United States, the projects will multiply to achieve the goal of 300 meters. In 1833, Richard Trevithick, expert British of the steam engines, is the first to propose a project of column in cast iron openwork, high of 1.000 feet (≈300 meters).

In France, in the years 1880, the main competitor of Gustave Eiffel is Jules Bourdais, who is far from being an unknown since he imagined and built, with Gabriel Davioud, the palate of Trocadéro, within the framework of the World Fair of 1878. Bourdais initially will imagine a tower of 300 meters out of granite, but the project not taking enough counts of it the problem of the resistance of materials, this material will be finally replaced by iron in 1886, at the time of the contest which opposes it to Gustave Eiffel to build a tower of 300 meters for the World Fair of 1889. If Jules Bourdais remained known like a serious competitor of Eiffel, it is that it knew to promote, like its adversary, its project of turn near the politicians, the media and the general public. But the other engineers are not in remainder. The high number from filed in projects in May 1886, 107 exactly, testifies some. Even if they all do not seem realistic, that proves that Gustave Eiffel is far from being the only engineer to have board on this project of very high tower.

On their side, the engineer-architects thus know that metal can enable them to build structures increasingly higher. But still they should not too much not underestimate the esthetic or utility aspect.

As of the design, Stephen Sauvestre had given an esthetic varnish to the tower Eiffel and Gustave Eiffel had underlined his future scientific interest. And yet that did not prevent the artists of its time from violently disparaging its project. Whereas the foundations of the building had begun only a few days earlier, on January 28th, 1887 exactly, a letter of protest of artists appeared in the newspaper Time on February 17th, 1887. Signed great names of the time (Alexandre Dumas wire, Guy of Maupassant, Charles Gounod, Leconte de Lisle, Charles Garnier, Sully Prudhomme etc), it was shown very virulent with regard to the height of the tower which would come, according to them, to disfigure Paris:

II is enough besides, to realize of what we advance, to appear a tower vertiginously ridiculous, dominating Paris, as well as black and gigantic factory chimney, crushing its barbarian mass: Notre-Dame, the the Ste Chapelle, the Turn Saint-Jacob, Louvre, the dome of the Invalids, the Triumphal arch, all our humiliated monuments, all our reduced architectures, which will disappear in this amazing dream. And during twenty years, we will see to lie on the whole city, quivering still of the genius of so many centuries, like a spot of ink, the odious shade of the odious bolted sheet column|Collective of artists, “artists against the Eiffel tower”, Time , February 14th, 1887.

It with what was answered, within the framework of a stormy debate mixing with the personalities of the time, the political officials, the journalists, the engineers:

The majority of the architects who contributed for the plan of the Exposure, were constrained, by this immense pyramid us are said which crushes its mass all the monuments of surrounding and particularly the buildings planned for the Exposure: one reproaches him for missing artistic seal: one regards it in the architectural order as a creation without taste, art, without elegance, a barbarian work, a monster finally.
It is certain that the eye, accustomed to consider the monuments within the narrow framework of stone constructions, could not be very accustomed blow to the gigantic proportions of the Eiffel tower and that its immediate comparison with our palates astonishes and shocks; but it is there certainly a ray of optics, an education of the eye to be made.
Isn't this art that the application of the Science acquired by the Man and the power of which it has with the realization an unspecified design? And consequently which work more artistic than the Eiffel tower whose lines were stopped by calculation i.e. by the law of geometric progression?
In fact of architecture, art is the one time characteristic, a movement or a generation in the human spirit; it marks the stages and the successive evolutions of humanity; proceeding of coarse the ground tumulus, it passes to the Dolmen S, the Pyramide S, the Obélisque S, to arrive at the Parthenon, the Colisée, then with the Renaissance and our modern constructions.
However, which knows if the extraordinary stone stirrers, which raised the pyramids, would not have smiled of pity to the sight of the projects of the Parthenon of Athens? If the incomparable artists who conceived this wonder of the wonders, would not have in their turn criticized the Gothic art? If the powerful and unknown brain in which Notre-Dame de Paris germinated, would not have treated insane an architect of the colonnade of Louvre?
Who can deny today that a revolution takes place in the processes to build?
The stone and the brick, only elements of constructions of Antiquity, yield more and more the step to metal. The Iron melted or forged, marrying all the forms, offering largest resistance under least volume, tends to replace old construction materials.
It is astonishing, consequently, that the engineers, who attend this revolution and which propagate it, test the need to raise an imperishable monument which attests this transformation, which remains about it like the indestructible witness; don't they obey rather with this innate feeling of the art which gave rise to the Pyramids, to the Parthenon, Notre-Dame de Paris, Saint-Pierre of Rome, the colonnade of Louvre? | the Exposure of 1889 and the Eiffel tower, according to the official documents . Gombault and Singier. International exhibition (1889; Paris). Scientific editor. 208 p.

With time, the race with the height became more current, developed in many countries, in particular with an aim of affirming its technological and economic superiority.

The Eiffel tower, as for it, attracted crowd since her inauguration, making conceal the reserves gradually. For example, two years after having signed the “protest of the artists”, Sully Prudhomme will say:

I signed a protest of artists and writers against the gigantic building.
I, had not fortunately judged and had condemned that by defect, and in front of accomplished and victorious work, I feel today more at ease that others to call some of my own sentence. The idea that I have my art undoubtedly returns me conversion easier than to my fellow-members, easier especially than with the artists whose works are addressed to the eyes. Poetry, indeed, seems to me to be, like the music, an art where the form, borrowing least possible from the matter, is not any more, so to speak, which the shiver even of the heart. Also the poet, in my opinion, can it consider it regrettable that the Eiffel tower does not cherish the eyes without losing for that the right nor to fail in the duty to greet there a splendid audacity to which the majesty is amply enough to satisfy it. This rigid and cold colossus can consequently seem to him an iron witness drawn up by the man towards the azure to attest its immutable resolution to reach there and to be established there.
Here is the point of view which reconciled my glance with this monster, conqueror of the sky. And nevertheless, opposite his pressing size, I would not feel not converted, undoubtedly I would feel comforted by the proud joy, which is common to us to all, to see the French flag there floating higher than all the other flags of the world, if not like a quarrelsome badge, at least like an emblem of the invincible aspirations of the fatherland| Sully Prudhomme, Speech made with the 13th banquet of the conference Scientia offered to Mr. Eiffel on April 13rd, 1889, the scientific magazine , April 20th, 1889.

The place of the Eiffel tower among the highest buildings of 1889

In 1889, before the Eiffel tower is not officially completed, only three monuments in the world exceeded 150 meters, that is to say half of the size of the Parisian monument, the Cathédrale of Rouen (150 meters), the Cathédrale of Cologne (169 meters) and the Obélisque of Washington (170 meters). With its 300 meters, the Eiffel tower thus exceeds largely all the other large existing buildings of the world at the time.

The place of the Eiffel tower among the highest buildings of the world

The graph below watch evolution in the time and in height of the highest structures of the world since 1300. If the Eiffel tower does not establish absolute records on the matter, it appears there nevertheless in good place.

While remaining during 41 years the most building of the world, the Eiffel tower did not establish a record, but its “performance” remains remarkable, since millenia, only four other structures built by the man did better:

the 1st) Large pyramid of Gizeh, higher monument of the world during almost 4.000 years.

2nd) The cathedral of Lincoln, higher monument of the world during approximately 250 years.

3rd) The Cathedral Notre-Dame of Strasbourg, higher monument of the world during 222 years.

4th) The church St Olav in Tallinn, higher monument of the world during 76 years.

At the level of longevity, the Eiffel tower thus arrives at 5th place, but with the manner, since it increases of more than 130 meters the preceding record of the obelisk of Washington, unequalled performance in the history.

Frequentation of the Eiffel tower

See also: Popularity, notoriety and profile of the visitors of the tower Eiffel

After popular success during the World Fair of 1889 and the semisuccess of the World Fair of 1900, the number of visitors will take off only once the Second world war finished.

Thus, between 1901 and 1914, between 120.000 and 260.000 people make the rise of it each year, of 1915 with 1918 included, it is closed because of First World War, of 1919 with 1939, the Eiffel tower attracts on average 480.000 visitors per annum with peaks at 800.000 entries during the colonial Exposition of 1931 and the International exhibition of 1937, of 1940 with 1945 included, it is again closed due to Second world war.

Once this period spent, the number of annual visitors will not cease increasing: 1.300.000 on average of 1946 with 1962 and it is truly only starting from 1963 that the entries develop, in particular thanks to the rise of the international Tourisme. Indeed, in 1963, the Eiffel tower passes by again for the first time the course of the 2 million visitors, that is to say the same one as for its inaugural year seventy-four years earlier, with the major difference that this time, this course symbolic system of 2 million entries will be improved each year. In 1972 the course of the 3 million entries is exceeded, in 1984 it is that of the 4 million, in 1989 that of the 5 million, and finally in 1998 that of the 6 million.

At the present time, it is thus more than 220 million visitors who pressed their feet the Eiffel tower. With the current rhythm, that means that the course of the 300 million visitors would be crossed about 2017 and actually, probably before that, the progression of the number of entries being exponential.

One of the paying monuments most visited in France and in the world

To take the measurement of the popularity of the Eiffel tower, it is advisable to know that the Eiffel tower is one of the most visited monuments Ile-de-France, one of the tourist areas of France, the country being itself the first world destination with 75,1 million tourists in 2004. When one compares the frequentation of the Eiffel tower with that of the other Parisian monuments, it is advisable to remember that its access is not free and that it makes it possible to accommodate only one number limited simultaneous visitors. It is actually about the third tourist site more visited in France, after Notre-Dame de Paris in first position (12,5 million visitors per annum) and Disneyland Paris in second position (12,2 million visteurs per annum).

Frequentation since 1889

The first table shows the annual frequentation of the Eiffel tower since 1889, with two periods of closing to the public (1915-1918 and 1940-1945), while the second table indicates, for each year, the frequentation cumulated since 1889 || bgcolor=" #DDDDDD" | 1966 || align=" right" bgcolor=" #EEEEEE" | 2.405.554 | 1986 || align=" right" bgcolor=" #EEEEEE" | 4.386.291 | 2006 || align=" right" bgcolor=" #EEEEEE" | 6.719.200 |- bgcolor=" #DDDDDD" | 1907 || align=" right" bgcolor=" #EEEEEE" | 190.026 | 1927 || align=" right" bgcolor=" #EEEEEE" | 555.087 | 1947 || align=" right" bgcolor=" #EEEEEE" | 1.009.161 | 1967 || align=" right" bgcolor=" #EEEEEE" | 2.416.502 | 1987 || align=" right" bgcolor=" #EEEEEE" | 4.293.187 | 2007 || align=" right" bgcolor=" #EEEEEE" | |- bgcolor=" #DDDDDD" | 1908 || align=" right" bgcolor=" #EEEEEE" | 189.338 | 1928 || align=" right" bgcolor=" #EEEEEE" | 634.819 | 1948 || align=" right" bgcolor=" #EEEEEE" | 958.386 | 1968 || align=" right" bgcolor=" #EEEEEE" | 2.070.417 | 1988 || align=" right" bgcolor=" #EEEEEE" | 4.668.468 | 2008 || align=" right" bgcolor=" #EEEEEE" | |- bgcolor=" #DDDDDD" |}

Frequentation (as cumulated visitors)

Various information

Counterparts of the Eiffel tower

See also: Counterparts and imitations of the tower Eiffel

The Eiffel tower was not the first project of a tower great height, since for example, English Richard Trevithick imagines a column in openwork cast iron of 1.000 feet (304,80 meters) in 1833, American James Bogardus imagines to surmount the universal exhibition center of New York of an turn-observatory of 90 meters in 1853, engineers American Clarke and Reeves imagines for the World Fair of Philadelphia in 1876 a tower of 1.000 feet celebrating the centenary of American independence, or Jules Bourdais imagines with Sébillot a tower of 300 meters in Granite with the beginning of the year 1880.

On the other hand, the Eiffel tower was the first credible project of a tower great height and it was the first with being carried out.

The Eiffel tower quickly attracted all admirations or all the jealousies of other countries, even of certain engineers. Thus, as of 1890, the Great Britain, national pride obliges, lance a contest to carry out a tower of 1.200 feet, that is to say approximately 360 meters. Seventy projects will be presented, but their resemblances to the Eiffel tower is often so obvious that the jury appears désappointé.

Work will finally begin in 1893, but the building site will never be continued beyond 50 meters height.

With Lyon on the hill of Fourvière the antenna-radio tower of Lyon is, retorts 3rd stage of the Eiffel tower.

Since, many counterparts or imitations appeared throughout the world (with the the United States, Japan, England etc)

A profitable commercial exploitation

French state-owned property during the World Fair of 1889, the Eiffel tower then became property of the Ville of Paris (article 11 of the Convention of the January 8th 1887).

According to this same article, Gustave Eiffel becomes (in his proper name) the owner of the Eiffel tower. Initially, it has of it the commercial pleasure for one twenty years duration, of January 1st 1890 with the March 31st 1909, after which, the building is likely to be destroyed.

In front of the scientific interest recognized with the monument, Gustave Eiffel obtains a prolongation of his authorization commercially to exploit the Eiffel tower, starting from January 1st 1910 and for one 70 years period additional.

By deliberation of the Municipal council of Paris, owner city of the tower, the management of the monument was then entrusted, of 1980 with 2005, with the new Société of exploitation of the tower Eiffel (SNTE), Société of mixed economy held to 30% by the town of Paris and to 70% by the SAGI (Public limit company of real management), itself held to a total value of 60% by Perexia, a subsidiary company of the Building and loan association of France (Savings bank Group) and to 40% by the Town of Paris.

By deliberation of the municipal council of Paris on December 13rd 2005, a new business, the Development company of the tower Eiffel (SETE), held to a total value of 60% by the Town of Paris and to 40% by private partners (BTP Eiffage, Unibail, LVMH, Dexia local Credit and EDF), took over SNTE in the management of the monument following a Invitation to tender launched by the Town of Paris, within the framework of a Public service delegation. The exploitation of the Eiffel tower gives work to some 500 people: 250 paid (personnel of reception, technique and administrative) directly employed by the SETE and 250 by the various dealers (restaurants, shops) and institutional (the Post office, TDF, police force) installed on the monument and of the SETE.

As of 1889, the Eiffel tower is the subject of very many reproductions, one finds it for example on bottles, candles, chromos, feet of lamp, etc

Gustave Eiffel then plans commercially to exploit the image of its tower. Jules Jaluzot, director of the Spring , even proposes to him to repurchase the exclusive rights of reproduction to him to manufacture copies in series and to sell them in its store. But the initiative causes an outcry of many craftsmen and Gustave Eiffel gives up his initial idea by giving up its royalty in the Public domain.

Thus, it is obvious that Gustave Eiffel was deprived of a very important source of revenue. To have an order of idea of the shortfall, it is enough to imagine what the commercial exploitation of the image could have reported on the postcards representing the Eiffel tower. With more than 5 billion units, in cumulated since 1889, the postcards appearing the monument are sold with the world.

Anecdote relating to the weight of the tower

The tower has a mass lower than the mass of the air contained in a cylinder with its dimensions (either 324 meters in height and 88,3 meters of ray): 10 100 tons against 10 265 tons.

10 100 tons of the tower, which are distributed equitably between the 4 pillars, themselves pressed on 4 principal rafters laying out each of 4 points of anchoring in masonry, reported to the bearing surface, make that the tower exerts a weight with the square centimeter equivalent to that of a woman of 80 kg on stiletto heels.

Notice

The platform of higher observation of the Eiffel tower is, in the European Union, the highest zone of a building accessible to the public.

Steel turns higher than the tower

Buildings in France higher than the Eiffel tower

Steel turns older

Many people think that the Eiffel tower is the oldest tower built out of iron in the world whereas other identical constructions were built earlier.

Transmitters

Fm-radio

TV

To deepen

Practical informations

Gallery of images

See also: Amorce=Pour to discover a whole of photographs, free rights and classified by topics, to see the article, Photographs of the tower Eiffel

Documentary resources

to reach a detailed bibliography and Internet sites devoted to the building, to see the article documentary Resources on the lathe Eiffel.

External bonds

Official site of the tower Eiffel

Precise details on the article

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