Eiffel Tower Travel Guide

The Eiffel Tower, locally nicknamed "La dame de fer" (Iron Lady), was designed by Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier, two senior engineers working for the Compagnie des Établissements Eiffel. It was erected as the entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair. The tower's construction began in 1887 and took just over two years to complete. Gustave Eiffel, a master of metal construction, also designed the framework of the Statue of Liberty.The tower stands 330 meters (1,083 ft) tall, about the same height as an 81-story building, and is the tallest structure in Paris. Its base is square, measuring 125 meters (410 ft) on each side. The tower has three levels with observation platforms, at roughly 200, 400, and 900 feet, all connected by elevators and stairs. The summit is only accessible by elevator.Originally, the parts were painted Venetian red, while subsequent coats of paint have included reddish-brown, ochre brown, yellow-brown and brownish-red. Since 1968, it has been 'Eiffel Tower brown' in three shades, with the darkest at the bottom. The tower is regularly animated by light shows: fireworks for July 14, illuminations every evening, and colorful decorations for various events.