Fun facts about the Eiffel Tower
  • Home
  • Blog
  • 25 Fun Facts about the Eiffel Tower

Last Updated: 14 July 2022

The Eiffel Tower sounds like a magical name. What would Paris be like without the Eiffel Tower? Well, Paris had already proved its charm to the world before the tower was even built with many amazing monuments. Let’s name a few: the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe and Notre-Dame.

Now the Eiffel Tower surpasses them all in height. The iron tower can be seen from each of these three buildings from a different and interesting angle.

But instead of writing about facts that travel guides would generally tell you, I choose to unveil a few things about the tower. I compiled them into 25 fun facts about the Eiffel Tower…

 

Fun facts about the Eiffel Tower – Presentation

How many platforms make up the tower?

There are three different levels or platforms:

  • level 1 is 57 m high,
  • level 2 stands at 115 m and hosts the Jules Verne restaurant.
  • The highest – level 3 – reaches 276 m (not quite making it to 300 m!). It can be reached by lift only.
Eiffel Tower, Paris © French Moments
The first level of the Eiffel Tower © French Moments
Eiffel Tower, Paris © French Moments
The second level of the Eiffel Tower © French Moments
Eiffel Tower, Paris © French Moments
The third and last level of the Eiffel Tower © French Moments

 

The Eiffel Tower Discovery Course

Register for our new online discovery course: “The Secrets of the Eiffel Tower”.

You’ll probably know that the Eiffel Tower is a monument overrun with tourists.
In fact, most visitors have no idea of its true value.
What if the Eiffel Tower has kept some secrets away from the millions of visitors?
To get to the bottom of this, we went down a rabbit hole of research.
And found out that the Eiffel Tower was much more than a mass-tourism icon.
It contains a lot of fascinating facts that explain why it is so popular today.
The Eiffel Tower is like a treasure chest that hides many secrets.
And to open the chest, one needs to have the key
And that key is CURIOSITY!

We put a lot of thought into how to structure this course so that it can help you uncover the secrets of the Eiffel Tower. The course is intended to help many to:

  • gather info for your next trip to Paris
  • enjoy some armchair travel
  • simply satisfy your curiosity
  • learn new things just for the joy of learning
  • delve into the modern history of Paris
  • prepare a school presentation

The online course is a unique product entirely dedicated to the Eiffel Tower.
You will learn unusual things about the Eiffel Tower that no tourist guides will have told you!
Together, we’ll go beyond the tourist experience of the Eiffel Tower and understand its true value.
You will find out interesting facts that many others don’t… even the French themselves!
Yes, you will even be able to show off your knowledge to Parisians! Oh là là!

The online course is made up of a series of 4 modules and a bonus section.
Each module contains a number of questions (36 in total) that cover geography, history, fun facts and culture.
The content takes the form of videos (slideshows with voice-over) and also includes texts, photos and diagrams.

To find out more and get the course, click here to uncover The Secrets of the Eiffel Tower.

 

Fun facts about the Eiffel Tower – Breaking records

What is the actual height of the Eiffel Tower?

Eiffel Tower, Paris © French Moments
The spire of the Eiffel Tower © French Moments

On completion, the tower was 300 metres high. During the 20th century, successive sets of antennas were added to the top of the structure for radio and TV transmission purposes.

By 1994, the tower had reached 317 metres.

In 2000, the tower was 324 metres tall.

Then on 17 January 2005, a new set of antenna increased its height to 325 metres.

 

For how long was the Eiffel Tower the tallest monument in the world?

  • The Eiffel Tower became the world’s highest monument in 1889 with its 300 metres topping the Washington Monument (169 m).
  • It kept this record for 42 years until the completion of the 319 metre-high Chrysler Building, in New York City in 1930.
  • In 2009, the Khalifa Dubai tower was completed at a height of 810 metres which is equivalent to 2 1/2 Eiffel Towers!
  • An interesting note: the Eiffel Tower is now 6 metres higher than its former ‘rival’, the Chrysler Building, thanks to its new antennas!

 

Is the Eiffel Tower the tallest structure in France?

The Eiffel Tower seen from Tour Montparnasse © French Moments
The Eiffel Tower from Tour Montparnasse © French Moments

No, the Eiffel Tower lost its status as the tallest structure in France in 2004 to the Viaduct of Millau (in the Rouergue region). The central pylon of the bridge reaches a height of 343 m.

However, the Eiffel Tower remains the highest monument in Paris. It will certainly stay as such for decades to come, despite the construction of new high-rise towers in La Défense (Paris’ CBD).

 

How many visitors climb the Eiffel Tower each year?

Eiffel Tower, Paris © French Moments
The queue at the tower © French Moments
  • As of 1 January 2018 it is estimated that more than 302,848,000 visitors have climbed the tower since its inauguration in 1889.
  • Twice the Eiffel Tower has welcomed more than 7 million people in a year: 7,086,273 in 2011 and 7,097,302 in 2014.
  • In 2017, the number of visitors reached 6,207,303.

 

Is the Eiffel Tower the most visited monument of Paris and of France?

Not quite! Until the big fire of 15. April 2019 Notre-Dame cathedral topped the list with 14 million visitors per year. Then, other monuments – for which an entry fee applies – are welcoming more visitors such as:

  • Disneyland Paris (15 million)
  • Louvre Museum (9.6 million),
  • Palace of Versailles (8 million)

(stats for 2018/2019)

However, unlike many Parisian monuments and landmarks, the Eiffel Tower can be seen and appreciated from afar, from a great number of places around Paris.

 

How many visitors can the Eiffel Tower hold at the same time?

The answer is no more than 5,000.

  • The first platform, at 57 metres, can carry a total of 3,000 people at the same time.
  • The second platform, at 115 metres high, can support 1,600 and
  • The summit of the tower can welcome no more than 400 people (on two different levels linked by a staircase).

 

Has the Eiffel Tower been centre stage for any world record attempts?

Well, this may not be a “fun” fact but one I couldn’t miss talking about…

Since its inauguration, there have been many crazy attempts made by adventurers with the Eiffel Tower as centre-stage.

 

The Flying Tailor of the Eiffel Tower

It’s Sunday, 4 February 1912. Franz Reichelt was an Austrian-born tailor born in 1878 in Wegstädtl (today Štětí, Czechia). In 1898 he moved permanently to Paris and obtained French citizenship in 1909.

Reichelt founded a prosperous dressmaking business in the opera district. We are talking about a time when the world was at the dawn of the aviation age. From July 1910, the tailor had been working on creating a “parachute suit” after hearing stories of fatal accidents among the early aviators. A few days before the attempt on the Eiffel Tower, he finally received permission from the authorities to try out his new suit.

But this Sunday 4 Feb 1912 was a very cold day. Temperatures were below 0 °C (32 °F). A stiff breeze blew across the Champ de Mars. Some 30 journalists and a crowd of thousands of curious onlookers gathered around the Eiffel Tower.

 

This is the moment of truth!

A little after 8 am Reichelt climbed the stairs to the first platform of the tower. At 8.22am, the Flying Tailor prepared to make his jump. He got onto a stool placed on a restaurant table by the guardrail. And stood 57 metres (187 ft) above the ground, facing the Seine.

He adjusted his apparatus with the assistance of his friends. And checked the wind direction by throwing a piece of paper. He then placed one foot on the guardrail. Hesitated for about 40 seconds.

Then finally he jumped…

But his parachute failed to deploy and… he crashed onto the ground at the foot of the tower.

His parachute seemed to have been only half-open. Video footage of the event shows that it folded around him almost immediately. It took him a few seconds before striking the frozen soil at the foot of the Eiffel tower. The impact of his fall left a hole measuring 15 centimetres (5.9 in).

A short film was taken during this attempt which shows the man’s fall and was released shortly after the event.

Interestingly, on 2 February 1912 – two days prior to Reichelt’s tragic attempt – Frederick R. Law, had successfully parachuted from the viewing platform of the torch of the Statue of Liberty, 46 m (151 feet) from the base of the statue. The Statue of Liberty in New York City was a gift from the people of France to the people of the United States designed by French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi… and its metal framework was built by… Gustave Eiffel himself!

 

Philippe Petit, the French high-wire artist

Another risk-taker was Philippe Petit, the renowned French high-wire artist. In 1989, Petit walked a wire strung from the ground at the Place du Trocadéro to the second platform of the Eiffel Tower. He made it in 30 minutes. What better way to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Eiffel Tower? In 1972, Petit had previously walked a wire rigged between the two north pylons of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, in Australia.

 

Is the Eiffel Tower strong enough to face strong winds?

The Eiffel tower swayed 13 cm during a storm in 1999, which blew at 240 kph.

As for the variation of ambient temperature, the top of the tower may shift away from the sun by as much as 18 cm which was recorded during the 1976 heatwave. (Gustave Eiffel had allowed for a variation as much as 70 cm).

Get your Tickets for the Eiffel Tower: Guided Visit + Access to the Top!

 

Fun facts about the Eiffel Tower – An Historic Monument

Construction Stages Eiffel Tower

 

Who built the Eiffel Tower and why?

Gustave Eiffel in 1888 by Nadar
Gustave Eiffel in 1888 by Nadar

The Eiffel Tower takes its name from its architect, Gustave Eiffel (1832-1923). But he was not the only one to work on realising his dream.

Two engineers from his company, Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier, were also credited for their input in the project.

Between 120 and 200 men worked on the site. More than 300 in the workshops at Levallois-Perret (North-West suburb of Paris).

During its completion, only one worker – an Italian – tragically died after falling from the first floor.

The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 Paris World Fair, marking the centennial celebration of the French Revolution. Its position as an entrance arch to the exhibition pavilions located across the River Seine (Trocadéro and Champ de Mars) was celebrated as a grand monument to the glory of France.

 

How long did it take to build the Eiffel Tower?

It took only two years, two months and five days to build the tower, which is a remarkably short period of time. The work started in 1887 and the tower was inaugurated in 1889.

 

Who opposed the building of the Eiffel Tower and considered it an eyesore?

Gustave Eiffel by Edward Linley Sambourne in 1889
Gustave Eiffel by Edward Linley Sambourne in 1889

Many outraged French intellectuals, including Charles Gounod, Charles Garnier and Alexandre Dumas vigorously protested against the project. Through the media, they tried to oppose the tower’s construction. Guy de Maupassant chose to eat at the restaurant up the tower. (declaring that this was the only place in Paris he could not see the structure!) The press published outraged critics describing the Eiffel Tower as a “useless monstrosity”.

Perhaps today the only rational protest comes from people who nostalgically deplore the new plethora of antennas that mask the original spectacular top of the tower. They regard the additions as ugly and disrespectful of Gustave Eiffel’s work.

 

Where does the iron of the Eiffel Tower come from?

Eiffel Tower, Paris © French Moments
The metallic structure of the tower © French Moments

All the iron which makes up the immense Meccano-like structure comes from the iron factories of Messieurs Dupont et Fould. Since closed down, the factory was based in Pompey (Meurthe-et-Moselle), a suburb of Nancy, Lorraine. The Pompey factory needed to supply Eiffel with 18,038 pieces of puddled iron. They were then connected using 2.500.000 rivets by three hundred workers.

 

Was the Eiffel Tower ever close to being dismantled?

The City of Paris gave Gustave Eiffel a concession that permitted the tower to stand for 20 years, after which it should have been dismantled. The sudden demand for a suitable platform from the newly emerging radio transmission technology saved the tower from demolition.

Again in 1944, when the Allies were marching closer to Paris, Hitler gave orders to General Dietrich von Choltitz (the German military governor of Paris) to destroy Paris and the Eiffel Tower… orders which he dared not follow.

 

Which famous people climbed the Eiffel Tower while staying in Paris?

Adolf Hitler in Paris in 1940
Adolf Hitler in Paris in 1940

The list is rather long… we can however include some names such as Pope John-Paul II, all French presidents, Chinese leader Hu Jintao, singers Edith Piaf, Charles Aznavour and Maurice Chevalier.

Amongst those who did not climb the Eiffel Tower was Jules Verne, who said when being decorated with the Légion d’Honneur:

“They are decorating me because I am the only man in France to have not climbed the Eiffel Tower”.

Needless to say, the writer’s name is remembered in the gastronomic restaurant at the second level.

Then, in June 1940, Hitler posed in a famous picture at the Trocadéro in front of the Eiffel Tower but declined to climb it. His first ever leisure tour of Paris was so quick that he had allowed only a half-day to see most of its monuments! It was said that Hitler conquered France, but did not conquer the Eiffel Tower.

More recently, on 13 July 2017, French President Macron invited US President Donald Trump to dine at the Jules Verne restaurant on the second platform of the Eiffel Tower.

Get your Tickets for the Eiffel Tower: Guided Visit + Access to the Top!

 

Fun facts about the Eiffel Tower – Inside the tower

 

How far can we see from the top floor of the Eiffel Tower?

Eiffel Tower, Paris © French Moments
Spyglass at the Eiffel Tower © French Moments

Contrary to urban legend, it is not possible to see the Alps from a far distance in fair weather! But the view is still stunning. It stretches for 70 km, as far as the outskirts of Paris, Charles de Gaulle airport and the countryside beyond the suburbs.

If your aim is to admire Paris itself, it is better to come down to the second platform. From where everything will look closer and you will be able to see the city’s most famous monuments in detail.

 

How much does the Eiffel Tower weigh?

Did you know that the Eiffel Tower went on a diet! At its inauguration, the tower weighed 11,000 tonnes, compared to 10,100 tonnes today – less than the weight of a cylinder of air with the same volume as the iron structure.

Who owns the Eiffel Tower today?

The SNTE (Société Nouvelle d’exploitation de la Tour Eiffel), a semi-public company whose main shareholder is the City of Paris.

 

Are there any reproductions of the Eiffel Tower across the world?

The AWA building in Sydney © French Moments
The AWA building in Sydney © French Moments

Yes, and there are so many of them: Las Vegas, Nevada (165 m), Walt Disney World’s EPCOT theme park on Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Tianducheng, Hangzhou, China (108 m), Kings Island Amusement Park, Mason, Ohio (101 m), etc.

Other towers were inspired by the Eiffel Tower such as Blackpool Tower in England (158 m), Tokyo Tower in Japan (333 m) and the metal Tower of Fourvière in Lyon (86 m).

In Australia, we have a perfect example of a tower directly inspired by the Eiffel Tower: the AWA Tower in Sydney. Located at Wynyard, in Sydney’s CBD, the metal structure sits on top of a building, making the structure 100 metres high. It was the city’s highest building until the 1960s.

Get your Tickets for the Eiffel Tower: Guided Visit + Access to the Top!

 

Fun facts about the Eiffel Tower – Practical Questions

 

Can we climb the stairs to the top of the Eiffel Tower?

Eiffel Tower, Paris © French Moments
The stairs of the Eiffel Tower © French Moments

Early visitors used to be allowed to climb the 1,665 steps from the bottom to the top of the tower. Now, only the first two platforms can be reached by stairs. If you wish to access the top floor, you will need to use the lift.

 

Can pictures be taken of the Eiffel Tower and published?

Alexandre III Eiffel Tower Paris
Pont Alexandre III and Eiffel Tower at sunset © French Moments

According to the official website of the Eiffel Tower, “there are no restrictions on publishing a picture of the Tower by day. Photos taken at night, when the special lights are illuminated, are subjected to copyright, and fees for the right to publish must be paid to the SNTE“.

So, beware if you are using night-time photos of the Eiffel Tower!

 

Are there any restaurants in the Eiffel Tower?

YES, definitely! And a very good one too! Le Jules Verne, on the second platform, is a must. And guess what: a special lift is reserved for its customers. Re-opened in 2018 under the leadership of Triple Michelin-starred chef Frédéric Anton, the 95 seats restaurant offers an unforgettable view on the roofs of Paris, both day and night.

On the first floor, the restaurant 58 Tour Eiffel serves simpler food, and covers two levels, offering views of Paris and the metal structure of the tower.

 

When exactly is the Eiffel Tower lit up at night?

Eiffel Tower, Paris © French Moments
The Eiffel Tower and Passerelle Debilly © French Moments

Thanks to a magical display of lights at night-time, the Eiffel Tower glitters for 5 minutes from nightfall until 1.00 am, every hour on the hour. One of the best spots to enjoy the show is from the top terrace of the Montparnasse Tower, aligned perfectly with the Eiffel Tower, with the skyline of La Défense in the background.

The light display is made up of 20,000 bulbs, linked by 40 km of cable.

 

When was the best fireworks display?

For many Parisians and visitors, the consensus is unanimous. The best fireworks that ever took place around the Eiffel Tower happened on the 1st January 2000 at midnight. The most incredible pyrotechnic display lasted 6 minutes. The tower looked like a rocket ready to take off. It was considered by the Parisians as good as Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks. “Shorter but more beautiful” was the City of Paris’ motto.

The only remaining feature of this ‘temps glorieux’ is the beam of light that sweeps the whole city of Paris (and its suburbs) in a 360 degree-radius. The light also takes us back to 1889. A similar light was used to illuminate the Paris sky with blue, white and red colours.

Fireworks © Yann Caradec - licence [CC BY-SA 2.0] from Wikimedia Commons
Fireworks © Yann Caradec – licence [CC BY-SA 2.0] from Wikimedia Commons
However every year on Bastille Day, a free concert is organised at the foot of the Tower followed by amazing fireworks.

How much does it cost to climb to the top floor of the Eiffel Tower?

On the 1st September 2020, reaching the top of the Eiffel Tower using the lifts cost you:

  • €25.90 per adult,
  • €13.00 per young person between 12 and 24, and
  • €6.50 per child under 12.
  • For children under 4, entrance is free!

All the entrance fees and opening hours can be viewed on the official website of the Eiffel Tower, which features interesting information and facts about the monument.

Get your Tickets for the Eiffel Tower: Guided Visit + Access to the Top!

 

Take the Eiffel Tower Quiz!

Go beyond the fun facts of the Eiffel Tower by testing your knowledge of the Eiffel Tower in 12 questions!

Click here to take the Eiffel Tower Quiz!

 

Pin it for later!

Inspired by these Fun facts about the Eiffel Tower? Pin it for later…

Fun facts about the Eiffel Tower © French Moments

Fun facts about the Eiffel Tower © French Moments
Fun facts about the Eiffel Tower © French Moments

Gems of Paris by French Moments
About the author

Pierre is a French/Australian who is passionate about France and its culture. He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. He has a background teaching French, Economics and Current Affairs, and holds a Master of Translating and Interpreting English-French with the degree of Master of International Relations, and a degree of Economics and Management. Pierre is the author of Discovery Courses and books about France.

Like it? Leave a comment!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Just love getting your regular posts on the different areas of France. They are fascinating reading and very informative. Hope to get to France again and track down some of the places you have talked about. Especially love the historical and geographical information about Paris. Keep up the good work!!

  2. This really helps me with my assignment and I learned a lot of new things myself. I enjoyed reading through this and I appreciate your time you put into this! 😁

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

Transparency: Some blog posts and pages may contain affiliate or sponsored links. If you are planning a trip, the use of these links helps us to run the site. There is no additional cost to you. All you have to do is click on the link and any booking you make is automatically tracked. Thank you for your support!

Escape to France with every email! Get insider insights, travel guides, cultural gems delivered and exclusive offers to your inbox twice a week. Your journey to Paris and France begins when you sign up!

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER AND GET THE FREE EBOOK

20 OFFBEAT PLACES IN PARIS

Ebook 20 amazing offbeat places in Paris front cover