France : The Most Famous Monument in the World

The Most Famous Monument in the World - The Eiffel Tower

When you travel to Paris, there is a seemingly endless list of must-dos…the Arc de Triomphe, a visit to the Louvre, and a walk down the Champs-Elysees. But the top of the list of things to not miss in Paris is the Eiffel Tower.

History

The Eiffel Tower was originally built for the World's Fair in 1889 to commemorate the anniversary of the French Revolution. It was the world's tallest building until 1930, and is still the tallest building in the world, as well as being one of the world's most well known monuments. The Eiffel Tower is named after its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel. It welcomed more than six million guests last year, and has played host to over 200,000 visitors in its history.

Viewing

While the Eiffel Tower is visible throughout Paris, there are several places that offer spectacular views. One of the best places to view and photograph the Eiffel Tower is from the Trocodero. This is the view that you'll recognize from some of the most famous photographs. Another fantastic place to view the entire tower is from the top of the Montparnasse Tower. This skyscraper boasts 360 degree views of Paris, and you can glimpse a spectacular view of the Paris skyline. Probably the best place to view the Eiffel Tower is from the Seine river. You can take a cruise down the Seine (which is a great way to see most of the monuments in the city) and see the Eiffel Tower from the water. And, of course, you should definitely view the Eiffel Tower from the base of the tower itself. It's hard to fully understand the scale of the monument until you are standing under it.

Visiting

The Eiffel Tower is open year round until at least 11:45 pm. There are three separate levels, and tickets are required for each. There are elevators to all levels, as well as stairs to the second level. There are observatories at all levels which offer amazing views of Paris. On the first level there is also a post office (where your letters will be postmarked from the Eiffel Tower), a gift shop, and a restaurant. On the second level is the Jules Verne restaurant, an extremely expensive and exclusive restaurant where reservations must be made months in advance. And, of course, the third level provides the most spectacular views of the city. Visiting during the day and at night provide different experiences, and many who have the time in their trip will make two trips to the Eiffel Tower to experience both. The Eiffel Tower also lights up with 20,000 flashing lights each night on the hour; this light display was part of the 2000 New Year's celebration, and was so popular that it became a regular nightly show.