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Why you'll love the Eiffel Tower
For any tourist, and even for Parisians, standing in front of the Eiffel Tower has the power to send shivers down one's back.
Imagine it’s around 10 o'clock at night. As you ride the slow elevator up this famous monument, a light drizzle begins to fall. The lights of the monument make the rain look like little drops of gold hitting a bronze statue. And as you step out onto the top floor, all of Paris and its lights are at your feet.
Or imagine another time and day. It's 8 o'clock in the morning and the warm spring sun has just covered the sky in light blue. As you walk out of the metro station of Trocadero, you slowly turn and in front of you stands one of the most strangely beautiful monuments in the world. In that moment, all of Paris's cliches begin to ring true...
It is no longer the highest monument in the world, but the beautiful and yet strange Eiffel Tower has to be seen at least once in order to capture its power.
Built in 1889 as the opening archway for the World Fair commemorating the centennial of the French Revolution, the Eiffel Tower was meant to last only 20 years. Now almost 120 years old, this monument, made of metal, is the most visited monument in the world.
Take Metro 6 or 9 to stop TROCADERO and use exit Eiffel Tower. As you exit the metro station, there will be a large open area to your left and there you will have the Eiffel Tower in front of you.
Although most maps will indicate a different stop for seeing the Eiffel Tower, we recommend your using TROCADERO for the most awe-inspiring first view of the monument.
There is no one better day or time for buying your tickets so be prepared to spend just a little time waiting in line.
We do recommend buying your tickets for the top floor. Although a few Euros more expensive, it is definitely worth it. (Note: the view is different from the top!)
Gustave Eiffel beat 300 other contestants for the building prize and although not all French people liked the Eiffel Tower from the start, it was kept to place telegraphic antennas on the top.
The Eiffel Tower was almost destroyed in 1944 when the Allies were approaching Paris. Hitler had ordered it to be destroyed along with other monuments in Paris. Fortunately for us, this order was not obeyed.
