Paris France - Eiffel Tower  

We decided to take a bus to a stop near the Eiffel Tower and then walk. I believe this picture is of a statue that appears on the top of the Alexander bridge.

I think this is Assemblee' Nationale.

We are approaching the Eiffel tower. In 1886 the World Fair committee held a contest for the design of a tower that will be featured in the 1889 Paris exposition. Out of over 100 designs proposed, Eiffel's tower won the contest. When completed in 1889, the Tour Eiffel was, at 300 meters, the tallest building in the world. The reactions from the residents of this great city were far from positive. Most felt that it was a monstrosity. After many years of calls to demolish it the tower was saved because it was a great place for a radio antennae - making it commercially successful. Over time the Tower was accepted and is now *the* symbol of Paris.

The Eiffel Tower is one massive collection of iron parts rivited together - nearly 2,500,000 rivets were used in construction of the Tower. The names of engraved on the Tower are scientists and were placed there as a tribute gesture from Gustave Eiffel (click on the picture to enlarge it in a new window so you can see some of the names).

Here it is in all its grandeur. If you don't see a view of the Eiffel Tower you like on this page, here are some shots of it from atop the Arc de Triomphe More Eiffel Tower

We got here in the early evening. Each leg of the tower has an elevator that will take you to the various levels. If you don't go all the way to the top you don't have to pay quite as much money, but if you don't go all the way I fail to see the logic.

Here are people going up in an elevator.

I tried to get some pictures that show the perspective you see as a visitor.

Across the river the sun is going down.

This bust of Gustave Eiffel was sculptured by Antoine Bourdelle was placed here in 1930

In the elevator.

The view from the elevator as we go up.

Paris at our feet.

off in the distance is Sacre Coeur - we will go there tomorrow.

Enlarge this picture. For the new millennium the Eiffel Tower had special lights attached all over it. To attract tourists to Paris this summer (2003), the same lights were put on again. In the enlarged picture you can see that they have come on.

Pictures taken as we are leaving.

The last night we were in Paris Margaret and I stood on Pont Neuf and took these pictures from far away. Again, not the greatest pictures, but it gives you some idea of the sights of a warm summer Paris night. Again, the extra Eiffel Tower lights are off (left, above) and on (the other two). A giant rotating light is captured in the top right picture. This picture's exposure is a little longer, so it seems to have more lights on it.

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Walk to Louvre   Louve museum   Louve museum 2   La Conciergerie   Sainte-Chapelle   Notre Dame   St Michel / Left Bank Eiffel Tower   Museum d'Orsay   Champs Elysees   Arc de Triomphe   Sacre Coeur   Montmartre District   Versailles   Colonne de Juillet
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