9570 5 Location 510501 <p>When La Tour Eiffel was built by Gustave Eiffel in 1889 , it stood at a mighty 300m to commemorate the French Revolution for the International Exhibition of Paris . Of course, at that time it was the tallest monument around. Today, it isn't any more ( unless you're Dr Evil's mini-me ) but it provides a heck of a panorama from its topmost platform. Yup, there are 3 levels. The first two levels are die-hard step aerobic fans who are willing to pay 3.50euros and 6.50euros to burst their lungs climbing the iron staircase. The third level are for people who are only slightly smarter as they will to cough up 11 euros like any good tourist to oogle at the view from the top. </p><p>Weighing 7,000 tons but exerting about the same pressure on the ground as an average-size person sitting in a chair, the wrought-iron tower wasn't meant to be permanent . Gustave-Alexandre Eiffel, the French engineer, famous mainly on his iron bridges, built it for the 1889 Universal Exhibition. </p><p>At any height on the Tower, the moment of the weight of the higher part of the Tower, up to the top, is equal to the moment of the strongest wind on this same part</p><p>&lt;a href="<a href="/go?l=http%3A%2F%2Ffaculty.trumbull.kent.edu%2Fgallant%2Feiffel_tower.htm&tracking=external" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://faculty.trumbull.kent.edu/gallant/eiffel_tower.htm</a>"&gt; The Shape of the Eiffel Tower &lt;/a&gt; And <br />&lt;a href="<a href="/go?l=http%3A%2F%2Fchristophe.chouard.free.fr%2Feiffel%2Fequation_eiffel_tower.html&tracking=external" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://christophe.chouard.free.fr/eiffel/equation_eiffel_tower.html</a>"&gt; Christophe Chouard's Equation of the Shape of the Eiffel Tower &lt;/a&gt;</p><p>What saved it from demolition was the advent of radio -- as the tallest structure in Europe, it made a perfect spot to place a radio antenna (now a TV antenna). The least expensive way to see Tour Eiffel is to walk up the first two floors at a cost of 3.05€. That way you also avoid the long lines waiting for the elevator. If you dine at the tower's Altitude 95 (tel. 01-45-55-20-04), an Eiffel restaurant on the first floor, management allows patrons to cut to the head of the line. You'll find elevators in two of the pillars. The first landing provides a view over the rooftops at: 57.63 meters (189 ft). Souvenir shops. Restaurant "Altitude 95" (tel- 01-45-55-20-04). Post office, with special stamps "Paris Eiffel Tower ". The 2nd landing offers a panoramic look at the city at 115.73 meters (379 ft). Telescopes, shops. Jules Verne Restaurant (extremely expensive, reservations- 01-45-55-61-44). The 3rd landing at 276.13 meters (905 feet, 11 inches) is the view most people come for, on a clear day you can see for 64km (40 miles), ). Probably the best approach to the tower is to take the Métro to the Trocadéro station &amp; walk from the Palais de Chaillot to the Seine. Besides fabulous views, especially when the Trocadéro fountains are in full force, you get a free show from the dancers &amp; acrobats who perform around the Palais de Chaillot. The vast green expanse beneath the tower is the Parc du Champs-de-Mars. </p><p>Cost aside, the view of Paris, from its topmost platforms is FANTASTIC and it's worth being a temporary sardine inside the elevator. Go there one one hour before sunset and get an astounding view.. <br />Opening Hours Winter: 9.30 a.m.-11 p.m. Summer: 9 a.m.- 12pm </p><p>It's a must see, ooh, a must see. How could you go to Paris and not see the magical French eptiome? Your first sight of La Tour Eiffel will be a magical experience, so here's a tip to make it more memorable... Go to the tower during the night, just before the top of every hour (eg.10pm, 11pm) and the Eiffel tower will sparkle for a full ten minutes for you. If that's not enough, hang out at the Trocadero cafes till 2am..something magical will happen... The lights of the tower will be switched off and the sparkly lights will twinkle magically for 10 minutes.</p> 2006-07-30T00:18:25-07:00 570425350 2006-06-19T17:00:00-07:00 0 -9223372036854775790 209244 1872763 9570 0 240644 0.246817236472022 2006-06-18T17:00:00-07:00 Published 150.0 2006-07-30T00:19:28-07:00 89178 0