The Eiffel Tower in spring

by Kees van den Burg

The Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous structures in the world and the symbol of Paris. It was built to mark the 1889 World’s Fair, which celebrated the centenary of the French Revolution. The tower was designed by the engineer Gustave Eiffel and his team.

Construction began in 1887 and took over two years. Around 18,000 individual iron components were used in its construction, held together by millions of rivets. When the tower was completed in 1889, it was the tallest structure in the world, standing at a height of approximately 300 metres. It retained that title until the completion of the Chrysler Building in New York in 1930.

Initially, the Eiffel Tower was controversial. Many artists and writers found it ugly and believed it would mar the beautiful cityscape of Paris. The tower was even intended as a temporary structure and was due to be demolished after twenty years. This did not happen because it proved increasingly useful for scientific experiments and, later, for radio and telecommunications.

During the twentieth century, the Eiffel Tower became the quintessential symbol of France. Today, including its aerials, it stands over 330 metres tall and attracts millions of visitors from all over the world every year.