The Eiffel Tower Paris France, erected from 1887-1889, is renowned as one of the most romantic destinations in the world, yet it wasn't always that way! As it was initially being constructed, French aristocrats like composer Charles Gounod, painter William Bouguereau, architect Charles Garnier and writer Guy de Maupassant signed a petition in protest of the new monument. According to these countrymen, the tower was "useless," "monstrous" and an "odious column of bolted metal." They feared that this "gigantic black factory chimney" would overwhelm and humiliate all the other monuments, "belittling our works of architecture," they said. Despite their protests, the tower went up and become one of the biggest tourist attractions in the world, bringing fame and prestige to Paris.
Paris hotels are filling up this summer with tourists eager to catch a glimpse of the Eiffel Tower Paris France. Other major attractions to see while visiting the city include the French Riviera, Notre Dame de Paris, the Louvre Museum, the Arc de Triomphe and Disneyland Paris. A good way to see all the museums is to purchase the official Paris Museum Pass sold at tourist information bureaus, museums and online at www.parismuseumpass.com, which can get visitors into 60 museums (all but the Eiffel Tower's) for $65 (four days) or $90 (five days).
There are several ways to save on Paris hotels when visiting the Eiffel Tower Paris France. You may consider renting a fully-equipped, one-bedroom apartment near the Pompidou Centre, which goes for less than $200/night. Peruse sites like www.rothray.com, www.rentalfrance.com and www.parisaddress.com to find a cozy place for a great price. If you're fixed on the idea of a full-service hotel, then you can try one of the moderately-priced establishments like Hôtel Langlois, Hôtel les Degrés de Notre Dame, or Hôtel du Dragon, which are all under $200/night as well.
The Eiffel Tower Paris France is one of the top tourist attractions in the world and stands as a testament to the feats of human ingenuity and architecture. The Eiffel Tower has been home to many romantic proposals; even Tom Cruise chose to pop the question to Katie Holmes at the top of the tower! In fact, this monument is so beloved that a woman named Erika Naisho actually legally married the Eiffel Tower in 2008! There's just something about the scenic French Riviera and the magic of France that incites people's passions. There are, in fact, many intriguing facts about this magnificent tower.
At first glance, the Eiffel Tower looks as though it is firm, immovable and unchanging. Yes, it is constructed using a hefty 7,300 tonnes of metal and it is over 120 years old now, but did you know the 984-foot tower shrinks six inches on cold days? Additionally, the tower is currently wet. Its massive repainting began in March 2009 and is expected to take 18 months to complete, using 60 tons of paint in three different shades of brown. Occasionally, you may look out your Paris hotel window and catch a glimpse of an Eiffel Tower ad campaign. In the twenties and thirties, ads for Citroen cars adorned three of the sides. During World War II, German troops hung their banners from the tower to celebrate their takeover of the city. In the late seventies, a Greenpeace protestor hung a "Save the Seals" sign on the tower. Today, ads are rarely seen on the monument, but a company called Apoteo Surprise will flash your personal engagement message under the Eiffel Tower for €2,490.
Engineer and architect Gustave Eiffel is best known for his namesake monument, the Eiffel Tower Paris France, but it wasn't his only magnificent feat. Before working on the tower, which was set for completion several weeks before the Exposition Universelle of 1889, he also constructed more than fifty bridges across Europe. The three-story La Ruche building, beloved by luminaries like Jean-Paul Sartre and Jean Renoir, is another one of Gustave's historic creations. Eiffel has a train station in Chile, a church in the Philippines, a post office in Vietnam, a bridge in Belgium and a hotel in Romania, to name a few projects. He was also one of the key designers when the French were in charge of building the Panama Canal. (Well, everything can't be a shining success, right?) It's also interesting to note that the tower may have been the "Bönickhausen Tower" had Gustave's father not changed their surname to "Eiffel" upon arriving to Paris from Germany.
The Eiffel Tower Paris France is one of the main tourist attractions in all of France. Compared to other architectural wonders, Eiffel is king. New York's Empire State Building may bring in over 3.5 million visitors each year, but that's a paltry sum compared to the 5.9 to 6.9 million sightseers drawn to the height of Paris fashion and architecture. Americans who can't afford the cost of a Paris vacation may want to visit Eiffel Tower Paris Las Vegas's half-scale replica, which is a few thousand dollars cheaper to fly to and $7.25 cheaper to ascend to the top.
The Eiffel Tower Paris France was the tallest tower in the world up until 1930. Even though it's been surpassed by the Burj Dubai Skyscraper, the NY Empire State Building, Canada's CN Tower and the Ostankino Tower in Russia, the 5.9 to 6.9 million visitors leave tower operators with a profit exceeding 1.5 million euros each year (after paying the 59.8 million in operating expenses). Thanks to the tower, Paris France is now the #1 tourist destination in the world, with 82 million visitors in 2007, according to the U.N. World Tourism Organization. Comparatively, #2 Spain attracted 58 million visitors and #3 America drew 51 million international guests.
There are often deals on flights to see the Eiffel Tower Paris France from the U.S. For instance, Iceland Air offers a flight from Boston to Paris for just $419 round trip. At www.bt-store.com, travelers can go from New York to Paris for $616 round trip. Cabs from Charles de Gaulle Airport to central Paris can rack up the cost of travel though, with $75 one-way rides. However, the RER B Line train can also take passengers from the airport to six subway stations for just $12. Another option is to hop aboard the Roissybus, which leaves from Terminals 1, 2 and 3 traveling to L'Opéra Garnier for $13. Travelers may also want to fly to the smaller Orly Airport if they can, as it's $30-$40 cheaper to get to and from.
In addition to ascending the Eiffel Tower Paris France for a spectacular view of the city, visitors may also want to check out the two restaurants, namely the Jules Verne and Altitude 95, plus a souvenir shop, viewing areas and a nighttime light show. In the summer, visitors can visit the scuba diving pool at the foot of the tower and in the winter, they can go snow-shoeing on a 300-meter trail around the building. There is also a special backstage tour that shows the inner-workings of the tower! Truly, the location Paris has much to love.
While visiting the Eiffel Tower Paris France, many people enjoy walking tours below the monument, where they can view the River Seine, century-old trees, towering skyscrapers and breathtaking palaces. Other people wish to see some of the world-famous museums France has to offer, including the Louvre. Architecture lovers will also want to see the Arch de Triomphe, the Notre Dame de Paris and the Champs Elysee. Other cities that are less than 3 hours away by train include Dijon, Rennes, Avignon, Aix en Provence, Strasbourg, Normandy, Annecy, La Rochelle, Tours and Lyon.
