The most famous symbol of Paris and of France itself, the Eiffel Tower was built in by Gustave Eiffel to commemorate the one hundredth birthday of the French Revolution.
Rising to a height of 324 meters (1062 feet) on the Champ de Mars beside the Seine River, the Eiffel Tower attracts six and a half million visitors each year.
Visitors may take the 704 stairs or a lift to the second level, but only lifts provide service up to the top of the tower. There are two levels at the top, one outside and one inside.
In addition to providing spectacular views of Paris, the tower accommodates dozens of television and radio transmission antennae.
Several snack bars and two restaurants provide food to hungry visitors; the internationally acclaimed Jules Verne restaurant on the second floor requires advance reservations.
Three souvenir shops sell postcards, cultural objects, and memorabilia. Postal service is available.
The Cineiffel provides visitors with unique images of the Eiffel Tower and its history.
At night, 336 floodlights and 20,000 light bulbs transform the Eiffel Tower into a dazzling sight.
The tower must be repainted every seven years, which requires an astounding 60 tons of paint.
