First the pieces were assembled in the factory using bolts , later to be replaced one by one with thermally assembled rivets, which contracted during cooling thus ensuring a very tight fit.
A team of four men was needed for each rivet assembled: one to heat it up, another to hold it in place, a third to shape the head and a fourth to beat it with a sledgehammer. Only a third of the 2,, rivets used in the construction of the Tower were inserted directly on site. The rivet workers. Copyright : Collection Tour Eiffel. The uprights rest on concrete foundations installed a few metres below ground-level on top of a layer of compacted gravel.
Each corner edge rests on its own supporting block, applying to it a pressure of 3 to 4 kilograms per square centimetre , and each block is joined to the others by walls.
On the Seine side of the construction, the builders used watertight metal caissons and injected compressed air , so that they were able to work below the level of the water. The tower was assembled using wooden scaffolding and small steam cranes mounted onto the tower itself.
The assembly of the first level was achieved by the use of twelve temporary wooden scaffolds, 30 metres high, and four larger scaffolds of 40 metres each. On December 7, , the joining of the major girders up to the first level was completed. The pieces were hauled up by steam cranes, which themselves climbed up the Tower as they went along using the runners to be used for the Tower's lifts.
It only took five months to build the foundations and twenty-one to finish assembling the metal pieces of the Tower. Considering the rudimentary means available at that period, this could be considered record speed. The assembly of the Tower was a marvel of precision , as all chroniclers of the period agree. The construction work began in January and was finished on March 31, On the narrow platform at the top, Eiffel received his decoration from the Legion of Honour.
Over there they were still working on the bolts: workmen with their iron bludgeons, perched on a ledge just a few centimetres wide, took turns at striking the bolts these in fact were the rivets.
One could have taken them for blacksmiths contentedly beating out a rhythm on an anvil in some village forge, except that these smiths were not striking up and down vertically, but horizontally, and as with each blow came a shower of sparks , these black figures, appearing larger than life against the background of the open sky, looked as if they were reaping lightning bolts in the clouds.
Lemercier, Paris Even before the end of its construction, the Tower was already at the heart of much debate. In all, the work took two years, two months and five days and the structure was christened on March 21, Upon completion, its design engineer Gustave Eiffel climbed the 1, steps of the tower to personally place a French flag at the top. Such a tall tower has never been built before. Indeed, standing at feet high, the tower reigned for 40 years as the tallest structure in the world — until Moreover, at the time, the kind of metal structure chosen by Eiffel had only been used to build bridge piles that were far shorter.
Thus the project presented a formidable architectural challenge, accompany by additional special constraints: wind resistance, project scale and the deadlines imposed by the opening date of the Universal Exposition.
Customs of French Culture. Fun Learning French Games. French Emblem. Games to Teach Professions in French Class. By Jeanne Grunert. Days of the Week in French. French to English Converter. Official Language of Quebec. Since closed down, the factory was based in Pompey Meurthe-et-Moselle , a suburb of Nancy , Lorraine. The Pompey factory needed to supply Eiffel with 18, pieces of puddled iron.
They were then connected using 2. The City of Paris gave Gustave Eiffel a concession which permitted the tower to stand for 20 years, after which it should have been dismantled. The sudden demand for a suitable platform from the newly emerging radio transmission technology saved the tower from demolition. Again in , when the Allies were marching closer to Paris, Hitler gave orders to General Dietrich von Choltitz the German military governor of Paris to destroy Paris and the Eiffel Tower… orders which he dared not follow.
His first ever leisure tour of Paris was so quick that he had allowed only a half day to see most of its monuments! It was said that Hitler conquered France, but did not conquer the Eiffel Tower.
Contrary to urban legend, it is not possible to see the Alps in the far distance in fair weather! But the view is still stunning. It stretches for 70 km, as far as the outskirts of Paris, Charles de Gaulle airport and the countryside beyond the suburbs. If your aim is to admire Paris itself, it is better to come down to the second platform. Did you know that the Eiffel Tower went on a diet!
At its inauguration, the tower weighed 11, tonnes, compared to 10, tonnes today — less than the weight of a cylinder of air with the same volume as the iron structure. Early visitors used to be allowed to climb the 1, steps from the bottom to the top of the tower.
Now, only the first two platforms can be reached by stairs. If you wish to access the top floor, you will need to use the lift. YES, definitely! And a very good one too! Le Jules Verne , on the second platform, is a must. And guess what : a special lift is reserved for its customers. On the first floor, the restaurant 58 Tour Eiffel serving simpler food, covers two levels, offering views of Paris and the metal structure of the tower.
Thanks to a magical display of lights at night-time, the Eiffel Tower glitters for 5 minutes from night fall until 1. The light display is made up of 20, bulbs, linked by 40 km of cable.
For many Parisians and visitors, the consensus is unanimous. The best fireworks that ever took place around the Eiffel Tower happened on the 1st January at midnight. The most incredible pyrotechnic display lasted 6 minutes. The tower looked like a rocket ready to take off. The light also takes us back to A similar light was used to illuminate the Paris sky with blue, white and red colours. On the 1st September , reaching the top of the Eiffel Tower using the lifts cost you:.
All the entrance fees and opening hours can be viewed on the official website of the Eiffel Tower , which features interesting information and facts about the monument.
Will you consider visiting the Eiffel Tower soon? Share it with us! Go beyond the fun facts of the Eiffel Tower by testing your knowledge of the Eiffel Tower in 12 questions! Click here to take the Eiffel Tower Quiz! He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. Just love getting your regular posts on the different areas of France.
They are fascinating reading and very informative. Hope to get to France again and track down some of the places you have talked about. Especially love the historical and geographical information about Paris. Keep up the good work!! Leave A Reply Cancel Reply. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail.
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