Point of interest
Tour Eiffel
in Paris, France
The 1889 iron landmark is Paris's most-visited monument. Viewing platforms climb to 276 metres, and after dark the tower sparkles for five minutes on the hour.
Where it is
The Eiffel Tower stands on the Champ-de-Mars in the 7th arrondissement on the Left Bank of the Seine, facing the Trocadéro gardens.
Address: 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris
What it is
Three visitor levels give tiered views over the city, with stairs to the second floor and lifts to the summit. After dark the tower sparkles for five minutes on every hour. Restaurants, a Champagne bar at the top and its illuminated night-time silhouette make it an essential stop.
History
Built by Gustave Eiffel's engineering company for the 1889 World's Fair, the tower was originally intended to be temporary. Sharp criticism from artists and intellectuals greeted its construction, yet the 330-metre wrought-iron lattice tower survived to become the most recognisable symbol of Paris worldwide.