The Romantic City of Paris

by: amayco
Total views: 21 | Word Count: 566

In many places around the world, the Eiffel Tower is considered as a well known sight and site, with its splendid view of Paris. Not only does the Eiffel Tower offer a wonderful view of the city of Paris, but also from any position in the centre of Paris, one can actually see the Tower standing in all its glory at 300m high.

Even before thinking of a place to stay in Paris, many begin to picture images of the Eiffel Tower. Many children from other European cities have heard of the Eiffel Tower without even visiting France. However, upon hearing the word 'tower' to many the Eiffel Tower, or Tour Eiffel, is a familiar expression and seems to fit together perfectly.

The Eiffel Tower, after taking two years to be built, was constructed in 1889 as a commemoration of the centenary of the French Revolution. The mastermind behind this great structure is Gustave Eiffel. At the time of the exhibition in 1889, there was a great deal of objection among artists within France to the mere thought that the Tower would remain. There were also those who feared that the style of the Tower would not fit in with the rest of the Parisian architecture. However, today one can hardly think of the possibility of Paris without the Eiffel Tower.

The stairs inside the Tower reach as far as the second floor. Visitors may also take advantage of elevators to the first and second floors. A separate elevator is available to the top floor which offers an incredible view of the city of Paris. Shops offering souvenirs are available on the various levels. Kiosks are also featured in addition to restaurants at which it is advisable to make advance reservations. It should be noted that due to the popularity of the site, there are often many people waiting for the elevators especially to reach the top level. As a generalization, it would probably best to visit the Tower in the morning hours, in the hope that there will perhaps be fewer travelers at the time of your visit.

There is of course a good choice of accommodation options in the area. As is the case, when reserving a hotel room in most cities, prices will vary according to location. You pay for convenience. Therefore, hotels that are situated right in the city centre will generally cost more than a hotel of a similar standard that is located on the outskirts of the city.

People involved with the operation of the Eiffel Tower are proud to note that, since its construction, over 200 million visitors have visited the site. For those who like figures, it may be interesting to note the following details. The tower was constructed out of 12,000 iron pieces and 7 million nails. The weight of the metal structure is 7300 tons and the total weight is 10,000 tons. There were 18,038 pieces used in the construction and 2,500,000 rivets. The Tower contains 1665 steps and luckily for some, there are also elevators. It is reported that it took a period of 2 years, 2 months and 5 days to complete the construction of the Eiffel Tower.

Tourist items such as puzzles and ornaments featuring the Eiffel Tower are very popular items of merchandise. However, there is nothing quite like seeing the real thing.