12 Crazy Things You Didn’t Know About the Eiffel Tower

The Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower Is a structure that everyone across the world recognizes. Synonymous with France, a trip to Paris is not complete without visiting the architectural marvel. Here are a few crazy facts about the Effiel Tower.

1. Symbol of Celebration

via 500px

 This was built in 1889 to celebrate the French Revolution’s centennial. Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel climbed 1710 steps to the top of the tower and unfurled the French flag.

2. Gustave Eiffel didn’t design the Eiffel Tower

His company’s senior engineers – Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier designed the Iron Lady. Gustave Eiffel, however, put in the investment and bought the right to the patent.

3. Shades of Brown

The tower is painted in three different shades of brown – darkest on top and light on the bottom. This is done to correct the haze created by the atmosphere. When you do look up, the structure appears to be of a uniform color from top to bottom.
Earlier, the tower has been painted red and yellow hues as well.

Via R.nagy / Shutterstock

In case you were wondering, it requires 60 tonnes of paint to coat the entire tower, and is repainted every seven years.

4. It grows!

The Eiffel gains 7 inches under the sun but shrinks back in the cold.

Via pexels.com

5. Temporary Structure Turned Permanent

Constructed for the Paris Exposition in 1889, it was meant to be the grand entrance and not a permanent feature of the Paris skyline. It was supposed to stand for 20 years and then dismantled in 1909. However, it provided a great radio antenna and that prevented it from being dismantled.

Via Beboy / Shutterstock

It was used to intercept enemy communication during the World War and helped capture and execute Mata Hari.

6. Daredevil Stunts

It has been attracting reckless and adventurous human beings to do stunts. In 1912, Franz Reichelt, in an attempt to demonstrate a wearable parachute, jumped to his death. In 1926, Leon Collot crashed while trying to fly a plane beneath the first-floor arch.

Via Danm12 / Shutterstock

7. Secret Apartment

The Eiffel Tower has a secret apartment where Gustave Eiffel played host to guests like Edison.

8. Staircase to Jewelry

In 1983, a metal staircase was taken out of the tower for security and safety reasons. This was cut into 20 pieces and auctioned off. One couple bought a piece and made jewelry out of it.

Via Korbella

9. A Hitler Connection

When Hitler was about to lose Paris to the Allied, in 1944, he ordered the city to be demolished, including the Eiffel.

Via National Archives & Records Administration

10. Illegality of Photographs

You could be fined for taking a photo of the tower at night and sharing it. The Illumination Show – in which the Tower lights up at night is “art” according to the French government and therefore, copyrighted.

Via PrasanthM / Wikimedia Commons

In case you were wondering, it takes 20,000 light bulbs to make Paris’ landmark sparkle. The bulbs are switched on for five minutes, every hour on the hour.

11. Swaying in the Wind

The tower sways 6-7m in the wind. Anyone who has scaled the top of the tower can feel the movement.

Via S.Borisov / Shutterstock

12. The distance of Lifts

It lifts travel, combined, a distance of 103,000 km every year – 2.5 times the circumference of the Earth.

Via Marcello Landolfi / Shutterstock

The post 12 Crazy Things You Didn’t Know About the Eiffel Tower appeared first on Arch2O.com.

https://www.arch2o.com/12-crazy-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-eiffel-tower/ September 22, 2018 at 03:33PM https://www.arch2o.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/shutterstock_112137761-beboy-700x467.jpg