EIFFEL TOWER, What is the most important thing about the Eiffel Tower? All the curiosities

It was a temporary project

One of the most important things about the Eiffel Tower is the context of its construction. It was built for the 1889 World's Fair in Paris and was initially intended to be a temporary structure. However, Gustave Eiffel had other plans. Its construction required immense effort over two years, and to make it useful, its creator decided to place a communication antenna at its highest point. French authorities, seeing its great utility, decided to keep it—and they surely didn't regret it!

Connection with Portugal (and other countries)

When thinking about what is the most important thing about the Eiffel Tower, this fact might not come to mind, as it is outside Paris, or even France. Gustave Eiffel was a renowned engineer who owned a construction company, Eiffel et Cie, in which Théophile Seyrig was also a partner. Two of the most photographed landmarks in Porto, the Luis I Bridge and the Maria Pia Bridge, are works of these engineers, specifically Seyrig. Did you know this fact?

And you might be thinking, "Well, but these bridges are not Eiffel’s work per se," and... that brings us to the next curiosity!

The Eiffel Tower is not Gustave Eiffel's

Yes, that's right! If the aforementioned bridges weren't his, neither was the tower. Eiffel secured financial support for the fair project, which he made good use of, but the architect of the work was Stéphen Sauvestre, the structural engineers were Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier, and Eiffel's involvement in the tower bearing his name was as a civil engineer, builder, and promoter through Eiffel et Cie.

What does this tell us? Rather than diminishing Gustave Eiffel's importance, it highlights his significant contribution and working methodology. Not only did he leave us with one of Paris's most important landmarks but also with some of Porto's iconic structures. Gustave was undoubtedly a reference for thousands of architects of his time who based their works on principles and designs learned from Eiffel.

This monument grows and shrinks

If we ask what is the most important thing about the Eiffel Tower in terms of structure, many answers could come to mind, but one of the most fascinating is that it grows and shrinks. Why? Due to temperature changes. After all, the structure is made of metal, which expands when it's hot, making the tower grow. Conversely, in cold winter weather, the tower shrinks.

It has changed colors

Another curiosity about the Eiffel Tower regarding its structure is that it requires a thick layer of paint that must be replaced every 7 years, as specified by Gustave himself. Over the years, various tones have been used to paint this monument, including yellow, orange, and red. It wasn't until 1968 that the tower began being painted in the consistent brown tone we know today.

The Eiffel Tower moves

And no, we’re not just talking about it swaying in the wind, which it does. As we've mentioned, the sun and heat affect the tower. When one of its four sides is exposed to direct sunlight, it tends to tilt. Thus, we could say this monument is like a giant sunflower; it leans toward the sunlight.

Hitler wanted to destroy it

Perhaps the most important thing about the Eiffel Tower is its resilience against time and threats. During World War II, Hitler wanted to capture Paris at all costs and, if he couldn't, destroy its symbol. Luckily, he failed.

These are just some of the curiosities about the Eiffel Tower, but the most important thing is for you to discover them yourself by visiting one of France’s most iconic monuments. Book your ticket to visit the Eiffel Tower and enjoy all its secrets and the best view of Paris from the inside.