My bruises have bruises. I'm blaming the cheerleading. Review writing is a whole lot less dangerous....
My bruises have bruises. I'm blaming the cheerleading. Review writing is a whole lot less dangerous.
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It’s debatable in my book whether the Eiffel Tower or Sacré Coeur offers a better view, but one thing is certain – you won’t be disappointed if you get to the top of this place. For many tourists, a trip to the city is not complete without a visit. For me it offered a welcome change from Blackpool Tower, and the chance to agree that there are some things the French do do better.
The Tour Eiffel, constructed for 1889’s Universal Exhibition dominates the parc du Champs-de-Mars on the banks of the Seine. Designed by engineer Gustav Eiffel, hence the name, it stretches up for over 300m, and at the time was the tallest building in the world. Even after September 11th, it is still no where near close to reclaiming this title however.
** Trip Up + Views From The Top **
For many people a visit starts and ends with a trip up in the lifts (plural – there are 3 “floors” and each requires a change of car). For the energetic types out there, a total of 719 steps will get you to the second level, and a scary 1710 to the highest point open to tourists.
The first level is a pathetic 57m up in the air – falling from here would hardly create the mother of all splats. The second level is slightly better, at 115m, but the most impressive has to be the 3rd level, naturally enough, standing proud at 274m above ground. From here, on a clear day, it is possible to see for over 70 km. When we went we could see all of 0 km from this level due to the quite fun amount of thick fog. From the middle level, though, we had much better luck, being able to pick out rival view provider Sacré Coeur across the city where we'd been the day before. We also had some impressive views of the river and beyond.
** Other Attractions **
There’s more to this tower than just a trip to the top, though. I found 5 shops without looking (much) although all seemed to stock the same overpriced rain macs and souvenirs and postcards. Cinémax is a small museum which boasts short films (included in the price) in a weird mix of languages telling of the history of the tower and some of its famous guests (Adolf Hitler and Charlie Chaplin among others) , and an exhibition detailing its original construction, filled out with “useful” facts like how it takes 40 tonnes of paint to redo the whole thing every 7 years.
There’s a post office so you can send postcards stamped with something along the lines of “Greetings from the top of the tower” – just so you know, Blackpool does this too....
Finally, there are a handful of eateries, including the posh and pricey Jules Verne Restaurant and the not so posh and not so pricey nameless café we ate in which did wonderful hot waffles and pain au chocolat – just what you need when you’re suffering from “high above the ground on a cold winter’s day” syndrome.
** Entrance + Fees **
The price you pay depends on your choice of accession method (lift or stairs) and the level to which you wish to travel. I’ve been told it changes quite frequently, but for a rough guide, 65 Fr ( ~ £6 at the time, just over 10 Eur now) per adult gave trips right to the top, without the need to huff and puff up hundreds of steps. On hot days the tower is 15 cm higher but don’t worry, they won’t charge you more for it...
Generally the lifts are in operation from 9.30 am until 11pm for most of the year (7 days a week), with extended opening times in summer.
** Getting There **
The nearest Metro is Bir Hakeim, with Champ de Mars being the nearest overland station. Busses 42, 69, 72, 82, 87 and 91 all run reasonably close.
Address : Tour Eiffel, Champ de Mars, Paris, 75007
Tel : (from inside Paris) 44 11 23 11
** Overall **
J’aime le Tour Eiffel, if we can assume for a moment that aimer means to like not to love. What I mean is, it was a nice place to go on my first trip to the city, and in 30 years or so I’ll probably go back, BUT it won’t be top of my list as something to do during every trip I make there in between. The queues were quite reasonable, the staff friendly and the view fantastic if you ignored the clouds (which you couldn’t, but you know what I mean). Even the price wasn’t that outrageous for such a sought after attraction.
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Advantages: Fair pricing, Amazing views and scenery, What a nostalgic and historic monument! Disadvantages: Avoid if you don't like heights, Can be cold and windy and slightly peturbing at the summit!
WormThatTurned 14.11.2002 ·
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Tour Eiffel, Paris
Feb 25th, 2003
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