‘First time I saw it, I cried’: Eiffel Tower moves tourists 100 years after Gustave Eiffel’s death

“I was on top of the Arc de Triomphe, and it started to shine, and I started crying because it was so beautiful,” Italian tourist Eduardo told FRANCE 24.

Admired by tourists but originally despised by Parisians, the tower has stood tall above the city’s buildings since it was built for the 1889 Paris Universal Exposition. 

Originally intended as a temporary exhibit, the tower was meant to be demolished in 1909. However, Eiffel cleverly got an extension of its permit by persuading city officials it would have future telegraphic and meteorological benefits. 

More than a century later, Eiffel’s metal structure is far more than a functional antenna. It is the one building every first-time visitor to Paris has on their to-do list.  

Seven million people visit the Eiffel Tower every year. Nearly 300 million people have visited it since it opened, making it one of the most popular tourist attractions in the world. 

“It was really impressive! Especially in comparison to what I was expecting ... Monsieur Eiffel was a genius!” said Adolf, who was visiting Paris from the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Once the tallest building in the world, the Eiffel Tower stands around 1,023 feet (312 metres) tall. Its size often surprises and impresses first-time visitors.  

“It was larger than what we expected in real life,” said Neeta, visiting the French capital from South Africa.  

“When you see the Mona Lisa, it’s very small. So, we expected the Eiffel Tower to be small in comparison, but it’s huge!” added Neeta’s partner Clinton. 

Eiffel died on December 27, 1923, at the age of 91, but his legacy in Paris continues to live on.