Discover Paris: 18 Amazing Fun Facts About the Eiffel Tower You Never Knew!

1. Chameleon Colors

If the Eiffel Tower were a chameleon, it would give its competitors a run for their money: The iconic Parisian landmark has sported several colors throughout its history, starting with reddish-brown and transitioning to yellow-brown, until finally settling on "Eiffel Tower brown" in 1968. And just to flaunt its fashion prowess, the Tower boasts a color gradient that lightens as it stretches skyward, making for a stylishly cohesive look every seven years during its repainting cycle.
Source => toureiffel.paris

2. Espionage Expert

Who knew the Eiffel Tower was a master of espionage in its younger days, twisting metal mustaches and pulling communication pranks on unsuspecting Germans?: During World War I, the iconic Parisian landmark served as a critical communications tool for the Allies, using its wireless telegraph transmitter to jam German radio signals, aiding in the victory at the Battle of Marnes, and doubling as an interception hub for important enemy transmissions.
Source => rd.com

Did you know that six ravens, known as guardians of the Tower of London, are believed to protect it from harm with their own residence on the South Lawn? Discover the legend behind these intelligent and territorial birds and why only the Ravenmaster is allowed to approach them closely! 🏰🦅

=> Fun Facts about The-Tower-Of-London

3. Cold Weather Shrinkage

Despite having a steel-heart, the Eiffel Tower is no stranger to the shrinkage that comes with a cold shoulder from Mother Nature – talk about the cold hard truth, am I right? : In reality, during chilly weather, the metal structure might lose a few centimeters in height due to contraction, but this change is natural, infinitesimal, and doesn't affect its sturdiness, with the design built to withstand varying weather conditions such as wind and rain by minimizing wind resistance.
Source => toureiffel.paris

4. Radio Star

Who knew the Eiffel Tower was a radio star, too? This giant, French steel guitarist continues to strike the right chords in Paris while hiding its secret life of technology: In addition to being a cultural icon, it's equipped with over 30 antennas, making it an essential hub for broadcasting 30 DTT channels and 32 radio stations to about 12 million residents in Paris and the Île-de-France region. These antennas boost sound quality and reception for dedicated DAB+ receivers, able to capture up to 13 radio stations on the same frequency. So, la tour Eiffel remains in tune with modern communication!
Source => toureiffel.paris

5. Science Sleepover

Who said science can't be a sleepover party? Well, Gustave Eiffel sure knew how to combine both worlds when constructing his swanky apartment high up in the Eiffel Tower – sans bedroom, though: The mysterious apartment was actually designed to conduct scientific experiments and host distinguished visitors such as Thomas Edison, but surprisingly lacked a proper snooze chamber. Today, waxy replicas of Mr. Eiffel, his daughter Claire, and good ol' Thomas occupy their former abode, giving guests a glimpse into this iconic tower's quirky history.
Source => toureiffel.paris

6. Vertical Race

It is often said, "Paris is always a good idea," but even Audrey Hepburn didn't know just how sporty the City of Lights could be when it comes to its iconic tower: The Eiffel Tower hosts a "Vertical Race" where athletes from around the globe compete in climbing 1,665 stairs to the top, with the men's record standing at just under 8 minutes and the women's record clocking in under 10 minutes.
Source => toureiffel.paris

7. Nerdy Playground

Before the Eiffel Tower captured hearts as "La Dame de Fer" and had lovers strolling hand-in-hand beneath its romantic arches, it moonlighted as a science nerd's dream playground: Gustave Eiffel himself used the tower for meteorology, astronomy, physics, and wind studies, even setting up an office on the third floor for his experiments. Notably, during World War I, the Iron Lady flexed her muscles as a military antenna, broadcasting crucial information that led to a victorious French counter-attack in the Battle of Marne.
Source => toureiffel.paris

8. Brainy Homage

When France needed a way to celebrate its brainiest Parisians without resorting to another batch of 'Genius Croissants': the Eiffel Tower rose to the occasion with its first floor displaying the inscribed names of 72 scholars, engineers, and industrialists who shaped the fields between 1789 and 1889. These golden-lettered monikers pay homage to men like Fizeau, the lone scholar who lived to see his name up in 60-centimeter-high lights, although sadly, no women made the cut, and the twelve-letter limit tested many a French name.
Source => toureiffel.paris

9. Gravity-Defying Stunt

From the realm of "faster than a speeding baguette" and "no, really, what do you mean there are people who DON'T rollerblade off famous landmarks?": Taig Khris, an X-Games champion, made the Eiffel Tower his own gravity-defying playground in 2010. He set a world record by free falling 12.5 meters on roller blades from the first floor of the iconic Parisian structure and landing on a ramp below, adding to his accolades which already included the world record for the longest jump on roller blades, which he earned off the stairs beneath the Sacre Coeur Basilica.
Source => parisjourney.com

10. Wind-Resistant Design

Whoever said "the wind beneath my wings" clearly hadn't met the Eiffel Tower's best frenemy, robust Parisian gusts: The tower's iconic parabolic shape is mathematically designed to withstand wind pressures up to 4 kN/m2, balancing the torque from gusts up to 214 km/h with the tower's own weight, proving that even in the 19th century, science could elegantly throw some shade at Mother Nature.
Source => plus.maths.org

11. International Potluck

The Eiffel Tower's first floor once hosted the world's most ambitious potluck, boasting flavors fit for a czar, a cowboy, a Parisian, and a Flemish painter: During the 1889 Exposition Universelle, there were four distinct restaurants, each embracing a different architectural style - a Russian restaurant, an Anglo-American bar, a French restaurant, and a Flemish restaurant which later metamorphosed into a theatre.
Source => toureiffel.paris

12. Conman's Deception

The Eiffel Tower is to Paris like Elvis is to impersonators: everyone wants a piece! Well, one cunning conman did better than an autograph or a photo: Count Victor Lustig, America's premier scam artist of the Roaring Twenties, managed to sell the Eiffel Tower to two clueless Parisians, convincing them they could own the very symbol of La Ville Lumière itself. Much like a Parisian baguette, Lustig's tale was fresh, crusty, and full of holes: armed with counterfeit documents and that indefinable je ne sais quoi, he swindled his marks with the wickedest of winks, and word has it they're still looking for a refund!
Source => smithsonianmag.com

13. Stair-Climbing Race

Who needs an elevator when you can climb your way to victory: The Eiffel Tower hosts an annual stair-climbing race called the Eiffel Tower Vertical, with participants racing up 1665 stairs as speedily as possible, attracting top runners like Piotr Lobodzinski and Suzy Walsham, and organized by EcoTrail and the Eiffel Tower Operating Company as part of a four-day event extravaganza.
Source => toureiffel.paris

14. Seasonal Limbo

Did you ever hear the one about the Eiffel Tower joining a limbo contest? Turns out it gets shorter just for kicks during winter: Due to thermal expansion, the sun's movement causes the tower to tilt slightly and move in a curve, and it can gain or lose a few centimeters in height depending on the season.
Source => toureiffel.paris

15. Unsung Engineer

Behind every great tower, there's an unsung engineer playing Jenga with metal beams: Maurice Koechlin, alongside Emile Nouguier, conceptualized the Eiffel Tower in 1884, and as a design office manager, Koechlin produced 5,300 drawings, ensuring the tower's elegant stance in Parisian skyline.
Source => toureiffel.paris

16. Sky-High Dining

Fancy a meal that's truly "out of this world"? Look no further than a tower Louvre'd by many, where customers are served gastronomic delights amongst the twinkling stars and glowing City of Light: Le Jules Verne at the Eiffel Tower offers a luxurious dining experience 410 feet above Paris, complete with a Meilleur Ouvrier de France award and a smart casual dress code that Bans T-shirt(pyramids) and other casual attire.
Source => restaurants-toureiffel.com

17. Unlikely Icon

In a time when the term "oui, oui" could easily translate to "No, no!" as Parisian artists and intellects threw tantrums against an impending metal monstrosity: The Eiffel Tower – a structure once berated by many – was ultimately built by Gustave Eiffel and completed in 1889, becoming an iconic symbol of love, beauty, and engineering prowess, attracting millions of adoring visitors from all over the globe each year.
Source => daily.jstor.org

18. Nighttime Copyright Mystery

Snapping selfies like a secret agent during the day, but fearing the copyright police lurking in the shadows at night? That's just life when photographing the ever-iconic Eiffel Tower: While daytime snaps are completely legal, shots of the tower's sparkling night light show require permission for commercial use, as it remains a copyright-protected artwork since its 1985 debut. Carry on clicking by day, but beware the nighttime sharing spree, lest you be chased by the guardians of French artistic license!
Source => travelandleisure.com