Closed for more than three months due to the Coronavirus epidemic, the Eiffel Tower reopened to the public on Thursday, June 25, 2020. Here are 10 little-known anecdotes about the architecture built in 1889. .
The Eiffel Tower is one of the most famous monuments of France, even worldwide. Since its construction, the Eiffel Tower has fascinated and attracted a lot of curious people from all over the world: from 6 to 7 million people visiting each year, it is a site to buy tickets to visit. most in the world. On June 25, 2020, after more than 3 months of closing due to Coronavirus, the Eiffel Tower was again accessible to the public.
Amanda Keravel, female editor-in-chief of the French travel guidebook Routard , and Fran # ois Vey, author of the book on the Secrets of “Mrs. Dam Iron” (La Dame de fer) (follow La Tour Eiffel, Vérités et légendes, éditions Perrin . 2018), recounting 10 unknown anecdotes about the Eiffel Tower inaugurated on the occasion of the world exhibition in 1889. 1. The Eiffel Tower might have a different name The Eiffel Tower may have been called the Bonickhausen tower because engineer Gustave Eiffel, who was involved in the construction of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, was not born with the name we know it today. His family is of German origin, his birth name is Gustave Bonickhausen. “At first, Gustave Eiffel kept his German name. Then during the Franco-French War of 1870, this name made it difficult for his business, ”explained Fran # ois Vey. He submitted to the Government Council to change his surname and was approved in 1881, a few years before the design and construction of the tower. This is because it was later called the Eiffel Tower, not the Bonickhausen tower. 2. Gustave Eiffel did not create, design the Eiffel Tower, but bought the patents of the first inventors. History retains the name of Gustave Eiffel. But as Amanda Keravel said: “Gustave Eiffel was not the inventor of the tower”. Fran # ois Vey adds: “Surrounded by excellent engineers, he asked them to work on a project to prepare the World Exhibition in Paris in 1889. The engineers Maurice Koechlin and Émile Nouguier imagined this project and drew the first prototype. ” Then an architect, Stephen Sauvestre, came up with the figure we see today. Inspired by the project, Gustave Eiffel later acquired the patents of two engineers and persuaded all political and industrial circles to build the tower. He is also the funding provider for the project. That is why the name of this great industrialist and businessman was so famous in the political world at that time, used to name the tower. 3. When built, the Eiffel Tower was the tallest building in the world “Building the tallest tower in the world was an imaginary project for all the engineers back then,” explains Fran # ois Vey. When designing the Eiffel Tower, the goal was to build a tower that was 1,000 feet high, or about 300 meters. Therefore, for many years, the Eiffel Tower was the tallest tower in the world. “It was truly a technical feat at the time. Americans are very curious, even jealous. The American press loudly reported on the front page about the inauguration of the tower. Many American delegations came to see, ”said Fran # ois Vey. It was not until 1930 that the Eiffel Tower was dethroned by the Chrysler building in New York (319 meters) and the Empire State Building (381 meters). Today, many other towers are twice as tall as the Eiffel Tower, such as Taipei Tower (508 meters) or Burj Dubai Tower (828 meters). 4. The Eiffel Tower has repeatedly escaped destruction Amanda Keravel said: “When the construction is completed, the Eiffel Tower is just a sightseeing spot and has no other function. Hence the original contract is expected to demolish the tower ”. The concession was planned for 20 years from 1890. Therefore, in 1910, the tower was supposed to be dismantled. But Gustave Eiffel made a clear determination to keep the tower. Fran # ois Vey added: “For most of his life, Gustave Eiffel struggled to extend the franchise”. In the end, the concession was extended several times. And then, the public’s admiration as well as the various uses of the Eiffel Tower for new technologies made it indispensable. Today, no one imagined the Eiffel Tower would be dismantled. 5. Utilized and occupied by the Germans, the Eiffel Tower played a major role in the two world wars In its entire history, the Eiffel Tower was only closed to the public three times: during the Coronavirus 2020 pandemic, and during the World Wars of 1914-1918 and 1939-1945. Fran # ois Vey explains: “In 1914, the French army used the Eiffel Tower as a listening center for German radio stations”. The gathered information enabled the French to identify a decisive attack point for the battle of La Marne. During World War II, Germans occupied the Eiffel Tower to place the antenna at the top of the tower. Released in 1944, the Eiffel Tower was used by the US military as a place for soldiers to relax: a nightclub formed on the first floor. The tower was only handed over to France in 1946. In addition to the above conflicts, the tower is also used for many military experiments. A building reminiscent of this “military” past. “A bongke is built at the foot of the tower. Today, it is used as the mechanical storage of the engine system. It is also used to transport food to the Eiffel Tower restaurants. Since the restaurants are relatively small, some dishes are prepared in this bongke, “said Amanda Keravel. 6. The Eiffel Tower played an important role in the development of television Thanks to the Eiffel Tower, French people were able to watch the Queen’s coronation in 1953. “The antenna helps to record from England and broadcast in France,” Amanda Keravel said. This anecdote illustrates the importance of the Eiffel Tower to the telecommunications industry. Throughout history, antennas placed on top of the Eiffel Tower have been used for many experiments in wave propagation. Fran # ois Vey adds: “In 1903, the first wireless telegraph experiments were carried out on the tower. The Eiffel Tower is also used for radio and is currently broadcasting terrestrial digital television in Paris. 7. A scammer pretended to sell the Eiffel Tower before fleeing with the proceeds In 1925, a crook sold the Eiffel Tower, although never owned it. Amanda Keravel said: “Victor Lustig had read an article explaining that it was very expensive to repair the tower. From there Victor came up with the idea of pretending that it was for sale. This name sent to several scrap dealers with an offer to sell the tower to the highest bidder, and made it clear that it was necessary to keep the project a secret until the sale is complete. “. A scrap dealer fell into the trap and signed a check of great value. And then, Victor ran away with the money he wiped. “The victim was so embarrassed that he never sued,” reported the editor-in-chief of the French travel guide Routard. 8. The Eiffel Tower has never been brown and 3 paint colors are still used When looking at the Eiffel Tower, you can only see one color throughout the tower. However, this is only an optical effect! “Gustave Eiffel devised a technique: in order for the colors to appear uniform from below, three colors had to be used. Darker colors below and lighter colors above, ”revealed Amanda Keravel. This trick is still used until now. However, the tower is not always brown. “The Eiffel Tower is painted and repainted regularly. Between the original color and the color today, nearly 12 different official colors are used, including sepia, brown, ocher and beige ”, said Fran # ois Vey. 9. It shrinks in winter and moves in summer Like all tall buildings, the Eiffel Tower is quite sensitive to the environment. The low winter temperatures can cause it to shrink from 4 cm to 8 cm. During the hot summer months, metal moves the tower. In fact, iron is subjected to an expansion force that causes the tower to grow a few centimeters larger and may cause the tower to tilt a bit. If the sun heats one side, the tower can tilt to the other a few centimeters. In contrast, the tower is insensitive to wind. The reason is simple: “Its construction allows the wind to blow through”, emphasizes Fran # ois Vey. 10. From now to 2024, the Eiffel Tower will have a new face In 2024, the Eiffel Tower will become the center of attention of the world when the Olympic Games take place in France. “This is also the symbol used for the first Paris logo in 2024,” said Fran # ois Vey. A modernization plan is underway for the neighborhood. Many embellishments are planned to facilitate promenade. The Big Park Trocadéro will be connected to the Eiffel Tower. Currently, these two buildings are separated by a road. Many information kiosks and food stalls will be placed on the promenade and in the new gardens around the Eiffel Tower, enough to give a new look to this “Iron Dress Lady”, over 130 years old.
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