The Eiffel Tower has become both the global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. Built in 1889 and named after its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, the tower was built and used for the entrance way arch to the 1889 World’s Fair. The tower is the tallest building in Paris and the most-visited paid monument in the world.
Eiffel tower tours usually start with purchasing a ticket to ascend to the one of the three levels accessible to visitors. Your ticket allows the choice of stairs or lift. The walk to the Eiffel tower’s first level is 300 steps and so is the walk to the next or second level
The third and highest level at 990 feet, is accessible only by elevator. Restaurants, some very exclusive and requiring reservations, can be found on both of the lower levels. The tower stands 324 metres (1,063 ft) tall without counting the broadcasting antenna at it’s top.
While the tower looks to be a single universal color when observed from the ground before your Eiffel Tower tours ascent, in actuality three separate colors of paint are used on the tower in order to maintain a uniform appearance to an observer on the ground, with the darkest on the bottom and the lightest at the top. The Eiffel Tower is currently painted a shade of brownish Grey.