The curious story behind the Eiffel Tower, symbol of Paris

“This work will find an echo Paris to the east. “The whole world will hold its breath when it sees this gigantic tower.” These are the words with which the then director of public works in the French capital began the construction of the Eiffel Tower .

It was in the second half of the 19th century that the industry progressed by leaps and bounds. As compiled National Geographic , The most developed countries felt the need to show the world their latest technological and scientific advances, in order to “show off” their economic and political power.

It was like this The idea of ​​building buildings has become the maximum expression to showcase modern techniques used by governments. For that, in 1886, and to commemorate the first centenary of the French Revolution (1789), the colossal was erected Eiffel Tower , which is today a symbol of France and one of the most popular tourist attractions in Europe.

How was the Eiffel built? Was there any controversy in the meantime? This is the story of this iconic Parisian landmark.

The French government has launched a competition for the most creative and modern architects and engineers to present projects for the Paris World’s Fair. in 1886. The challenge, which attracted competitors, was to erect a square tower 300 metres high and 125 metres on each side on the Champ de Mars.

And, to stand out among all countries, France wanted to build the tallest building in history, a kind of Tower of Babel which was still living proof of great civilizations.

All The developed countries were engaged in a kind of race to build a 300-meter tower.

AfterwardsThe first project of the Parisian tower was designed by two engineers from the office of Gustave Eiffel, a renowned and competent French architect. In 1884, they had imagined a large metal structure composed of four pillars joined at the top.

Even though at first I wasn’t interested, Architect Eiffel fell in love with the project when one of his colleagues rearranged the sketch to make it more visually appealing.

This is how he signed, with Émile Nouguier and Maurice Koechlin (the two engineers who carried out the first project of the tower), a patent which allowed the construction of metal pillars and posts which could safely exceed the famous 300 meters.

Excited about the construction, Eiffel eventually bought the patent for the tower from his engineers, in exchange for a percentage of the revenue the work would generate.

They submitted the project to the competition and won the prize. It was time to start construction which, curiously, was completed in record time since it had to be ready for the opening of the important Universal Exhibition in Paris in 1889.

Work began on January 26, 1887 and ended on March 31, 1889. This speed was achieved thanks to the more than 200 workers who worked hard and, at the same time, to build the tower, which weighs 7,341 tons.

The hardest thing, compiled NatGeowere the foundations: Two of the pillars are very close to the Seine – which made the ground marshy and unstable – and so had to be dug under the river bed with a complex system, until firm ground was reached. However, architects, engineers and teachers managed to solve the problem with scaffolding and wooden loading towers.

And for the project, even the smallest details were taken into account: The design alone was worked on by 40 engineers and designers, who produced 700 plans and 3,600 drawings.

The construction involved between 150 and 300 workers, who manufactured, pre-assembled and assembled the parts. Usually, each element of the Eiffel was worked in workshops on the outskirts of Paris, then arrived in the capital by train.

Once on site, the workers assembled the pieces using bolts. They had to form teams of four: one activated the forge (the fire) to heat the roblon, another introduced the piece into the hole, the third struck the piece and the last hammer finished it off with a sledgehammer.

This same thing was repeated 4,200 times a day. To give you an idea of ​​the scale, the Eiffel Tower is 2.5 million roblons.

SO, The tower was growing about 10 meters per month. In September 1888, there was a second floor 115 meters high. From then on, construction became simpler.

Not all the work went smoothly: There was one accidental death due to a fall (outside working hours) and, in addition, there were two occasions when workers went on strike. because they had to work nine hours in a freezing winter and twelve hours in a pressing summer.

Eiffel then responded to the workers’ calls, offered them performance bonuses and improved their working conditions.

And even though it was a valuable project for many people, it Some groups have categorically rejected the work: some artists have declared it a “useless and monstrous” tower, an “odious column of sheet metal full of bolts.”

Finally, the official inauguration took place on May 15, 1889. . Gustave Eiffel, accompanied by the authorities and other colleagues, raised the French flag to the top of the tower. The sky was lit up by flares and they fired 21 cannon shots.

“The French flag is the only one to have a 300-meter mast” ” said proudly the architect, whose surname was reflected in the name of the tower.

Eiffel was a famous man, with honors and, of course, a billionaire. When he died in 1923, the Eiffel Tower was still the tallest in the world, but several years later it lost the record: The Chrysler Building (319 meters) and then the Empire State Building (381 meters) were built.