THE EIFFEL TOWER : RESPLENDENT BY NIGHT
(By Subbaram Danda)
The Eiffel Tower on the southern bank of river Seine in Paris, France, is a majestically soaring commemorative column of lattice-work, hailed universally as “one of the most romantic and beautiful monuments of the world” and “the queen of all attractions” in the city. The 986-foot tower was set up to serve as an entrance structure for the World Exposition organized in 1889 to mark the centenary of the French Revolution. It was named after French structural engineer Gustave Eiffel, who conceived, designed and erected it, boldly deviating from traditional practices.
But, at the time of its construction about 300 French intellectuals looked at it as “a monstrous atrocity” and “a disgusting shack of battered tin.” They included writers, painters, sculptors, architects and “lovers of the charm of Paris.” In a petition of protest submitted to the city authorities they expressed their “all out indignation” at the iron tower and said it was an affront on the “rich French taste, art and history.” They felt a metallic monument was an antithesis in the finely creative environment of Paris.
Great beauty
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| The Eiffel Tower |
The tower is undoubtedly a great beauty in its own right. A specially devised iron pylon, it stands on four outstretched legs anchored at the four corners of a huge square in a lush park. Four artistically framed arches connect and hold them. The leg shafts curve elegantly upwards tapering gradually and join together in slender grace rising to the intended height. The tower, painted in a special shade of dark brown, shines uniquely day and night. Its distinctive poise and remarkable vertical sweep impress the visitors. Though it is visible from anywhere in the French capital and its suburbs, they come to the site to watch it from a close range and to admire the panoramic view of the city from its top.
It took only two years and two months to build the tower. It was made of “puddled iron,” a type of wrought iron prepared in a special furnace in a particular way to make it pure and strong. More than 18,000 iron pieces, each got up in a desired shape, were pre-fabricated and fixed together. Finally the “iron lady,” as the tower was nicknamed, emerged dominating the Paris skyline in stark contrast to “the great cathedrals and palaces of France that had been built in stone and mortar with all ornamentation.” The “bare frame without any skin” gave rise to protests but they died down in the march of time.
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| Paris view from third level: Ferries sailing on the Seine |
When it was completed the tower was twice as high as the Washington monument in the US, which ruled as the tallest edifice at that time. It held its record till 1930, when the Chrysler Building in New York in the US superseded it. Its height kept on increasing with the frequent addition of broadcast antennae to its top. Its latest height is 1,063 feet.
The Eiffel tower has three levels with observation platforms at each, all accessible by elevator. The first level is at 187 feet and has a post office, where “Eiffel Tower post mark” can be got on post cards bought there. Special stamps can also be purchased. A restaurant is located here. The second level at 376 feet features another restaurant and the third platform is at 905 feet.
From any platform in the tower people can see the charming Paris skyline. For a closer view of famous landmarks, the second level appears better. In clear weather, one can gaze up to 70 kilometres. It is generally agreed that one hour before sunset, the panoramic view of Paris from the tower is spectacular. The descent of the sun down the horizon comes out in colourful splendour that can also be captured beautifully on camera.
Resplendent by night
Watching the Eiffel Tower from a luxury ferry cruising on the Seine at dusk is an exhilarating and unforgettable experience. As twilight turns the sky gradually into a black canvas, brilliant golden yellow lights come on the high tower converting the entire monument into a glittering spectacle of delight. Two search beams of light keep on rotating from its top. Adding further elegance to it, bright blue flash lights artistically placed on the structure start sparkling every hour and last ten minutes. When this takes place, occupants in the ferry turn rapturous and euphoric clapping and crying, “what a sight, what a show!” The ferry keeps on sailing and the wavy ripples of the river shimmering in reflected light cast a magic spell on them.
The tower commands some unique features. The sway of the 10,100-tonne tower in strong winds is imperceptible with no impact on its stability. The maximum swing was 13 c.m. recorded during a storm in 1999, when winds blasted through the city at 240 kilometres per hour. It has 1,665 steps from the ground level to the top. Earlier, visitors were allowed to climb all the way to the top but now only the first two platforms can be reached that way. For the third level, people have necessarily to use the elevator. It was an expensive tower – it cost eight million French francs at that time.
Hitler at the tower
During World War II, the tower witnessed the occupation of Paris by Germans and also its liberation ultimately. Guides say that in 1940 when Nazi forces invaded Paris, their supremo Hitler, who had earned the strange reputation of being an art lover, could not use any elevator to go to the top to take a look at the city’s majestic skyline, as Parisians had by then damaged important cables. However, he posed for a photo in front of it. This led the French to proudly articulate that “Hitler conquered France but not the Eiffel Tower.” Towards the end of the Second World War, when the Allies were marching to regain Paris, Hitler ordered his military governor of the city to bomb the tower, but his diktat was defied.
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| Bust of Eiffel |
Eiffel’s modest bust
Visitors do not miss to see a modest bust of Eiffel erected at the base of the tower on a tall pedestal. The legend “Eiffel 1832-1923” engraved on the pedestal is conspicuously simple. More than seven million people visit the Eiffel Tower every year. It inspired construction of similar towers in several other countries, including the US, England, Australia, Japan and China. A 330-foot replica of the tower is coming up at Yanam, a part of the former French territory of Pondicherry in India.
December 24, 2011 (1180 words)
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