Eiffel tower – the symbol of Paris, her silhouette is seen here from just about anywhere. Every day, thousands of tourists. But it wasn't always.

Steel tower on the Champ de Mars – a monument to the daring of the nineteenth century. In the second half of the century France, demonstrating its technological leadership, held a series of world's fairs. For the exhibition of 1889 decided to erect in the centre of Paris unseen, the world's tallest structure.

Been nominated for the contest 107 projects. Won presented by engineer Gustave Eiffel: the sleek metal construction with a height of over 300 meters, inscribed on the ground in a square with side length of 125 meters. It is fair to say that the original design of the tower was designed by the engineer Maurice Kahlin and Emil Nugie, the Eifel also bought their patent. However, his talent is imposed on the shape of the structure an indelible mark.

The construction lasted two years, the number of workers at the construction site never exceeded two hundred and fifty. Factories produced more than 18 thousand wrought iron parts, their Assembly took more than a million special rivets. During the construction of a single worker died – decided to show the bride how well he keeps his balance on the top.

Steel tower weighing 7 thousand tons was the highlight of the world exhibition of 1889: in the first week, still not working elevators, about 30 thousand people rose to a three hundred-meter height on foot. In those days there were registered two million visitors. However, at the conclusion of the exhibition the interest in the tower fell, and revive only after the Second world war.

Erection of steel monster in the center of the capital caused an unusually sharp negative reaction of the French intelligentsia. In 1887, Alexander Dumas, Charles Gounod, Sully Prudhomme – fifty creators, glorified France, is publicly opposed the "useless and monstrous Eiffel tower". Guy de Maupassant called it a "skeleton".

But gradually the controversy subsided. As for use, it is the Eiffel tower in 1898 began experimenting with wireless. During the First world here worked strategically important to France, the transmitter, since 1920, the access to the tower received and civilian radio station. Five years later, here began experimental television broadcasting. Now the tower is one of the largest aerials Europe, delivers a signal 10 million people.

The unique silhouette Tour Eiffel depicted in the paintings of Rousseau, Signac, Marquet, Utrillo, Chagall. In 1925, a grifter, taking advantage of the press reports about the possible demolition of the tower, managed to sell it to unsuspecting buyer "for parts". In 1944, an American fighter pilot William Overstreet on his "Mustang" flying under the steel arches and downed Nazi "Messer". In 1996 climber Alain Robert without any fixtures climbed to the top of the steel mountains.

The tower has become a romantic legend, to seek her love, with its lookouts clearly visible leisurely Hay, magnificent palaces, bustling neighborhoods. And not in Paris Paris more than the Eiffel tower.