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Eiffel Tower: top tips for tourists The Eiffel Tower cannot be photographed at night The height of the Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower- a graceful and majestic symbol of France, Paris - the pearl of the country. Interestingly, many Parisians are far from enthusiastic about her. Many of them had to come to terms with its existence. This surprised me a little, because it is really unique and causes great admiration. At night, the building lights up with many bright and bewitching lights.

  • Best shots obtained at night

Features of the main attraction of Paris

  • The Eiffel Tower consists of three levels. Entrance to the main attraction of Paris is paid. The amount of payment depends on which of the levels you would like to get into. By the way, the ticket seller was a Russian woman.

On the first and second levels you can climb both on foot and with the help of an elevator. But tourists are delivered to the third level only with the help of an elevator. I can say that the third level is the most impressive! You can see photos that only confirm this.

Third level

  1. Let's start from the very last level. eiffel tower. On the third platform there is an observation deck, as well as many restaurants and cafes. Her height is 274 meters.

Of particular and great interest to me made a famous restaurant called "Jules Verne" or "Jules Verne" located in the glass gallery. I note that if you plan to have dinner here, you should reserve a table in advance, because there are too many tourists who want to admire the beauties of Paris. In general, this gastronomic restaurant has a capacity of 120 seats.

Second and first levels

  • You can climb these levels on your own without using the elevator. To do this, you will have to overcome a fairly large number of steps. The first and second levels include many restaurants, souvenir shops and cafes.

The ticket office is located on the ground floor., information stand with various useful information and four gift shops. There is also a buffet here. and if you join excursion group, you can see the departments where the hydraulic machines are located, which raised the elevator to the very top of the Eiffel Tower.

From the second level, a beautiful panorama of the view of Paris opens up. From the second level, you can see a lot of pictures that are small, but convey a sense of delight.

  • Cost to climb the tower: 15 euros (You will need to defend a huge queue)

Many people have a question when the Eiffel Tower lights up, according to local time, this happens at 21.00, when it starts to get dark. In Paris, this happens around 20.00 to 21.00 hours. But it is better to arrive at 19.00

night charm

By photo and video, which I offer you to view in the menu on the right, you can see all the charm of the sights of Paris. You can also see the scheme of the world famous tower. Of course, the photo does not convey beauty as much as the video, but it makes it possible to consider everything in detail.

Without harm to the structure, it can accommodate 10 thousand and 400 people at one time. There are a lot of tourists here who want to enjoy the night view of Paris, as well as admire the main sights of the city from a bird's eye view. So be prepared to stand in line for hours.

Plenty of color time eiffel tower changed from red-brown to yellow tones. However, over the past few decades, a color called “brown-eiffel” has been officially bred and then patented. Night illumination has been operating since 1990. The last change took place in 2003, and since then the Eiffel Tower has been wrapped in 40,000 wires and about 20,000 light bulbs. Look at the pictures on the right and you will see why a huge number of tourists visit Paris every year.

Part two is dizzying.

From this photo you can trace the famous path of the man-cognac Napoleon Bonaparte. In the middle of the frame is the military school where the future emperor studied, and on the left is the cathedral of Les Invalides, where his ashes are buried. In the background, almost in the center, the Montparnasse Tower is buried in lights - the only skyscraper in the city center (we will also climb it in one of the posts). And, finally, in the foreground there is the Champs de Mars park, or simply the Champ de Mars, broken in front of the Eiffel Tower.


2. Lower left corner from the previous photo. She is Ecole Militer Square ( military school, easy to translate). From this picture, you can infer several facts about Parisian life: the architecture is beautiful, compact cars park compactly, and they try to preserve the trees in the city. But the most remarkable thing is the absence of street wires. In Paris, they hide underground.

3. Let's look a little to the left. View of the Palais Bourbon (7th Arrondissement, 20 in total, each with its own mayor).

4. Zzzz closer. The history of the ferris wheel is similar to the history of the Eiffel Tower. Like her, the wheel was erected as a temporary structure for the celebration of the Millennium. And his owner also refused to subsequently demolish his offspring. This clown Marcel Campion (and he is a former clown) referred to the fact that he finances programs to combat AIDS and cancer. Ah, poor man. The most piquant, however, is that he was friends with the then President of France, Jacques Chirac (who, as you know, is just now sewing a case). But this did not quite help either, the court ruled to remove the wheel and it rolled around various European squares and fairs, however, for a while it again reached Concorde Square.

5. There, in the distance, on highest point Paris, on the hill of Montmartre, is the Basilica of the Sacré-Coeur. The only vineyard in the city is sheltered here, it gives out several hundred liters of wine to the mountain (on the hill).
Montmartre is a well-known place for artists (like the Arbat, but not the Arbat).

6. Even more to the left. Arch, arch, well, who does not know her, ee.

7. Already northwest. The Parisian downtown Defense is very prudently built on the outskirts of the city. I'll tell you more about it sometime.

8. Relatively young (built in 1937) Chaillot Palace. It houses museums.

9. Closer. Varsovi Square in front of the palace, which is crossed by New York Avenue. In general, the topography of the city is beautiful. Not only do French names caress the ear in principle, but here you have Kennedy and Charles de Gaulle avenues, Walter and Sevastopol boulevards, streets of Rome, Moscow and St. Petersburg (which was called either Petrograd or Leningrad).

10. Let's look at the southwest direction. Somewhere in the distance is Versailles, and below is the Seine, liquid water. This river has seen a lot.

11. An unfortunate white spot in the frame betrays an unprofessional photographer (as well as fuzzy photos, lack of a tripod). This is how one of the many stadiums in the city, located at the foot of our tower, is illuminated at night. A thousand devils, there are a lot of football grounds in Paris and they are constantly chasing the ball. That's where the legs grow from victories at the world championships.

12. Let's get closer and see that even now (about 10 pm) someone is settling scores among themselves in the game.

13. Another stadium is melting in the haze.

14. We complete the turn and once again, now more clearly, we see the Montparnasse tower.

Eiffel Tower

One of the most famous landmarks in the world, the Eiffel Tower (la Tour Eiffel) symbolizes Paris. Before arriving here, visitors have vivid image this monument, which can be seen in a postcard, film or on a shoulder strap, but the Eiffel Tower is still amazing. This masterpiece of architectural achievement soars to a height of 320 meters. A feat of ingenuity, the structure of 8,000 metal parts is held together by 2.5 million rivets. Despite its massive weight, the Eiffel Tower has an airy lattice structure with the seeming lightness of a ballerina. The graceful tower is also known as the "Iron Lady".

Gustave Eiffel created the tower as a temporary exhibit for the Exposition Universelle (World's Fair) in 1889. At the time, it was considered a thorn in the side. Notable writers and artists, including Charles Garnier and Alexandre Dumas, protested his presence. Although the tower was designed to last 20 years, its usefulness as a radio antenna ensured its survival. The Eiffel Tower has become the most recognized feature of the Paris skyline, and for tourists, visiting is one of the city's most popular attractions.

See also: Where to stay near the Eiffel Tower

pillars

Pillars Romn Emin / photo modified

Four massive pillars at the base support the entire weight of the tower, 320 meters high, 10,100 tons. The engineer Gustave Eiffel decided to build his monument out of metal rather than the heavy stone that was used in his time to build churches, the most high monuments day. Because the weight of the tower is so well distributed throughout the frame, the base succeeds in securing the monument even in high winds. At ground level, the pressure is only four kilograms per square centimeter, about the same pressure that a normal-sized adult exerts on a chair seat.

The giant pillars give a striking first impression, they are much larger than you might expect and spacious enough to house a post office (South Pillar) and four elevators. Ticket office located on the Esplanade between West and South Pillars. Also at the foot of the columns there are souvenir shops and a cafeteria. In the presence of entrance ticket take one of three elevators from North Pillar (Peeler Nord), East Pillar (Peeler Est) or West Pillar (Peeler Owest) to reach the first level. (The south table is a private elevator in Jules Verne restaurants). Enjoy an exciting ride in the elevator or walk up to the first level.

First level

First Level Christina / photo modified

Take the lift or go up the 360 ​​steps to the first level for great views of the Parisian monuments (although the panoramas are not as wide as on the higher levels). This level gives visitors a good idea of ​​the metal structure underneath. open sky towers. At a height of 57 meters, the observation deck features transparent floors and glass pavilions to showcase sensational panoramas. Over 2,000 square meters of outdoor viewing space allows you to relax and enjoy the stage.

This level has public toilets, a souvenir shop, a museum, an exhibition celebrating the 120th anniversary of the tower, and Theater Cineiffel with an educational film filled with fascinating facts about the history of the Eiffel Tower. There is even a post office that will print your mail with a special postmark. The round gallery offers stunning views and includes panoramic tables, viewpoints that allow visitors to find specific monuments in Paris.

Enjoy lunch or dinner in this incredible setting on 58 Tour Eiffel Restaurant. Lunch is laid-back, served in a picnic style; dinner - a more formal brasserie with traditional French cuisine. Another option is cafeteria which is open for lunch and offers a wide selection of starters, salads, sandwiches, pizzas and pastries.

Second level

Second Level Jean-Pierre Dalbra / photo modified

At an altitude of 115 meters on the second level, there is a beautiful view of the cityscape of Paris. The buildings along the River Seine can be easily distinguished (whereas on the upper level the sights seem so small from a distance). To get to the second floor, take the elevator or go up 704 steps from ground level. On the second level there are public toilets, souvenir shops and cafeteria like the first level. There is also History window which describes the construction of the Eiffel Tower and Vision which provides a breathtaking panoramic view of the sights below, perfect for a photographer (but not for those afraid of heights). Looking for the ultimate Parisian experience? Treat yourself to a meal in an incomparable Restaurant Jules Vernes. This Michelin-starred gastronomic restaurant serves the cuisine of renowned French chef Alain Ducasse. Blending classic French culinary heritage with a modern twist, the cuisine is as impressive as the views. Be sure to book in advance (a few months in advance). Take the private elevator from the South Pillar which leads directly to the restaurant.

Official website: www.lejulesverne-paris.com/ru

Upper level

Not for the faint of heart, the top level of the Eiffel Tower stands on dizzy height 276 meters. The top of the Eiffel Tower continues a few meters higher and the radio antenna reaches 320 meters. To get to the upper level, take the elevator from the second level. There are two viewing platforms, one is under the roof and the other is in the open air for a spectacular high altitude. The platforms are more compact than the first and second levels and definitely not suitable for those who are afraid of heights. From the observation platforms, you can enjoy stunning panoramic views that stretch up to 70 kilometers on a clear day. Notice how small other Parisian monuments look from this height. The 70-meter Notre-Dame tower is 200 meters below this observation deck.

The top level includes Office of Gustav Eiffel, which appears in the initial state. Wax models show Gustav Eiffel and his daughter Claire dating Thomas Edison. From various points on viewing platforms, panoramic maps denote the most emblematic monuments in Paris and the height of each building. There is even Altimeter where visitors can measure their exact height.

Eiffel tower at night

Eiffel Tower at night | Paul / photo modified

To appreciate the different aspects of Paris' most famous landmark, be sure to visit both in the evening and during the day. The Eiffel Tower is most charming after sunset when it is lit up. golden lighting which glows from lights located inside the frame of the tower. The effect is truly magical. Golden lighting was created by electrician and engineer Pierre Bidault in 1985. Since the millennium, the tower has shown a special light show that is superimposed on the Golden Lighting. Every night, in the hour from sunset to 1 a.m., Lighthouse light is cast by 360° rotation, and Spark plug shine for five minutes. The Sparkling Lights system consists of 20,000 bulbs and requires 25 climbers to install over a five-month period. The budget for this sparkling light installation exceeded 4.5 million euros. This Sparkling Light show continues daily. Energy-saving 6-watt light bulbs reduce energy consumption, making the show more sustainable.

Best Photo Spots

Best Photo Spots

For those who want the perfect photo of themselves with the Eiffel Tower in the background, there are two great options: across the river from the Eiffel Tower Place du Trocadero offers an excellent vantage point. Closer to the tower Elysian Fields also provides a good backdrop for photos. It is easy to take pictures from any of these places, which will become a crowded memory of the visit. The ideal time to take a photo in front of the Eiffel Tower is in the morning or late in the evening.

Where to stay near the Eiffel Tower

  • Peninsula Paris: 5-star luxury, old world luxury, Oscar de la Renta toiletries, six restaurants, luxury spa, indoor pool.
  • Hotel La Tamise - Esprit de France: 4-star boutique hotel, stylish decor, wonderful staff, comfortable beds, delicious breakfast with fresh pastries.
  • Hotel Joke - Astotel: mid-range pricing, great value, quirky decor, free minibar, great service.
  • Hotel Darcet: budget hotel, close to great shops and restaurants, helpful staff, free tea and coffee, spotless rooms.

Tips and Tours: How to Make the Most of Your Visit to the Eiffel Tower

  • Eiffel Tower Tours: Skip the entry lines, which can be up to four hours long, on a two-hour ticket ticket ticket Prioritize the Eiffel Tower with a host tour that allows you to take a leisurely look at the sights of Paris right on the elevators as you learn some of their history from your guide. Or you can combine some of the best tourist attractions on a 4-hour Paris city tour, the Seine River Cruise and the Eiffel Tower, a great introduction to the city as you see it, and learn about attractions like the Champs-Elysées and the Arc de Triomphe from your air-conditioned bus and more by visitors from a relaxing cruise ship, ending with a panoramic view from the second level of the Eiffel Tower.
  • Tickets: Prices vary depending on the type of visit. The elevator ticket allows access to the first and second floors. The price increases if it includes a visit to the top floor. To avoid waiting in line, you can buy tickets online at least a day before your visit.
  • Avoiding crowds: With seven million visitors a year, the Eiffel Tower is one of the most visited monuments in the world, so lines can be hours away. They are shortest until 9am, after 6pm (in summer, the Eiffel Tower is open later in the evening) and out of season.
  • Climbing the Eiffel Tower: You can skip the elevator lines by going up the stairs and save a few euros. Keep in mind that there are 360 ​​steps to the first level and another 344 steps (total 704 steps) to the second level. The upper level is not accessible by stairs.
  • See your values: Pickpockets know that this is the main tourist attraction in Paris and unfortunately, thefts happen here, especially in crowded areas and elevators. Be sure to attach the camera strap to prevent it from being removed from the viewing platforms.
  • Availability: All three levels are accessible by lift.
  • How to get to the Eiffel Tower: Take the metro to Bir Hakim or Trocadero station or RER to Marche on Marset - Eiffel Tower. Take bus 82 or 42 to the Tour Eiffel stop or take 82, 87 or 69 to the Champs de Mars stop. The Batobe on the River Seine drops passengers at the Porte de la Bourdonna, a short walk from the Eiffel Tower. The most convenient car park is at the Quai Branly car park, 300 meters from the Eiffel Tower.

The most grandiose, famous, outrageous building in Paris, of course, is the Eiffel Tower. From its appearance in 1889 as an arch for the Universal Exhibition dedicated to the storming of the Bastille, and to this day, it has been in the spotlight. She was also recognized as an important link in the French economy and a valuable asset to Europe.



The history of the tower!

Although the engineer Gustave Eiffel suggested dismantling the tower after the twenty-year period of its construction, as we can see, it continues to rise majestically on the Champ de Mars to this day.

Book a table at a restaurant on the Eiffel Tower

The most interesting thing is that the idea of ​​​​the design does not belong to Eiffel, but to Maurice Koechlen, his colleague in the engineering bureau. It was in the old drawings of Maurice that the leading engineer found the sketch of the tower that interested him.

Together with other employees, Eiffel finalizes the idea, draws up a joint patent, sends drawings to the competition, and wins. Subsequently, he redeems the rights of possession, and becomes their sole owner.

The surprising fact is that while working on the construction scheme, the research of Hermann von Mayer, a Swiss professor of paleontology of the 19th century, was taken as the basis. He studied the structure of the femur, namely its head in the place of bending and connection with the joint at an angle.

He concluded that thanks to the many small processes of a strict geometric shape with which it is covered, the weight of the body is distributed evenly, preventing fractures.

It was these studies by Mayer that, 20 years later, inspired the designers of the famous tower to give it such a stable shape. Even with a powerful wind, the top deviates only by 12 cm, and if it is hot in the sun, by 18 cm due to the expansion of the metal.

Work on the image

The original appearance of the steel lady was only a model of the technical progress of its time, and looked too conservative. To win the competition, it was necessary to ennoble the structure with decorative elements, to make it more refined.

Gustave suggested decorating the tower piers with stone, making the arches a link between the piers and the ground floor, and turning them into the main entrance to the exhibition. The levels also had to be transformed and become functional thanks to the glazed halls, and the top - to acquire a rounded shape along with other embellishments.

When the scheme acquired all these innovations, the jury approved Eiffel's plan, and he received the green light for construction. Feeling a surge of enthusiasm after the first victory, he exclaimed that France would now be the only owner in the world of a 300-meter flagpole.

To be or not to be - Bohemian opinion

The enthusiasm, however, was not shared by the creative elite, considering the future building to be insulting to the eye. Letters repeatedly came to the city hall demanding that such a monstrous structure not be allowed to be erected, arguing that the Eiffel Tower in Paris would be a huge mistake, a repulsive stain hanging over the city, and not being combined with other architecture.

About three hundred painters, architects, musicians and writers protested, sending it to the city authorities, where they urged the commission to change their minds in colorful terms: “For 20 years we will be forced to look at the disgusting shadow of the hated column of iron and screws, stretching over the city like blot".


The petition was signed by Charles Gounod, Dumas son, and the famous novelist Guy de Maupassant. However, subsequently Maupassant repeatedly visited the restaurant, which is now called Jules Verne. When the novelist was asked why he came there, if he dislikes the Eiffel Tower so much, he said that there was no more place in Paris where this damn thing could not be seen.

However, not everyone was so ardent her opponents. She made a completely different impression on Thomas Edison, and in the guest book he wrote a welcoming word to its creator.

Particulars of construction: figures and facts

It all started in 1887 on January 28, and the last day to complete the construction was December 31, 1889. For such a colossal project, it was a record short time, given that the height of the Eiffel Tower was 300 meters.


Building a tower!

There was no technology capable of lifting parts weighing up to 3 tons to this height, and therefore Eiffel had to additionally invent special mobile cranes. Also, in order to speed up the work, most of the elements were made in advance, and holes were drilled in them, into which connecting rivets were installed.

Eiffel demonstrated unparalleled precision in drafting. There were 1700 general and 3629 detailed ones, and their accuracy was 0.1 mm (3D printers print with such clarity today). It is comparable to a piece of jewelry or magic worthy of admiration, especially in this age of high technology.

Inner world

Once in Paris, it is difficult to avoid the temptation to look at the city of love from the height of the most famous Parisian. On the initial two platforms, which are located on the tops of 57.63 and 115.73 m; you can visit restaurants, have a glass of sparkling wine or order lunch.


On the third level, located at 276.13 m, visitors will find a bar, an astronomical and meteorological observatory. The tower is crowned with a lighthouse with a dome, the light of which reaches 10 km.

Rise to the 3rd level

There are 1792 steps to the top, but you are unlikely to want to make such a serious ascent, especially since back in 1899 two Fives-Lill elevators were built for this, and passengers, having risen to a mark of 175 m, moved to another cabin .


Elevator to the 2nd floor

The first machines ran on hydraulic pumps, but since their use was impossible in winter, Otis brand electric motors replaced them in 1983, and the hydraulics are shown as an exhibit to tourists.

Gustave Eiffel's apartment

At the very top there is another room - an apartment that was built specifically for the Eiffel. Although the square is quite spacious, it is furnished simply, but with the taste of a man of the XIX century. It has separate rooms, furniture, carpets, and even a piano - a must-have item for the elite of that time.


When the apartment became known in the city, there were people who wanted to buy it or at least spend the night there, offering solid sums, but Eiffel always refused such offers.

While in Paris, the engineer often arranged meetings in his favorite retreat with the rich and famous people. Edison also visited it, and for ten hours a couple of inventors under cognac and cigars found many fascinating topics for discussion, including the phonograph, a fresh invention of the famous American.

In captivity, but with a proudly raised head

Eiffel Tower, 1940 - the lift mechanism suddenly fails. This trouble happened just before the arrival of Adolf Hitler. Since the war was on, there was nowhere to get new parts for it, and the Fuhrer could only trample at the feet of the obstinate Parisian. On this occasion, the poets did not miss the opportunity to say: "Hitler conquered France, but he could not conquer the Eiffel Tower."


Hitler planned to transmit radio signals from the lighthouse to his military units and broadcast agitation in Paris, but he was especially excited by the idea that the flag flying on the spire of the top would be perfectly visible in all corners of the city.

At the end of the summer of 1944, Hitler, annoyed that he could not climb to the top, gave the order to Colonel General Dietrich von Choltitz to destroy the unsubdued pride along with the rest of the sights of Paris.

However, the order was never carried out, and when the invaders left the city, the elevators that had stopped for several years started working again after a couple of hours, and the news was transmitted by radio from the tower.

The height of the Eiffel Tower!

For 40 years, the Eiffel Tower had no competitors in terms of height in the whole world, and only in 1930 lost the palm to the Chrysler Building in New York. Today, its height reaches 324 m due to the antenna installed in 2010.


Height

In reality and in the photo, the tower looks like a slender, sophisticated, charming beauty. Like a true Frenchwoman, she likes to radically change her image from time to time, and has already managed to try on several outfits. She was dyed in different colors that ranged from yellow to reddish brown.

Now, specially for her, they have developed and patented a unique tone “brown-eiffel”, which is closest to the bronze shade. Every 7 years it is repainted to protect the metal from corrosion, and old parts are replaced with new ones made of a lighter but stronger alloy.

night beauty


The Iron Lady also loves to shine, and at the time of her own premiere in 1889, she sparkled with ten thousand gas lamps, a pair of searchlights and a lighthouse, the rays of which had the color of three shades of the national flag. Just a year later, electric lights sparkled on it, and in 1925 it became the most grandiose advertising platform for Andre Citroen.

The advertisement was called: “Tower on fire”, and thanks to 125 new light bulbs, the silhouette first lit up on it, then it was replaced by star rain, which smoothly turned into the flight of comets and zodiac symbols, then came the year of birth of the tower, the current year, and finally the surname appeared Citroen. Advertising worked until 1934.

The Parisian fashionista received her golden dress on the last day of 1985, and in 2003 silvery lights were added to this noble brilliance. This required €4.6 million, 20,000 light bulbs, 40 km of wires, 30 people and several months of work. Another memorable outfit the tower wore from the beginning of July to the end of December 2008, which looked like the flag of Europe - a circle of 12 gold stars on a blue background.

The brainchild of Gustave Eiffel remains a wonderful wonder of the world today. A copy of the Eiffel Tower stands in many cities: in Copenhagen, Las Vegas, Varna, in Chinese city Guangzhou, and Aktau in Kazakhstan.


Replica in Las Vegas

In the first 12 months of its existence, it fully paid off the costs of construction thanks to the visitors, and remains the most popular, visited attraction. Every year, millions of people come to visit her, and by 2002 this number exceeded 200 million.

observation deck

City of dreams and champagne bubbles

In order to spend as much time in the company of the Eiffel Tower as possible, tickets for the tour and the restaurant can be booked in advance. Several buffets, a bar and a couple of cozy restaurants will allow you to enjoy delicious food, drinks and views of Paris.

On the ground floor, you can visit the 58 Tour Eiffel restaurant, eat a sandwich, fries, croissant, drink juice or coffee, paying only 18 € for lunch. In the evening, there are several main dishes and desserts to choose from, but the price rises to 82 € per person.
At the same level, there are regular buffets, where a glass of juice and a slice of pizza will not exceed 7-8 €.


Restaurant "Jules Verne" (Le Jules Verne)

But, if being in the very romantic place on earth, if you don't intend to skimp on pleasure, then visit the luxurious restaurant Le Jules Verne on the second level. Lunch here will cost at least 85 € per person, and dinner with lobsters - at least 200 €.

View from the tower at night


Night Paris with observation platform

Eiffel Tower on the map

However, you can enjoy it without visiting such expensive establishments. Climbing up to the third level, in the Champagne Bar, grab a glass of champagne, take a bird's eye view of Paris, and feel the exclusivity of this moment.

Video

The exact address: Champ de Mars, 5 Avenue Anatole France, 75007 Paris

Working hours: From 9:30 to 23:00, in summer from 9:00 to 00:00

Tickets

Entrance to the lift (up to the 2nd floor): adults - 11 €, 12-14 years old - 8.5 €, children and disabled people - 4 €.

To the top: adults - 17 €, 12-14 years old - 14.5 €, children and disabled people - 8 €.

Stairs to 2nd floor: adults - 7 €, 12-14 years old - 5 €, children and disabled people - 3 €.

Photo

Eiffel Tower Photo Gallery!

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Holidays in November

Eiffel tower at night photo

eiffel tower photo

Going to any country, it is always important for photographers to be aware of the specifics of the current copyright law. For example, most people are aware that you need to get the consent of the featured person if you plan to publish their images for commercial or editorial purposes. And what about the use of famous monuments that are on the streets in public space?

Everything is complicated here. Video channel half as interesting posted a video summarizing information about the public domain, copyright, and what you can safely take pictures of, using the Eiffel Tower as an example. Does this mean that we will not be able to photograph the famous landmark in the center of Paris? Not really. It all depends on the time of day chosen for filming.

In the European Union, a work of art - a song, painting, photo, video or building - is under copyright law for the life of its creator and for 70 years after his death. But what if the copyrighted object stands in the middle beautiful scenery? In most countries, "freedom of panorama" is enshrined in law. This means that shooting is allowed as long as the copyrighted object is not the center of the image.

Panoramic freedom around the world for images used for commercial purposes. Image: Wikimedia Commons.

However, in some EU states, freedom of panorama is significantly limited by law. Unfortunately, France is one of those countries. And in Italy, shooting panoramas is completely prohibited, that is, Renzo Piano's Auditorium and other modern buildings cannot be included in the frames.

In the case of the Eiffel Tower, whose creator died in 1923, copyright law ceased to apply to the object as early as 1993. Therefore, in front of the Paris Las Vegas hotel, which opened in 1999, they were able to build a copy of the tower. But things are quite different with photographs of Gustave Eiffel's tower illuminated at night.


Legal copy of the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas, USA. Photo: Jürgen Matern.

Twinkling lights on the romantic symbol of Paris were installed in 1985. Illuminations are considered a separate work of art with their own rights. This means that you will have to wait a long time before you can freely photograph the Eiffel Tower at night, in accordance with copyright law. Shooting for personal use is acceptable, but even sharing on social media is prohibited. Although the copyright owner does not claim for non-commercial use, formally any night image of the Eiffel Tower must be obtained permission from the copyright holder, La Société d "exploitation de la tour Eiffel (SETE).

Shooting what other world attractions threatens trouble? Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Grauman's Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, Radio City Theater and Concert Hall in New York, St. Peter's Basilica in Rome - just to name a few. famous places, which are covered by copyright law and subject to restrictions on commercial and/or editorial use of images.

Getty Images" Intellectual Property Wiki is a useful resource to keep up to date with the state of intellectual property in the world. And it's time to remember the ban on drones. In 2016, several tourists were heavily fined for flying drones over the Colosseum in Rome. Restrictions also apply in other cities, so be sure to ask about them before visiting new countries.