Eiffel Tower

Built for the Universal Exhibition of 1889, and to commemorate the centennial of the Revolution, the 320 m (1,051-ft) Eiffel Tower (Tour Eiffel) was meant to be a temporary addition to Paris's skyline. Designed by Gustave Eiffel, it was fiercely descried by 19th-century aesthetes. It stood as the world's tallest building until 1931, when New York's Empire State Building was completed.

Daring Feats ~ The tower has always inspired crazy stunts. In 1911, Reisfeldt, a Parisian tailor, attempted to fly from the parapet with only a cape for wings. He plunged to his death in front of a large crowd.

The first level, 57 m (187 ft) high, can be reached by lift or by 360 steps. From the first floor visitors can choose to climb the 700 steps to the second level or take the lift. The third level, 274 m (899 ft) above the ground, can hold 800 people at a time.