Hayden Smiley - Week 6 Blog Post

The Eiffel Tower
(Architect: Stephen Sauvestre)

While in Europe, I had the privilege of visiting Paris. While there I spent one afternoon in the champs de mars in the shade of the the Eiffel Tower. The Eiffel Tower was constructed in 1889 as the entrance to the 1889 Worlds Fair. The tower was constructed by Gustave Eiffel, and is now an iconic figure in the Paris skyline. 

The Eiffel Tower stands at 1,063 ft and is the tallest building in Paris. Strict building codes in Paris prevent modern skyscrapers from reaching above 121 feet, allowing the tower to be clearly visible from many parts of the city. The viewing deck provides a panoramic scene of the city creating a sense of nostalgia when one looks out across the city and experiences the beauty of new and old architecture. The French value beauty in all things, whether that looks, art, food, or architecture, and by looking at and out of the tower, this is obvious.

The Eiffel Tower, though constructed for a temporary event, has stood the test of time; though many wars have threatened its existence. The Eiffel tower is an excellent representation of sound and lasting architecture that also contributes to the beauty of the landscape. The tower was an overall enjoyable experience for me and this unique architecture was wonderful to experience.