Have you ever been to the Eiffel Tower, or at least Paris? Maybe not! Whatever. Did you know you could own a piece of the original tower as a souvenir if you’re rich enough to afford a scrap of metal for thousands of euros? Like seriously! And did you know there’s a secret apartment atop the Eiffel Tower that was built as an epic hideaway? Hell yeah! But unfortunately, no guests are allowed in.
Related media: What Is Inside The Secret Apartment In Eiffel Tower
What’s The Best View In Town
Being at the top of the Eiffel Tower is probably the best view in all of Europe. Imagine waking up in a cozy apartment 300 meters (1,000 feet) high in the sky. Such a scene of Paris would be really jaw dropping. You’d might likely guess that exactly what Gustave Eiffel had in mind when he and his team built the tower in 1889.
Truth is, the tower was initially built as a temporary exhibit meant to broadcast industrial power to the rest of Europe. Eiffel knew for sure that the terms of the construction meant that it was slated for demolition in 1909. In attempt to save it, he contacted some scientists who then use the tower for a whole lot of legitimate scientific purposes.
Don’t Just Take Me Down
The apartment on top of the tower later served as a laboratory for scientific research such as meteorological test, astronomical observations, and physics experiments. Gustave Eiffel then had the accomplice of Captain Gustave Ferrié who then utilized the tower as a transmission terminal for the French Army’s wireless telegraphs in 1903. It was then transmitting wireless signals as far as North America, well beyond Europe.
The apartment was described by writer Henri Girard as “furnished in the simple style dear to scientists,” and in contrast to the “wrought iron modernity and technological prowess” of the tower. Eiffel’s apartment was a caché for the elite of Paris as at the time, as many noblemen wanted to rent the space. The apartment largely remained private to Eiffel but he sometimes hosted guests.
Wannabe A Guest Too?
If you’re thinking of being a guest inside Eiffel’s tower. Spoiler alert: it’s off limits. However, in 2016, the vacation rental company HomeAway converted a section within the tower into an apartment. That’s not the same thing but 57 meters (188 feet) above Paris is quite fair for a view of town. This apartment had two bedrooms, an urban greenhouse, and a panoramic view of Paris. Impressive! How about the apartment itself? Spoiler again, you just can’t stay in it, but could get a tour, at least.
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Written by: Nana Kwadwo, Mon, Apr 06, 2020.
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