Page 165 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Europe

P ARIS  163

has a fine 17th-century organ
by Alexandre Thierry.
The Dôme Church was begun
in 1676 to complement the
existing buildings of Les
Invalides, and to reflect the
splendor of Louis XIV’s reign.
Reserved for the exclusive use
of the Sun King himself, the
resulting masterpiece is one
of the greatest examples of
grand siècle architecture and a
monument to Bourbon glory.
The crypt houses the tomb of
Napoleon – six coffins with an
enormous red sarcophagus
on a pedestal of green granite.
Marshal Foch, the World War I
hero, is also buried here. The top of the gilded altar of the Dôme Church in the Hôtel des Invalides

i Eiffel Tower VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
Built for the Universal Exhibition of 1889, Practical Information
and to commemorate the centennial of the Champ-de-Mars. Tel 08-92 70
12 39. Open daily. & 7 limited.
Revolution, the 324 m (1,063 ft) Eiffel Tower = 0∑ tour-eiffel.fr
(Tour Eiffel) was meant to be a temporary Transport
addition to the Paris skyline. Designed by @ 42, 69, 82, 87.
Gustave Eiffel, it was fiercely decried by q Bir Hakeim. W Champ-
19th-century aesthetes. It was the world’s de-Mars, Trocadéro.
tallest building until 1931, when New York’s
Empire State Building was completed. The third level, 276 m (905 ft)
A number of crazy stunts have been above the ground, offers superb
views. On a clear day, it is
attempted here. In 1912, a local tailor possible to see for 72 km
launched himself from the tower using a (45 miles) – as far as Chartres
cape as wings. He plunged to his death. Cathedral (see pp180–81).
The second level, at 115 m (376 ft),
Double-decker elevators take
visitors to the top level, which can is reached either by elevator or by
hold up to 400 people at a time. 359 steps from the first level.
The Jules Verne Restaurant
is one of the best in Paris,
offering excellent food and
panoramic views.

The Eiffel Tower
in Figures
• There are a total of 1,665
steps from bottom to top
• The tower is held together
by a total of 2.5 million rivets
• It never sways more than The Eiffel Tower at night
7 cm (2.5 in)
• The tower weighs 10,100
tons
• 50 tons of paint are The first level, at 57 m
used on the tower every (187 ft), can be reached
seven years by elevator or by 345
steps. This level has
been entirely renovated.

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