Eiffel Tower: guided tour of the historic elevator machinery
From the opening of the Eiffel Tower for the 1889 World’s Fair, visitors can access the monument’s floors by using elevators. If today these devices are similar to a usual equipment, at the time, they constitute an industrial exploit! Neither lifts in the traditional sense, nor funicular, nor cable car... The elevators of the Tower do not belong to any category and do not correspond to any reference in force. Since their first modernization in 1899, their mechanics have remained unparalleled in the world.
Carefully preserved, this exceptional heritage still attests to the visionary genius of Gustave Eiffel. On all the elevators of the Tower, there is only one that benefits from the system closest to the original one: the East pillar elevator.
On the occasion of the European Heritage Days on 16 and 17 September 2023, the Eiffel Tower exceptionally opens the doors of the machinery of this elevator.
During a visit accompanied by a reception agent and commented by a technician of the Tower, you will discover this ingenious operation that allows, every day, nearly 9,000 visitors to enjoy the Parisian panorama at 115m height.