Eiffel Tower at sunset, Paris, France

The tower that won Paris over. Eiffel Tower at sunset, Paris, France

No other city is nearly as romanticized as Paris. Yet the French capital's history has not always been as rosy as the sunset glowing behind the Eiffel Tower. Built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, or the World's Fair, which marked the centennial of the start of the French Revolution, the tower was originally intended to serve as the fair's entrance centerpiece. Designed by engineer Gustave Eiffel and his team, the iron landmark rose nearly 1,000 feet above the Champ de Mars and became the tallest structure in the world at the time.

Many locals criticized the bold design, but it quickly captured the public's imagination. During the World's Fair, millions came to see the monument and enjoy panoramic views unlike any they had experienced before.

Today, visitors can stroll along the Seine and explore old neighborhoods and museums throughout a city that continues to reinvent itself. As evening falls and the Eiffel Tower glows against the night sky, it remains a powerful symbol of French creativity, ambition, and resilience.