A beacon covering the whole Paris region
Monday 25 May 2020
Modified the 01/02/22
The summit of the Eiffel Tower was equipped with a beacon as soon as it was completed. Four semi-circular, metal arches joined together atop the third floor to support the small platform that held the lantern. To reach it, you had to climb a spiral staircase and then a ladder. The lantern sat on two levels, each surrounded by a narrow balcony. A cylindrical, glassed-in cage housed the beacon’s access ladder, and above it was the lantern itself, topped by a dome and utilizing a rotating optic with a Fresnel lens. This was supposed to be the most powerful beacon in the world, with a reach of 80 kilometers (50 miles).
The illusion of a rotating beacon!
The many modifications made at the Tower’s summit, including the broadcasting mast installed in 1957, led to this beacon’s removal and replacement in 1999 by one with a very different design. Four motorized, synchronized projectors with a reach of 80 kilometers project a double rotating beam on opposite sides of the Tower. Each projector sweeps a quarter of the horizon before returning to its initial position. Their perfect timing gives the illusion of a rotating beacon. During its renovation in 2017, the beacon was equipped with new 6,000-watt xenon lamps.
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Opening times & Ticket prices
Today :
09:30 - 23:00
Price :
28.30€
Take Paris’ most spectacular ride to the top for €28.30 or less (€28.30 for adult ticket with access to top by lift).