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The Eiffel Tower is an iron tower built beside the river Seine in Paris. Originally intended as a structure to commemorate the French Revolution, nobody could have guessed that 100 years later The Eiffel Tower would become the symbol of Paris itself.

The Eiffel Tower has its name after the engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel. For two years, 1887-1889, three hundred steel workers struggled to join together 18038 pieces of steel by using 2,5 million steel bolts. When thinking about safety-measurements in the 19th century it is remarkable that only one worker died during the construction of the tower.

In all they used 7300 tons of steel to form the tower’s three distinct levels. Those levels currently house two restaurants and a snackbar. Altitude 95 is one the first level, the Jules Verne restaurant on the second level and the snackbar on the third level. The Jules Verne Restaurant even has one star in the Michelin guide.

The Eiffel Tower is 300 metres high, without the 21 metre antenna which is mounted on the top, and in order to get to the top visitors must climb 1665 steps. The number of steps has varied over the years with different renovations. Luckily visitors can use one of the many elevators in order to get to the top.

By far the tallest structure in Paris, the tip may bend away from the vertical by as much as 18cm (7in) due to expansion of its 7,300 metric tons of iron because of heat from the sun. Warming by the sun heats one side more than the other. That’s all the more remarkable since wind shear is usually the major problem with tall structures. But, the engineering is so well-thought out that the strongest winds cause no more than five inches of deflection.

In the beginning The Eiffel Tower met a lot of resistance, there were widespread petitions to have it torn down by some who considered it ugly and intrusive. That might have succeeded if it hadn’t been in use as an antenna for the then-leading-edge technology of telegraphy. In 1909 a permanent underground radio center was built and since 1957 it’s been used as a transmission tower for both FM radio and television. The tower has even been part of scientific research. In 1910, Wulf used it to make measurements that resulted in the discovery of cosmic rays.

The Eiffel Tower was the world’s tallest structure until 1930, the record was then overtaken by The Chrysler Building in New York.

A visit to Paris is not complete without a visit to The Eiffel Tower, it is a must. From the top visitors can se 67 km into the French landscape, it is truly a remarkable sight. If it is not appealing to stand in the long line , which you must do in order to enter the tower, it is very nice just to stand beside or beneath the tower and enjoy it. It is also a good idea to take a picnic in the nearby park.

To visit the tower, take the Metro – the Paris subway – to the Trocadero station. Then, walk from the Palais de Chaillot to the Seine. From there you can’t miss it.

This article is written by Sebastian Sikkerneq Hoel which use to write travel articles for http://www.airlines.no, both in norwegian and english.

A Gourmet s Guide to Camping in France

By: Lorraine Waddell

With its combination of haute cuisine, great campsites and spectacular countryside, camping in France is the ideal choice for a food lover who enjoys the great outdoors as much as a three Michelin starred meal.

Few countries can boast a culinary tradition to compete with France, which is regarded as having the best chefs and finest cooking in the world. Numerous cities and towns in the country are famed for their local cuisine or the quality of their restaurants, so if you are a gourmet who is intent on camping in France, make sure you camp near to one of these gastronomic centres…

Paris

Paris, of course, is a great destination for lovers of good food and fine wine. Although the very best French restaurants are to be found in Lyon, years of immigration and multiculturalism have given Paris an unparalleled level of culinary diversity, and there are restaurants for all tastes in this city. Visit Paris for a flavour of everything French cuisine has to offer, then head out into countryside to sample the produce at its source.

Vannes

Brittany is well known for its unique culture, and this extends to its food as well. There are certain dishes that are unique to the region, and it is best to sample them locally. The charming market town of Vannes is the perfect place to try out traditional Breton cuisine, which includes the best crepes in France, a wide variety of seafood dishes and sweet pastries, and the famous Breton cider. The coastal landscape of Brittany also makes it an excellent place to go camping in France, and for a holiday that combines great food with a scenic location, it is hard to beat a visit to Brittany!

Roquefort

This village is located in the beautiful Ardeche region. Famous as the home of the blue cheese of the same name, Roquefort is naturally a great place for cheese lovers, especially because of the unique and traditional way in which the cheese is produced. If you come to Roquefort, don t miss out on a visit to the local caves where the cheeses are aged!

Dijon

It is most famous as the producer of the fiery and delicious Dijon mustard, and a visit to the city will be a chance to sample some unusual condiments (such as fruit flavoured mustard) at the traditional shops that are scattered throughout the city.

Camping in France near Dijon will also place you amidst the wine lands of the Burgundy region, allowing you to combine beautiful scenery, top quality cuisine and, of course, some of the very best wines in the country.

Lyon

If you go to just one place in France to sample the cuisine, make sure you go to Lyon. Renowned as the gastronomic capital of the country, it is home to the very best chefs and restaurants that France has to offer. The best way to experience the food here is a visit to one of the many bouchons; traditional restaurants which will serve you local wine and local cuisine.

Author Resource:-> Lorraine Waddell is the brand and advertising manager of Canvas Holidays, a leading European camping operator that provides the best selection of sites for camping in France (http://www.canvasholidays.co.uk/destinations/france-604-0.aspx).

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