Why the Eiffel Tower has a Secret Apartment on Top

When Gustave Eiffel’s company built Paris’ most recognizable monument for the 1889 World’s Fair, many regarded the massive iron structure with skepticism. Today, the Eiffel Tower, which continues to serve an important role in television and radio broadcasts, is considered an architectural wonder and attracts more visitors than any other paid tourist attraction worldwide. More than 7 million people visit this iconic tower every year. Since the tower's 1889 opening, 250 million people worldwide have enjoyed all the Eiffel Tower offers. And it has a lot to offer. The tower's three platforms are home to two restaurants, several buffets, a banquet hall, a champagne bar, and many unique gift shops. Educational tours of the tower are available for children and tourist groups. But one spot has fascinated many—the “secret” apartment.

Why is there an apartment at the top of the Eiffel Tower?
Is there a secret apartment at the top of the Eiffel Tower?
Who lives in the secret apartment in the Eiffel Tower?
Is there a secret on Eiffel Tower?
Why Photos of the Eiffel Tower at Night are Illegal

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[winstonsmith]

Actual coverage of the apartment begins at 9:01.

[shankthebat]

You spent exactly 2 minutes of a 16 minute video talking about the topic.

[markskeldon]

During WWII my father in law was a radio operator on top of the Eiffel tower for the United States. Unknown to who was making the noise behind him he told the intruders to shut up so he could hear the coded message and keep the device tuned in. Afterwards he was very surprised to find General Eisenhower and several other General's standing quietly.

[DiamondPearl]

The fact that there was a clip of the Vegas copy of the Eiffel Tower at the end… 😂😂

[brianhoefer]

As a machinist/welder/fabricator, I appreciate the depth of footage concerning construction. Well done video that covers much more than the title suggests.

[FirstWorlder]

I assume he will get to the apartment eventually.

[uscitizen]

My spouse is a piano tuner/technician. I can only imagine how much fun it would have been to go up there to tune & service that grand piano! Wow!

[russellhammond]

I went to the top of the tower and the apartment was identified as part of the tour so it was never that 'secret'. Just go and get up the top if you are ever in Paris.

[bridgetdoman]

Despite opposition, I am so glad it was built and what an achievement. I went up it while on a school trip in the sumnmer of 1965 so thanks to Mr Eiffel and all those involved.

[mrs.g.]

I got the sense of the structure's amazing size seeing it behind all the buildings it dwarfed. May the Eiffel Tower continue to stand and be looked after for centuries!

[catherinelee]

My first trip to Paris, as we drove into the city from the airport, the first thing I saw was the Eiffel Tower. What a feeling! 😁

[NawDawgTheRazor]

Beautiful symbol of the union between science, art, and culture, and of the French tradition of combining innovation with elegance.

[richardsteele]

This tower brings joy to all who see it. I hope to someday see it myself. Thank you Gustaf.

[eileenguthrie]

I would love to visit Paris. My Great Grandparents were members of the French Opera Company as well as College Professors. Their son my Grandfather was given permission to follow his passion to become a French Chef. He started out working clean up in the kitchen of a very busy Parisian French Restaurant. Soon after showing so much interest in how the kitchen works and how the beautiful food and PASTERY Trays were made a Chef took my Grandfather under his wings and made him his sou chef! The beginning of a wonderful Chef. Then came the time when due to their places in the French Opera Company they new a Great War was going to happen and they got themselves and their son out of Europe and to America 🇺🇸. I would love to be able to find information on my ancestors. That’s my dream. One of them anyway.

[KyrilPG]

A slight correction : if I recall correctly there was an early 2022 upgrade to the digital broadcast antennas at the top. It increased the height by roughly 6 meters, putting the overall length of the tower at 330 meters.
Also, the tower structure has been "trimmed" of any excessive / overly redundant trusses putting the metallic structure at 7 300 metric tons (10 100 tons with the foundations).

[finncarlbomholtsrensen]

As a visitor to Lisbon, they are very proud of one bridge, claimed to be constructed of a pupil from Gustav Eifels school of construction.

[eeeeaaassy]

Five BILLION lights? I'm definitely going to need a source on that one. I couldn't imagine maintaining five billion of anything physical. Not to mention the electricity.

[patrickjspoon]

I enjoyed this a lot, but why show the Paris casino in Las Vegas near the end there? I know it might be hard to acquire footage of a specific thing like "buses next to the Eiffel Tower" due to how structures are situated and street geography, but man did that take me out of this. Still a great video though, I swear!

[socksal]

You showed footage from the tiny replica in Las Vegas without saying so. Credibility lost.

[JamesKaufman]

The apartment is NOT a "secret." Everybody knows it's there, they advertise that it's there.