Eiffel Tower Light Show
 Eiffel Tower at Night at the Distance by Wikimedia Commons
It may be considered one of the most remarkable structures in modern society, but before its construction, a wave of protesters tried vehemently to stop the Eiffel Tower from being built. 300 of the most prominent artists and architects of the time formed a committee of opposition. They wrote a petition entitled “Artists against the Eiffel Tower” and sent it to the Minister of Works and Commissioner for the Exposition.
It stated in part “We, writers, painters, sculptors, architects and passionate devotees of the hitherto untouched beauty of Paris, protest with all our strength, with all our indignation in the name of slighted French taste, against the erection … of this useless and monstrous Eiffel Tower,” claiming that it would take the artistry out of Paris with the argument that “all of our humiliated monuments will disappear in this ghastly dream.” Gustave Eiffel responded by comparing his tower to the magnificent pyramids of Egypt, saying, “And why would something admirable in Egypt become hideous and ridiculous in Paris?" The magnificence of the Eiffel Tower was not recognized until construction was finally completed, and the world celebrated it as a masterpiece. But is wasn’t until nearly a century had passed that new beauty was added to the magical monument. Debuted in 1985, the tower puts on a light show every evening for 5 minutes every hour on the hour. First, the entire structure burns bright gold. Then, a brilliant array of sparkling blue lights dance on the surface of the tower. Finally, the projector at the top of the tower sends two beacons into the night sky that stretch for 80 kilometers, slowly spinning in a circle as they shine. |
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