Eiffel

The Eiffel Tower is a wrought-iron structure rising three hundred thirty meters above the Champ de Mars. Built for the eighteen eighty-nine World's Fair, it was designed by the engineer Gustave Eiffel to commemorate the centennial of the French Revolution. While many locals today recognize the tower as an essential feature of the city, its initial appearance prompted harsh criticism from artists and intellectuals who described it as a colossal eyesore.