What an Eiffel!
Here, we have structures around the world inspired by the Eiffel Tower, from near-identical replicas of the Paris monument to designs loosely based on the tower.
These include a radio tower in Sydney, a cowboy hat tower in Texas and the iconic Blackpool Tower by the sea.
Nicknamed the “Iron Lady,” the 330-meter-tall Eiffel Tower was designed by engineer Gustave Eiffel to appear as a showpiece in the 1889 Exposition Universelle.
While many French artists found it a pain in the ass when it was first unveiled, it has become one of the most iconic structures in the world – and has proven to be a source of inspiration for designers.
Oscar Wilde once said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery – and so we should really consider Gustave Eiffel flattered…
“EIFFEL TOWER” – PARIS, TEXAS: This 20-meter tall building in the Texas city of Paris is topped with a cheerful red cowboy hat. It was built in 1993 and is equipped with LED lighting. Image courtesy of Creative Commons
TOKYO TOWER, JAPAN: Completed in 1958, this striped building serves as a tourist attraction and TV tower in the Japanese capital. At 333 m long, it is even taller than its muse – the Eiffel Tower
“EIFFEL TOWER” – SHENZHEN, CHINA: Located in China’s window on the world, this 108m high tower features more than 100 reproductions of the world’s most famous landmarks – there are also models of pyramids and the Taj Mahal. Image courtesy of Creative Commons
AWA TOWER – SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: This 46m high wireless tower sits atop a Sydney building that served as the headquarters of Amalgamated Wireless Australasia. The building was built in the 1930s and was known as Sydney’s tallest building until the 1960s. Image courtesy of Creative Commons
“EIFFEL TOWER” – TORREJON DE ARDOZ, SPAIN: This 30-meter-tall replica of the Eiffel Tower sits in Parque Europa, a park near Spain filled with “replicas of the most emblematic monuments of Europe’s great cities,” local tourism reveals – information office. Image courtesy of Creative Commons
COPENHAGEN ZOO TOWER – DENMARK: This 43 meter high tower was built in 1905 and is one of the tallest wooden observation towers in the world. Its base is often said to be very similar to that of the Eiffel Tower. It is located in the Copenhagen Zoo, which is one of the oldest zoos in Europe with a founding date of 1859. Image courtesy of Creative Commons
TORRE DEL REFORMADOR – GUATEMALA CITY: This 75 meter high tower was built in the 1930s in honor of the late president of Guatemala, Justo Rufino Barrios. It was built in the US at a cost of 49,775 Guatemalan Quetzals (about £5,200/$6,426).
FILIATRA TOWER – PELOPONNESUS, GREECE: A Greek-American doctor named Charalambos Fournarakis funded the construction of this 26-meter high model of the Eiffel Tower in the 1960s. It is located at the entrance to the Greek city of Filiatra, the birthplace of Fournarakis. The current model differs from the original as it was reconstructed in 2007
“EIFFEL TOWER” – LAS VEGAS, NEVADA: An icon of the Las Vegas Strip, the 550-foot (164 m) tall replica is part of the Paris Las Vegas casino hotel, built in the 1990s. Travelers can buy a $24.50 (£20) ticket to visit the observation deck, and at night it lights up in the colors of the French flag as part of the hotel’s light show.
“EIFFEL TOWER” – THE CITY OF BAHRIA LAHORE, PAKISTAN: This 80 meter tall tower was built in 2014 as a decorative feature of a park – called Eiffel Tower Park – in a community development. It is often used as a backdrop for fireworks. Image courtesy of Creative Commons
BLACKPOOL TOWER – ENGLAND: The former mayor of the seaside town of Blackpool, John Bickerstaffe, was apparently “so impressed” by the Eiffel Tower when he saw it at the 1889 Grand Paris Exhibition that he ordered the Blackpool Tower to be built with his return. Built in 1894, it stands at a height of 158m and is designed to sway with the wind
Above is the original Eiffel Tower, which opened to the public in 1889
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James is an author and travel journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a love for exploring new cultures and discovering unique destinations, James brings his readers on a journey with him through his articles.
