What was to be only a temporary construction for the 1889 World Fair (The Exposition Universelle of 1889), this 324 m. tall ‘nail’ (1,063 ft) became a landmark of the capital. It was criticized just like all avant-garde creations. Guy de Maupassant, who was not a fan, often had lunch in one of the restaurants on the first floor. He told the journalist questioning him:
“It’s the only place in town where I do not see it.”
The iron lady, a technological ‘tour de force’ ,was supposed to be ephemeral,but is still a symbol of France for over 130 years.
