By Jodee Weiland

I had dreamed of visiting Paris, France, since I was a little girl and first read about this magnificent city with the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, the Musee d’Orsay, the Louvre, Notre-Dame, and so much more.

But it wasn’t until much later in my life when I was able to actually visit this wonderful city and it definitely lived up to my every expectation and more.

One of the most fascinating experiences for me during this trip was riding up to the top of the Eiffel Tower and viewing the entire city from there.  The Eiffel Tower was built for the Universal Exhibition of 1889 and was meant to be a temporary addition to the Paris skyline.  Designed by Gustave Eiffel, it was the tallest building in the world until 1931 when New York’s Empire State Building was finished.

Visitors today can choose to walk or the take the elevator to the first level, then on to the second level, and finally to the third level, where up to 800 people at a time can view the entire city from the very top.  The Eiffel Tower is usually one of the most recognized landmarks in Paris.  People from around the world travel to Paris, and very few will leave without seeing this remarkable tower.  It can be seen from all over the city, and at night it is visible as well, since it is beautifully lit up on the Paris skyline.

From this magnificent view one can spot so many of the Paris landmarks and sights.  It is said that visitors can see for 45 miles and more on a clear day.  You can see the Champs-Elysees, the most well-known tree-lined avenue in Paris.  It was created by a master landscape-gardener, Andre Le Notre, around 1667.  It is one of twelve avenues forming a star and leading to the Arc de Triomphe at the center.  You can also see the Seine River with its famous bridges and boat rides, the Musee d’Orsay, the Louvre, Notre-Dame, and more.

Looking down on Paris from the top of the Eiffel Tower, you will see the Place de la Concorde, the most historic and magnificent square in Paris.  After the Reign of Terror finally came to an end in 1794, the Place de la Concorde was the name given to this square where during the French Revolution Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette, and many others were beheaded.  There you can, also, see the 3200 year old obelisk from Luxor, a gift to King Louis-Phillipe from the viceroy of Egypt a few decades later.

The view from the very top of the Eiffel Tower encompasses all of this and more.  Before you attempt to visit all of Paris’s famous museums and historical sights, be sure to take the ride up to the top of this landmark, so you can get a total view of the city from above.  This city has so much to see and do, but seeing the city like this brings all of its wonderful views into sharp focus and makes the adventure that much more exciting and memorable.  If you go to Paris, make wonderful memories for yourself by enjoying it first from above, then explore and enjoy!