The Eiffel Tower has unveiled its revamped first floor, which offers tourists a new vantage point from one of the world's most iconic landmarks. It's an experience that makes people feel they are practically walking on air.
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Eiffel Tower |
The refurbishment work, the first in almost 30 years for this floor, began in 2012 and cost 30 million euros. Located 57 metres above the ground, the first floor was the least visited by tourists who had higher ambitions. But it's a whole new perspective now, as the transparent floor and the new glass balustrade offer an experience of the void underneath that can be scary to some.
"It's really scary initially, so when you walk on it you literally... I think the first few times we stepped on it we thought we were going to fall so we were walking as if it's quite dangerous but no, it's really fun and exciting," a tourist named Kiran said.
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The transparent floor and the new glass balustrade offer an experience of the void underneath that can be scary to some. |
When Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo arrived at the first floor for the official inauguration, she was impressed by the view of people queuing underneath to access the tower. With its almost seven million tourists a year, of whom 85 percent are foreigners, the Eiffel Tower is one of Paris' most visited buildings and a symbol of France's history.
"It's the best symbol of the workers. 350 workers, specialised workers participated in its construction at the time of Gustave Eiffel. So each time I see it brought back to life, reborn, repainted, when a glass floor is created, it's like people are giving life to the Iron Lady," said Thierry Marx, a French chef.
The revamp does not only include the glass floors and walls but also new green energy systems and a special work done to make it more easily reachable to people in wheelchairs.
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