City Photos News France/Paris

Basilique du Sacre-Coeur and Paris rooftops

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 10:18:13 +0000

I took this photo of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart from one of the observation decks on the Eifel tower.
Paris, France, photo by Aidan Egan.

Moon rising over the Louvre pyramid

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 10:18:09 +0000

I was lucky to be in the main courtyard of the Louvre museum one evening, just as the moon was beginning to rise above the apex of the pyramid that spans the entrance to the museum.
Paris, France, photo by Aidan Egan.

Eiffel Tower at Night

Tue, 12 Jul 2011 07:47:51 +0000

The Eiffel Tower is a iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris. Built in 1889, it has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world. The tower is the tallest building in Paris and the most-visited paid monument in the world. Named for its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, the tower was built as the entrance arch to the 1889 World's Fair..
Paris, France, photo by Skip Freamon.

Paris, CDG , TGV station

Mon, 26 Jan 2009 02:16:29 +0000

Paris, CDG , TGV station.
Paris, France, photo by Irina C.

Eiffel Tower at Night

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 02:16:46 +0000

Eiffel Tower at Night.
Paris, France, photo by Bonsembiante.

Statues at the Entrance to Notre Dame

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:50:43 +0000

Statues at the Entrance to Notre Dame.
Paris, France, photo by Bonsembiante.

Bistrot Le Saint Emilion

Mon, 29 Dec 2008 12:50:32 +0000

Bistrot Le Saint Emilion.
Paris, France, photo by Bonsembiante.

Eiffel Tower

Fri, 3 Oct 2008 10:57:33 +0000

Eiffel Tower.
Paris, France, photo by Inga.

Eiffel Tower

Fri, 3 Oct 2008 10:57:27 +0000

Eiffel Tower.
Paris, France, photo by Inga.

Line to Get to the Eiffel Tower

Fri, 3 Oct 2008 10:49:42 +0000

Line to Get to the Eiffel Tower.
Paris, France, photo by Inga.

Eiffel Tower

Fri, 3 Oct 2008 10:49:36 +0000

Eiffel Tower.
Paris, France, photo by Inga.

Under the Eiffel Tower

Fri, 3 Oct 2008 10:43:44 +0000

Under the Eiffel Tower.
Paris, France, photo by Inga.

Line to Get to the Eiffel Tower

Fri, 3 Oct 2008 10:43:38 +0000

Line to Get to the Eiffel Tower.
Paris, France, photo by Inga.

Eiffel Tower, elevator

Fri, 3 Oct 2008 10:07:33 +0000

Installing public elevators on the Tower raised many technical questions, since there had been no previous experience in elevators climbing to such heights and with such loads; the slanting tracks with various angles further complicated the problems. The original machines in the West and East piers (up to the first floor only) were provided by the French company Roux Combaluzier Lepape, using hydraulically powered double looped chains and rollers in side guides. Their poor performance led to their removal. They were replaced in 1897 and 1899 by the Fives-Lille machinery, relying on hydraulic accumulators, 16-meter long main pistons, cable loops and manual controls. They were a success, steadfastly lifting the tourists up to the second floor until the late eighties. They were then upgraded to conform to the present day regulations: the old machinery still provides the counterweight power for the dead weights, while the variable parts of the loads were driven by modern high pressure oil pumps and motors controlled by computers. The original American elevators by Otis in the North and South piers took visitors up to the second floor in a double-decker cabin, using hydraulically powered cables. They were no match for the Fives-Lille units and were scrapped respectively in 1900 from the South pillar and shortly after 1912 from the North pillar, after a failed attempt to re-power it with an electric motor. The increasing amount of visitors during the late fifties led to the installation of large capacity machinery in the North pier in 1965. Manufactured by Schneider Creusot Loire and using the best engineering and electrical machineries available, it was upgraded in 1995 with new cabins and computer controls. The South pier was rigged anew in 1983 with a small electrically driven elevator by Otis to take customers up to the Jules Verne Restaurant. In 1989, a four-ton service elevator was added (also by Otis) helping to relieve the main elevators of excessive trips up and down..
Paris, France, photo by Inga.

Eiffel Tower

Fri, 3 Oct 2008 10:07:25 +0000

Eiffel Tower.
Paris, France, photo by Inga.