Google has taken to the skies (of sorts) by partnering with the Eiffel Tower to provide its street view tool from different floors at the top of the tower, giving anyone around the world (well, anyone with internet access and no strict policy that blocks the popular search engine) the chance to see the stunning views that it affords.
It’s not the first large structure that Google has partnered with. The Burj Khalifa, the tallest man-made structure in the whole world, is available with views through glass windows from the 154th floor, making the ‘normal’ skyscrapers of Dubai look more like Lego bricks.
However the Eiffel Tower views are more impressive, in my opinion, because they’re from the observation deck in the open air and they clearly show the many attractions of Paris, including a clear view of the Arc de Triomphe.
It’s part of a bigger project with the Google Cultural Institute, resulting in a number of fascinating exhibits being placed online. You can see various drafts and plans, along with slideshows dedicated to the Birth of the Eiffel Tower, the Construction of the Eiffel Tower and the Eiffel Tower’s Inaugration and First Visitors.
The resource offers fascinating insight into the tower, not just from the creation but also why it was built and how it was received. You can take a look through the resource here and you’ll be able to look at the street view by following this link.
Of course technology should never replace the real thing, so if you ever get the chance, get yourself over to Paris and climb the Eiffel Tower yourself – the views in real life are supreme and there’s nothing like feeling the wind against your face. It’s the experience of a lifetime. Why not combine it with a river cruise on the Seine?
By Ian Lewis
Google