Translated copy of

Knowing France on a closer

range
France; which is always symbolized for Eiffel Tower, the
monument that is most recognized for being one of the seven
wonders in the world attracting tourists to pay their visit to this
magnificent country and enjoy its spectacular places, culture and
history.
But what was the reason behind building Eiffel tower?
The Eiffel Tower is an iron lattice tower, built as the entrance
arch to the 1889 World's Fair in order to serve as a radio
transmission tower. It was built by Gustave Eiffel, who was also the
engineer who designed the inside of the Statue of Liberty currently
present in New York.i
The history of the Eiffel Tower is interesting for many reasons,
including the fact that it was never meant to be a permanent part
of Paris. Not only is it now permanent, the Tower has become a
symbol for the City of Lights. ii
In 2009, the Eiffel Tower was named the third most popular place
to commit suicide in Europe. In a 2012 newspaper article following
a suicide, Tower officials declined to comment on the number of
suicides that have taken place, stating instead, "Its always too
many".ii
Then what about Franz Reichelt, the Flying Tailor?

Translated copy of
Knowing France on a closer
range
Franz Reichelt, was an inventor and parachuting pioneer,
sometimes referred to as the Flying Tailor, who is remembered for
jumping to his death from the Eiffel Tower while testing a
wearable parachute of his own design. iii
Reichelt had become fixated on developing a suit for aviators
that would convert into a parachute and allow them to survive a
fall should they be forced to leave their aircraft. Initial experiments
conducted with dummies dropped from the fifth floor of his
apartment building had been successful.iv
After several petitions to the Parisian Prefecture of Police to
conduct a test from the Eiffel Tower, he was finally granted
permission in early 1912, but when he arrived at the tower on
February 4 he made it clear that he intended to jump himself
rather than conduct an experiment with dummies. Despite
attempts by his friends and spectators to dissuade him, he jumped
from the first platform of the tower wearing his invention. The
parachute failed to deploy and he crashed into the icy ground at
the foot of the tower.iv
Although it was clear that the fall had killed him, he was taken
to a nearby hospital where he was officially pronounced dead. The
next day, newspapers were full of the story of the reckless
inventor and his fatal jump many included pictures of the fall
taken by press photographers who had gathered to witness
Reichelt's experiment and a film documenting the jump
appeared in newsreels.v

Translated copy of
Knowing France on a closer
range

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Translated copy of
Knowing France on a closer
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Translated copy of
Knowing France on a closer
range

"The Eiffel Tower at a glance-Things to Remember". SETE (Official

Tour Eiffel website); January 2014.
i

ii

History of the Eiffel Tower; By Valorie Delp; BA French

"L'inventeur d'un parachute se lance de le tour Eiffel et s'crase sur

le sol". Le Petit Parisien (in French). February ,1912.
iii

"Fatale exprience de parachute". La Presse (in French). February 5,

1912.
iv

Translation is done by Sadeeem El Hussaini Hamed and all rights and

copyrights are preserved.
v

Video showing the fatal jump of the flying tailor:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBN3xfGrx_U