Lena Rivera
The Eiffel Tower has been repainted several times since its construction in 1889, with the paint colour changing a number of times. In 2019, the tower was repainted from 'Eiffel Tower Brown' to 'Yellow-Brown', the colour originally chosen by Gustave Eiffel in 1907. While the tower has never been painted green, it has been illuminated in green light on several occasions, including to celebrate the Paris Climate Agreement in 2016, and to represent a rugby pitch during the 2007 World Rugby Cup.
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What You'll Learn
The Eiffel Tower has never been painted green
The Eiffel Tower has been repainted several times since its birth in 1889. The tower was initially painted Venetian red during its assembly in Gustave Eiffel's workshop in Levallois-Perret in 1887 and 1888. This was soon covered with a thick coat of reddish-brown paint for the 1889 World's Fair. Since then, the Eiffel Tower has been painted ochre-brown, yellow, reddish-brown, and yellow-brown, before its current paint colour, "Eiffel Tower brown", was chosen in 1968. This colour was selected for its harmony with the Parisian cityscape and has been trademarked.
The Eiffel Tower is made of puddle iron, a material that could last almost forever if it is repainted regularly. The paint protects the iron from corrosion and must be rain-proof. The tower is entirely repainted every seven years, on average, as recommended by Gustave Eiffel himself. The paintwork has to be redone to guarantee continued protection. The tower's current colour, "Eiffel Tower brown", is made up of three shades of brown, with the colour being darker at the base of the tower and lightening as it goes up to give a visual impression of uniformity.
In 2019, the Eiffel Tower underwent its 20th painting campaign, marking the most important restoration of Paris's landmark monument since it was built. The new colour chosen was yellow-brown, the same shade that was chosen by Gustave Eiffel in 1907 when the tower became a permanent fixture in Paris. This was the tower's sixth shade and was chosen to give the tower a ""gold" look for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
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The tower has been painted 20 times
The Eiffel Tower is made of puddle iron, a type of wrought iron that must be protected from corrosion due to exposure to the elements. The paint wears off with time and rain, so it has to be redone to guarantee continued protection. For this reason, the Eiffel Tower has been repainted, on average, once every 7 years, with the 20th repainting campaign beginning in 2019. This campaign was the first time that parts of the structure were stripped.
The first colour used on the Eiffel Tower was applied directly at Gustave Eiffel's workshops in Levallois-Perret. "Venetian red" was the colour that made the Tower shine during its assembly in 1887 and 1888. This was covered for the 1889 World's Fair with a thick coat of reddish-brown. In 1892, the Tower was painted ochre-brown, and in 1899, just before the 1900 World's Fair, it was painted in five gradient shades, ranging from orange-yellow at the base to light yellow at the top.
When the Tower became a permanent fixture in 1907, Gustave Eiffel chose a yellow-brown colour that remained for 47 years. In 1954, the Tower was painted reddish-brown, and in 1968, a specially designed colour known as "Eiffel Tower brown" was chosen to harmonize with the Parisian landscape. This lasted over 50 years, until the 20th repainting campaign returned the Tower to the historic 1907 shade of yellow-brown.
The Eiffel Tower has never been painted green.
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The first colour was Venetian red
The Eiffel Tower has been repainted several times since its construction, with the first colour being Venetian red. This shade was applied in 1887 and 1888 during the tower's assembly. The Venetian red paint was chosen by Gustave Eiffel to combat corrosion and was applied directly in the French engineer's workshop in Levallois-Perret. This red hue made the tower shine during its construction.
Venetian red was the Eiffel Tower's original colour, and it was soon covered up for the 1889 World's Fair. The tower was repainted a thick coat of reddish-brown, also known as red lead or minium, which was a common paint choice at the time for its protective qualities for iron. This repainting marked the first time the Eiffel Tower changed colours, setting a precedent for its transformation over the years.
The reddish-brown paint job lasted until 1892 when the Eiffel Tower underwent another colour change, this time opting for an ochre-brown tone. This new shade added a unique touch to the Parisian landscape, showcasing the tower's ability to adapt and enhance its surroundings. The ochre-brown colour scheme remained for a few years, creating a memorable mark on the city of Paris.
In 1899, just before the 1900 World's Fair, the Eiffel Tower underwent a vibrant transformation. The tower was painted in five gradient shades of yellow, ranging from orange-yellow at its base to light yellow at the top. This colour variation created a uniform and striking look against the Parisian sky, showcasing the tower's versatility and aesthetic appeal.
While the Eiffel Tower has never been painted green, its colours have varied over the years, from reddish-brown to ochre-brown, yellow shades, and various tones of brown. The choice of colours has always considered the tower's harmony with the Parisian cityscape and the need for protection against corrosion. The painting of the Eiffel Tower is not just about aesthetics but also about preservation, ensuring the tower's longevity for future generations to admire.
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The current colour is yellow-brown
The Eiffel Tower has been repainted several times since its birth in 1889, sporting seven different colours in its 136-year history. The current colour is yellow-brown, which is the sixth shade it has worn. This is the same colour chosen by Gustave Eiffel in 1907 when the tower became a permanent fixture in Paris. The yellow-brown colour remained for 47 years, from 1907 to 1947.
The Eiffel Tower was initially painted Venetian red in 1887 and 1888, which was applied in Gustave Eiffel's workshop before the parts were assembled. The tower was then painted reddish-brown in 1889 for the World's Fair. In 1892, the tower was painted in a more ochre-brown tone. In 1899, the tower turned yellow, with five gradient shades ranging from orange-yellow at the base to light yellow at the top.
The yellow-brown colour was chosen again in 2019 for the tower's 20th painting campaign, which was also its most important restoration since it was built. The new colour was selected to give the tower a "bit more of a 'gold' look" for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The painting campaign included stripping parts of the structure, as the 19 layers of paint on the tower were cracking and falling off.
The Eiffel Tower is made of puddle iron, a type of wrought iron, which must be protected from corrosion due to exposure to the elements. Therefore, the metal must be painted with a rain-proof covering that provides lasting protection. The tower has been repainted on average every seven years, as recommended by Gustave Eiffel himself. The paint wears off over time, so it must be redone to guarantee continued protection.
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The tower is painted every seven years
The Eiffel Tower is made of puddle iron, a type of wrought iron. This material must be protected from corrosion due to exposure to the elements. Therefore, the Eiffel Tower is painted with a rain-proof covering that provides lasting protection. Gustave Eiffel himself recognised the importance of painting the tower when he wrote in 1900:
> We will most likely never realise the full importance of painting the Tower, [but] it is the essential element in the conservation of metal works and the more meticulous the paint job, the longer the Tower shall endure.
Indeed, the tower has been entirely repainted about once every seven years on average since 1907 to ensure its longevity. This seven-year cycle was adopted after the 1899 repainting campaign. Before the painters begin, specialists in work on tall buildings first fit safety nets and safety lines. The painters are equipped with harnesses to work on the Eiffel Tower's beams.
The Eiffel Tower's colour has varied over the years, from reddish-brown to ochre-brown, a variation of five shades of yellow over its total height, yellow-brown, brownish-red, and, since 1968, "Eiffel Tower brown". In 2019, the Eiffel Tower returned to the yellow-brown colour chosen by Gustave Eiffel in 1907. This was the tower's 20th repainting campaign and was completed in time for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the Eiffel Tower has never been painted green.
The current colour of the Eiffel Tower is a shade of yellow-brown, which is the sixth shade the tower has worn.
The Eiffel Tower is repainted about every seven years. It has been repainted 20 times since its construction in 1889.
The Eiffel Tower is made of puddle iron, a material that will last practically forever if it is regularly repainted. The paint protects the metal from rust, pollution, and bird droppings.
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