A wrought iron spiral staircase from the Eiffel Tower in Paris, which was used to welcome tourists since the 1889 World's Fair, is being auctioned in France with an expected price reaching 150,000 euros or about 5.7 million baht.
On 20 May 2026, the Artcurial auction house in Paris, France, announced it will auction a 2.75-meter-high iron spiral staircase with 14 steps from the Eiffel Tower on 21 May. This piece is part of the original spiral staircase constructed alongside the Eiffel Tower in 1889 for the Paris World's Fair.
Sabrina Dolla, deputy director of Artcurial, revealed that in 1983, the company managing the Eiffel Tower decided to renovate its structure by replacing some stairs with elevators to modernize and reduce the tower’s weight. The original staircase, measuring 160 meters in length, was cut into 20 pieces, some of which were sold. The value of the Eiffel Tower stairs is tied not only to their material worth but also to memories, travel experiences, and the romantic image of Paris that people worldwide recognize.
Reports state that the piece up for auction is 'Piece Number 1,' originally purchased by a French businessman and stored in a warehouse for over 40 years, keeping it in excellent condition. The auction house estimates its price between 120,000 and 150,000 euros, approximately 4.5 to 5.7 million baht.
The Eiffel Tower was constructed in just 2 years, 2 months, and 5 days, using over 7,300 tons of iron and more than 2.5 million rivets. It has since become an iconic symbol of Paris, welcoming about 7 million visitors annually.
Source: Aljazeera