What happens at the Eiffel Tower once an hour in the evenings?

Once an hour in the evenings, starting at sunset until 1:00 am, the Eiffel Tower lights up with a spectacular light show known as the “sparkling” or “twinkling” of the tower. This light show lasts for five minutes and is created by 20,000 sparkling lights that are installed on the tower.

The sparkling lights were first installed on the Eiffel Tower in 1985 to celebrate the tower’s 100th anniversary, and they have since become a beloved tradition in Paris. The light show is synchronized with music, and visitors can hear the music on the tower’s observation decks or via a mobile app.

During the rest of the evening, the Eiffel Tower is illuminated with golden lights that shine every hour for five minutes until 1:00 am. The lighting of the tower is an iconic symbol of Paris and is visible from many parts of the city.