The Eiffel Tower was built by Gustave Eiffel on the occasion of the Universal Exhibition of 1889 which celebrated the first centenary of the French Revolution. Its construction in 2 years, 2 months and 5 days, was a real technical and architectural performance.
The picnic was a technical achievement as well, as we ate the lunch portion near the base of the Eiffel, and the leftovers for dinner at a small park near Pont Neuf.