The Eiffel Tower is the Paris landmark illuminated during the city's New Year's Eve celebrations.
The tower is one of the most recognizable locations associated with Paris at midnight. Its lighting and sparkling displays can form part of seasonal celebrations, while crowds and television audiences watch the countdown from different parts of the city. The monument itself stands on the Champ de Mars beside the Seine.
The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, marking the centenary of the French Revolution. It was designed by the engineer Gustave Eiffel's company and became a permanent Paris landmark after the exposition. Its role in New Year's imagery comes from its height, visibility, and central place in the city's skyline.
Paris celebrations should not be confused with London's Big Ben countdown or New York's Times Square ball drop. The Eiffel Tower is the landmark most strongly associated with Parisian New Year's Eve imagery, although celebrations occur throughout the capital.