Vintage: Cycling down the Eiffel Tower (1923)

Vintage: Cycling down the Eiffel Tower (1923)

MonoVisions Black & White Photo Contest 2024

In 1923, as France was recovering from the first World War, journalist Pierre Labric decided to ride a bicycle down the stairs from Level 1 of the Eiffel Tower (there are three levels).

The Eiffel tower is 324 metres in height and was built in 1889 and was named after its engineer Gustave Eiffel who’s company built the tower. The Eiffel Tower is a global icon and one of the most recognisable structures in the world.

The reasons for performing the stunt aren’t known but it is possible that it may have been a publicity stunt for the newspaper he wrote for, the Petit Parisien. It wasn’t Pierre’s first stunt. In 1921 he was allegedly the first French journalist to make a parachute jump, an event which took place at the airfield at Villacoublay Air Base.

Vintage: Cycling down the Eiffel Tower (1923)

Vintage: Cycling down the Eiffel Tower (1923)

Vintage: Cycling down the Eiffel Tower (1923)

Vintage: Cycling down the Eiffel Tower (1923)

Vintage: Cycling down the Eiffel Tower (1923)

Vintage: Cycling down the Eiffel Tower (1923)


MonoVisions Black & White Photo Contest 2024