Passion Meets Steel: 77-Year-Old Crafts 30-Meter Eiffel Tower

In the eastern French village of Sainte-Croix-aux-Mines, visitors might stumble upon a sight they’d never expect: the Eiffel Tower, only smaller, red, and still under construction.

Retired metalworker Jean-Claude Fassler, 77, has teamed up with his 22-year-old grandson, Kilian Antenat, to recreate Gustave Eiffel’s 1889 masterpiece at one-tenth scale. Standing at 30 meters (98.5 feet) when complete, the replica is based on historical blueprints Fassler found in a 1989 reproduction of Eiffel’s original drawings.

Over the past eight years, the duo has worked side by side, combining traditional metalwork with modern tools like 3D modeling and laser cutting. From its distinctive “Venice” red paint to its intricate passageways, the structure pays homage to the original’s finest details.

The big day for final assembly is set for August 26, when a crane will lift and slot the massive segments into place. Fassler, who invested his own funds and tools from his former business, hopes to sell the tower to recoup costs.

But before parting with it, he has one personal goal: to spend a night on the first floor and finally say he has an “apartment” in the Eiffel Tower.