The Eiffel Tower (French: Tour Eiffel) is an iron tower built on the Champ de Mars, beside the River Seine, in Paris, France. It is the most famous French landmark and is used as a symbol of France. At the time of its construction in 1889 it was the tallest structure in the world, and remained so until 1930. Named after its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, it is a premier tourist destination, with over 5.5 million visitors per year.