March 30, 2026 | 10:32 am
An authentic piece of history from the city of Paris will soon change hands to a private collector in the middle of this year. An original segment of the spiral staircase of the Eiffel Tower is scheduled to go up for auction on May 21, 2026. This sale offers a rare opportunity for French history and culture enthusiasts to own an original fragment of the world's most famous iron tower.
The staircase segment to be auctioned is about 2.6 meters (8.5 feet) high and consists of 14 winding steps, as reported by Travel + Leisure. This fragment is part of the original structure built by Gustave Eiffel in the late 1880s, leading up to the 1889 World's Fair. Before modern elevators were installed in 1983, this spiral staircase was the main access connecting the tower's second and third levels, where Gustave Eiffel had his private office.
The leading French auction house, Artcurial, organizes this auction. The current owner is an anonymous collector who has kept the memorabilia for over four decades, as reported by Time Out. To preserve its condition, the staircase segment has been restored with a fresh coat of the distinctive brown color of the Eiffel Tower. The auction value is estimated to reach 50,000 euros or around Rp850 million, although the final price is likely to surpass the initial estimate.
A Rare Collection Favorite Among Collectors
Demand for parts of the Eiffel Tower has been known to be very strong in recent years. In 2016, a similar piece triggered highly competitive bidding, ultimately selling at a fantastic price of 523,800 euros. The rarity of this object has become a major attraction for high-end collectors seeking historically valuable investment assets.
The French government's decision to dismantle the 160-meter spiral staircase in 1938 created an exclusive collector's market. The staircase was cut into 24 parts; most of it is now housed in prestigious museums such as Musee d'Orsay, La Villette, and the Iron Museum in Jarville-la-Malgrange. Some parts have even traveled to places like Disneyland and the Yoishii Foundation park in Japan.
The upcoming auction in May marks the fifth occasion for Artcurial to market Eiffel Tower fragments since 2013. For interested collectors, the organizers require a prior appointment to inspect the physical condition of the staircase before the auction commences. Further information on auction procedures can be found on the official website of the auction house.
Imanda Zahwa contributed for this article.
Read: Eiffel Tower Lights Out as Paris Honors Pope Francis
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
How Heatwaves Impact the Economies Across Europe
2 Juli 2025
Heatwaves have gripped Europe over the past week, with Portugal and Italy among the most affected. Here's how the extreme heat affects the economy.
Eiffel Tower to Reopen on Sunday as Strike by Staff Has Ended
24 Februari 2024
A strike by staff at the Eiffel Tower has ended, the company that runs one of the most visited tourist sites in the world says on Saturday.
