The most famous bridges in paris Bridges in Paris What is the famous bridge in Paris

This oldest engineering invention of mankind was designed to solve a standard problem: to help a person get from one coast to another. Today bridges play not only a technical, but also an aesthetic role. Architects and designers strive to make each building unique and distinctive.

The bridges of Paris ... Glorified by poets and artists of all times and peoples, they add additional charm to the city, forming its unique look. In addition to 37 bridges over the Seine, Paris has 58 more over the canals and 148 over the Paris ring road. 49 of all bridges are pedestrian.

In the middle of the 16th century, there were only four bridges in Paris. Two of them - the Small Bridge and the Notre-Dame Bridge - have existed since ancient times, mentions of their rebuilding date back to 52 BC.

1. Small bridge

The shortest of all Parisian bridges across the Seine. Its length is only 32m, width - 20m. The modern look of this structure was created in 1853 and is a simple stone arch.

View of the Small Bridge and Notre Dame Cathedral from under the Saint-Michel bridge.

2. Notre Dame Bridge

This bridge got its name after the erection of the cathedral of the same name. Previously, it was called "Bolshoi" - its length is 106m and a width of 20m.

"Demolition of houses on the North Dame bridge in 1786", painting by Robber, Louvre

In 1853, a new five-arch bridge was built on the old foundation. After that, due to the large number of collisions of barges with the bridge, the Notre-Dame bridge received the common name "Devil's Bridge". During the last reconstruction of the bridge in 1910-1914, the three central arches were replaced by a single-arch metal structure.

3. New bridge

The bridge 280m long and 20.5m wide was built in 1578 -1607 and has been preserved in its original form. Therefore, as paradoxical as it sounds, the New Bridge is the oldest bridge in Paris today.

The new bridge was significantly different from the previous four brothers. First, it was the first bridge across the Seine along its entire width; secondly, for the first time in Paris, the bridge was not built up with houses and shops (shops were only above the pillars); thirdly, it was equipped with walking sidewalks; and, finally, for the first time, the bridge bore an aesthetic load: it was decorated along the bottom of the cornice 385 with grotesque masks, none of which repeats the other.

"Shop on the New Bridge", engraving by Martial, 1848

The old pillar of the New Bridge:

The bottom of the bridge cornice, decorated with masks.

4. Bridge Simon-de-Beauvoir

The Simons-de-Beauvoir pedestrian bridge is 304 meters long and 12 meters wide and is currently the newest bridge in Paris over the Seine. It was commissioned in 2006. The central part of the structure, a 65-meter "lens", was manufactured in Alsace by the Eiffel Engineering Company.

5. Bridge of Arts

Built by Napoleon in 1801-1804, this bridge connects the building of the French Academy and the Louvre. It got its name from the Louvre, which at the time was called the Palace of Arts. Initially, the bridge consisted of 9 arches, but after reconstruction in 1981-1984 the number of arches was reduced from 9 to 7. Now it is a pedestrian bridge, the total length of which is 155m, width - 11m.

A familiar picnic on the Pont des Arts:

View from the Bridge of Arts to the long span of the New Bridge


Numerous couples in love solemnly leave their "Pledges of Eternal Love" on the lattice of this bridge

Three bridges - the Bir Hakeim Bridge, the Ruel Bridge, and the Grenelle Bridge - cross the Seine, resting on Swan Island, an artificially constructed dam.

At the western end of Swan Island, in front of the Pont Ruelle, stands the Statue of Liberty, welcoming those entering Paris from this side.

View from the Eiffel Tower. In the foreground is the Bir Hakeim Bridge, in the center is the Ruelle Bridge, and in the distance is the Grenelle Bridge.

6. Bridge Ruel

The Ruelle Railway Bridge was built specifically for the 1900 World's Fair. Its last reconstruction was carried out in 1988.

This bridge, 173 m long and 20 m wide, consists of several completely different parts: on the right bank - a stone three-arched part over the Seine embankment, then - a metal single-arched structure; the part of the bridge crossing Swan Island is made in the form of a stone arch; the left part lies in a smooth bend on two supports.

Metal arch on the right side of the Pont Ruelle between Swan Island and District 16:

Stone arch of the bridge on Swan Island:

RER on the left side of the Ruelle Bridge.

7. Bridge Bir Hakeim

This two-level bridge was built in 1905 on the site of the old Passy pedestrian bridge. It is multifunctional: the lower level is for cars, cyclists and pedestrians, while the upper one is used by the Paris Metro. The total length of the structure is 380m, width is 24.7m.

One of the statues of Gustave Michel decorating the pillars of the bridge: "Blacksmiths-riveters"

At the eastern end of Swan Island, in front of the Bir-Hakeim bridge, there is an equestrian statue "Renewing France" - the creation of the Danish sculptor Vederkikh.

8. Bridge Mirabeau

This bridge, built in 1895-1897, is widely known for the poem of the same name by Guillaume Apollinaire.

Pont Mirabeau is the only bridge in Paris decorated with sculptures to celebrate the city. These four sculptures by Jean-Antoine Injalbert - "City of Paris", "Commerce", "Navigation" and "Abundance" - are installed on two pillars of the bridge, made in the form of stylized ships. The bridge is 173m long and 20m wide

Statue "City of Paris"

Statue "Abundance"

Statue "Navigation"

Statue "Commerce"

9. Bridge of Leopold Sedar Senghor

This single-arch pedestrian bridge 106m long and 15m wide was called "Solferino Bridge" until 2006

The first bridge on this site was opened by Napoleon III in 1961 and was intended for the passage of carriages. A new, already pedestrian bridge, was built in 1997-1999. The structure consists of six 150-ton parts built by the Eiffel Engineering Company. The wood of exotic Brazilian Tabebuia trees was used to cover the bridge.

Functionally, this structure combines two bridges: the lower arch allows you to go down to the walking sidewalks by the water, and the upper one connects the Orsay Museum and the Tuileries Gardens. The original design in the center of the bridge allows pedestrians to “change level” - to move from one “arc” to another.

Transition between the "arches" of the bridge:

10. Pont Alexander III

And finally, about the most elegant and luxurious bridge in Paris. This bridge, opened on the eve of the 1900 World's Fair, was laid by the son of Alexander III, Nicholas II, to commemorate the Franco-Russian alliance. The single-arch bridge between the House of Invalids and the Champs Elysees was built flush with the motorway so as not to obscure the panorama of the Champs Elysees. The height of the structure, 160m long and 40m wide, is only 6m, which was the highest technical achievement of that time.

The current view of the bridge from the Eiffel Tower:

Columns, sculptures, bas-reliefs, lanterns - all this is intended not only to decorate the structure, but also to illustrate the history of France.

On both sides of the entrance to the bridge there are four 17-meter pylons with bronze figures hovering over them: “For the Glory of Art”, “For the Glory of Science”, “For the Glory of Battle” and “For the Glory of War”. At the foot of each pylon there are sculptures depicting France from different eras.

One of the pylons. Above - "To the Glory of War" by Leopold Steiner, below - "France of the era of Louis XIV" by Laurent Marchest.

Nymph of the Neva:

Nymph of the Seine:

The Pont Neuf bridge was once created in order to solve the problem of congestion by expanding the number of crossings across the Seine. By our time, the rest of the structures that existed at that time were rebuilt, and the "New Bridge" became the oldest in the city.

Pont Neuf - "New Bridge" - opened in 1607, length 232 m, width 22 m

The name "Pont Neuf" (Pont Neuf) is translated from French as "New Bridge", which is quite consistent with the realities of the time of its construction. The Pont Neuf, passing through the western edge of the island, connects the embankment on the right bank with the Conti embankment and the Grand-Augustin on the left. This crossing of the Seine was the fifth in the French capital. Surprisingly, it passed through five centuries to become one of the symbols of the city today, much older than all other bridges.

Map of Paris in 1615 with the designated Pont Neuf opened in 1607
Bridge changed - 140 houses,
112 benches and a mill - painting 1756

The history of the appearance of Pont-Neuf

Despite the fact that in the 16th century it was not as densely populated as it is now, the transport problem of the capital of France was already worried about then. The fact is that in those years bridges were "platforms" for trade, on which not only artisans exhibited counters, but even completely built up houses. Naturally, the width of the carriageway was rapidly decreasing, not giving the opportunity to freely cross between the banks of the Seine, not only for carts and pedestrians, but also for crowned persons.

In 1556, Henry II proposed to build a new bridge over the Seine, located nearby, according to the plan, it was intended only for free movement, without the construction of houses and shops. However, his plan fell through, meeting fierce resistance from merchants who did not want to lose potential customers. The cost, estimated too high for the state treasury, also played a role. Only 30 years later, already under Henry III, the work still began. The foundation stone of the Pont Neuf was laid on 31 May 1578 by the king in the presence of Catherine de Medici, Queen Mother, and his wife, Louise of Lorraine.

Pont-Neuf was "born" in agony - the Parisian merchants desperately protested against this development of events. But it was not called "the bridge of weeping" because of this. According to the testimonies of contemporaries, it rained during the start of construction, and the king wept. Only he sobbed not because of the bad weather, but because of the death of one of his favorites in a duel.

The king himself did not see the results of construction. After his death, the work was frozen for 10 years due to the popular uprising against the king and the unstable political situation in the country from 1588 to 1598. However, in 1607, when the country was ruled by another Henry, already IV, Pont-Neuf was still opened.

Pont-nave is a project approved by Henry III in 1578.
Pont-Neuf - shop on the bridge

Construction of the Pont-Neuf bridge

It was originally planned that the Pont Neuf structure would be a single whole, connecting the two banks without any barriers. The bridge was not supposed to be built up with workshops and housing, which was contrary to tradition. The idea belonged to one of the architects, Andruya de Sersot, and not to Henry III, as is often incorrectly stated. Naturally, traders did not like this option. Under pressure from the public, already in 1579, it was decided to "slightly" rework the structure for the possibility of building buildings in the future. For this, some changes were made to the project, for example, the need for basements was taken into account.

But a year after laying the first stone, the builders came to the conclusion that the structure would be more resistant to the influence of the river flow if its two parts across the island were built at a slight angle. And after the plans nevertheless included the appearance of houses in the future at the crossing, the architects had to increase the number of arches on each side. At the same time, construction has already begun on the southern side, and the length of the spans had to be reduced. As a result, a lot of money was spent on rebuilding the structure. Only in the end, all these innovations were practically not useful; in the entire history of the bridge, houses on it did not appear. The business was limited to only small buildings, which housed the shops of merchants and the building of the pumping station.

Pont Neuf - Pump of the Samaritan woman Pont Neuf - painting by G. Canella -1832

"Pump to Samaryanka"

In addition to small shops under the roofs, which stood on the pillars of the bridge, only one full-fledged building was attached to the Pont-Neuf - "Pump Samarian". In 1602, the king authorized the construction of a large pump to supply water to the palaces and the Tuileries with their gardens. The pumping station was a small dwelling house on stilts, crowned with a clock with chimes, inside which was a steam engine and two large wheels that scooped up water.

The Samarian pump, designed and built by the Flemish Jean Lintlayer, was the first water lifting machine built in. In 1791, sculptures were removed from the pumping house, and it itself was transferred to the post of the guard. In 1813, the building of the former pumping station was completely dismantled, and by the middle of the 19th century the shops of merchants were gradually dismantled. However, the name "Samaryanka" has not gone forever, today this name bears a huge multi-storey store near the bridge (under reconstruction).

In the 21st century, the Pont-Neuf, despite numerous restorations, is the oldest structure, in contrast to the "contemporaries", which were completely rebuilt on old foundations. Now he, as in the XVI century. is a 232-meter structure with a width of 22 meters. At one time it was the longest bridge (now the 5th), and the first bridge in Paris to have sidewalks for pedestrians.

Pont Neuf - New Bridge
Pont Neuf - New bridge - mascarons

Why Pont Neuf is loved by tourists

The Pont Neuf is not only a historical and architectural monument. It is also an important cultural landmark. Particularly noteworthy here are "mascarons" - sculptural decorations in the form of the heads of the heroes of ancient Greek myths. The original jewelry was created in part by the famous Renaissance sculptor Germain Pilon and his followers (the master died in 1590). Today the bridge is decorated with copies of 16th century masks. Originals too exposed to the weather have been moved to museums: Cluny. Interestingly, among 381 mascarons, only one image is female.

The viewer who sees the bridge for the first time may have questions regarding the purpose of decorative semicircular projections at the level of the sidewalks. They were created in order to streamline possible trade, placing benches not on the road, but in special recesses. Today they offer a magnificent view of the Seine, with river trams passing along it, and visible in the distance.

Pont Neuf - New Bridge - statue of Henry IV
Pont Neuf - New Bridge

In the XIX century. the appearance of the bridge has received many additions and changes. For example, semicircular arches were replaced by lowered ones, and Victor Baltar's metal lanterns appeared. At the beginning of the 19th century, Louis XVIII restored the statue of the horseman on the island - a copy of the bronze statue of Henry IV, commissioned by Marie de Medici. The original statue was destroyed in 1792 during the French Revolution.

Travelers will also be interested in Ver-Galan - the "Ardent Lover" square, which is laid out in the western part of the island and has a triangular shape ("arrow"). The descent to it is accessible via a staircase located directly behind the aforementioned statue of Henry IV. Quiet garden, small quiet alleys, the opportunity to ride the river trams that dock on the island - today this place is very popular with lovers. Given that the bridge connects the path from the embankment to the Conti embankment, the romantic mood inherent in the park is very appropriate for the city dwellers and tourists who are in a hurry to enjoy the beauty of Paris.

Locks of love on the bridge of the Archdiocese 2016
Castles on the Pont-Neuf bridge at the statue of Henry IV - 2017

Lovers' Castles

The tradition, which began in the 19th century in Florence, where young men and women, "fixing" their feelings, hung locks on the Ponte Vecchio, and the keys were thrown into the Arno River reached Paris. Moreover, in the most visited city in the world by tourists, "Lovers' Castles" have become so popular that they have become a problem. After a lantern fell on the Mulvian Bridge in Rome in 2007, under the weight of numerous castles, activists sounded the alarm. "Lovers' castles" that filled the bridges of Paris began to pose a real threat, since the weight of their metal reaches one hundred tons, which leads to deformation of the support of engineering structures, and the bottom of the Seine is strewn with rusting keys.

What could be more beautiful and more romantic than bridges over the river? So Paris would not be itself if not for its bridges. They connect the two banks of the Seine and give the city a special charm.

All bridges here are different, each has its own history and is a unique piece of art. Therefore, many French poets believed that the bridges of Paris are the soul of the city, they inspired them to work, as well as artists.

In total, there are 37 bridges in Paris, built at different times: there are some that are already several hundred years old, but there are also modern wonders of engineering.
On my first boat trips, I looked more around the embankment, historical buildings, bridges floated past me in the literal and figurative sense.
But it turns out they are very interesting and have their own history.
I suggest you take a short walk with me along the Seine and admire its bridges. We will start it from the pier near the Eiffel Tower Bateaux Parisiens.

And the first bridge that we will meet will be the 150-meter arch bridge Alma (Pont de l "Alma). It was built back in 1856 under the Emperor Napoleon III.
But it got its name, sadly, in honor of the victory of the French army over the Russian troops in the battle at the Alma River in 1854 during the Crimean War. But these are already things of bygone days, so we will not be upset about this.
Initially, the bridge was decorated with figures of soldiers of various French regiments who participated in the Crimean War: grenadier, zouave, mountain shooter, artilleryman. When it was rebuilt, only the figure of the Zouave remained, which the Parisians use as a reference point during floods. If the water rises above the knees of the zouave, it is considered that there is a danger of serious flooding.

At the entrance to the bridge, you can see the Flame of Freedom. This gilded copy of the torch of the Statue of Liberty was donated by America to France as a sign of friendship between the two countries.
The Alma Bridge became widely known due to the fact that Princess Diana died in the tunnel under it. Many people think that this torch was installed in memory of her, but this is not so.
The history of the bridge dates back to 1820. French engineer Claude Louis Marie Henri Navier proposed a suspension bridge project. In 1824-1826, the bridge was under construction, but was not completed. In 1829 a new bridge with two pillars and three porticos was opened.
But gradually the bridge wore out and was destroyed, and was restored for the World Exhibition, held in 1855 in Paris.

The figure on the central pillar of the bridge symbolizes Napoleon's victories on land and at sea, and the sculpted heads on the other pillars are war trophies.

But before us is one exquisite arched bridge that spans across the Seine and connected the House of Invalids with the Champs Elysees. This can be said to be a piece of Russia in France - the Pont Alexandre III.
The bridge, named after the Russian Emperor Alexander III, was laid in October 1896 by his son Nicholas II and marked the strengthening of the Franco-Russian alliance. The bridge was erected in five years (1896-1900). The opening of the bridge took place at the legendary 1900 World's Fair.
The composition includes seventeen-meter lampposts flanking the entrance to the Alexander III Bridge and bronze figures representing Art, War, Battle and Agriculture. The center of the bridge arches is decorated with a copper nymph of the Seine with the coat of arms of France and a nymph of the Neva with the coat of arms of tsarist Russia. The decoration of this building, containing figures of pegasus, angels and nymphs, is made in a playful and at the same time noble eclectic Bose-art style, combining the best traditions of the French Baroque and Italian Renaissance.

Of course, in comparison with other bridges, our bridge (it is ours!) Is the most luxurious and pompous!
After the bridge was built, the French were surprised and delighted (in my opinion, more by the extravagance of the Russians).
In St. Petersburg, the Alexander III bridge has a "brother", as well as a symbol of friendship between the two countries - Trinity Bridge. It was designed by the French; French President Felix Faure was present at the bookmark (he did not live to see the opening).
It is believed that a passionate kiss on the Alexander III bridge will bring a long and happy family life to the couple in love.

The next bridge of Concord or Concorde.

The arched bridge of the Concorde (Pont de la Concorde), 153 meters long and 34 meters wide, connects the Place de la Concorde with the Bourbon Palace and is a rather important transport junction between the two banks of the Seine.
The Bridge of Concord is famous primarily for the fact that during its construction the stone of the destroyed Bastille was used.
It was previously adorned with eight statues of Napoleon Bonaparte's generals who died in battle, but they were so heavy that they were removed and taken to Versailles.

Just behind the bridge of harmony is the modest narrow pedestrian bridge of Solferino. It connects the Orsay Museum and the Tuileries Quay.

The bridge was built in 1861 and was named after the victory of France over Italy, in the Italian village of Solferino.
The bridge eventually became unstable and in 1997 construction began on the bridge designed by Mark Mimram, who proposed a lightweight and sophisticated design. It is more than simple: two mesh arches are connected by traverses that support the deck, which is made of steel and wood. The entrance to the bridge can be made from four places, which for some reason are not symmetrically located.
And it is so airy that I saw it at the very last moment, which is why it turned out to be "modest" for me.
The name of the bridge was changed in 2006 in honor of the first President of France and the bridge became known as the bridge of Senegal Leopold Cedar Senghor.
And behind it we see another bridge with a loud name - Royal.

This is one of the oldest bridges. It was first built back in 1632, after that it burned, was repeatedly flooded and finally demolished in one of the floods.
Louis XIV financed the construction of a new, already stone, bridge and gave it the name Pont Royal (Royal Bridge).
On its extreme bulls there are marks of the levels to which the water rose during floods.
The Carrousel Bridge, located opposite the Louvre gate, only gives the impression of being old - undoubtedly, this is the merit of the facing stone, which hides the reinforced concrete nature of the structure. The current bridge was built only in 1935-1939, just before the Second World War. Its length reaches 168 meters.
On both sides of the bridge, on high pedestals, are four allegorical figures depicting abundance, industry, Paris and the Seine.

The first bridge on this site since 1831 was called Saint-Pierre. In 1834, King Louis-Philippe I named it the Carrousel Bridge because it was opposite the Arc de Triomphe Carrousel. But it is outdated, it has become too narrow and not high, so in the 30s of the last century it was rebuilt and moved several tens of meters downstream, where it is now.

But the next bridge is well known to lovers. This is the Pont des Arts, the first iron bridge in Paris, stretching across the Seine. It connects the Académie française and the Louvre and is exclusively for pedestrians.

It was built in 1801-1804 by order of Napoleon Bonaparte. Since at the beginning of the 19th century, the Louvre was called the Palace of Arts because of the art collections presented in it, the newly built bridge was called the Bridge of Arts.
Later it was reconstructed several times.
The Pont des Arts is quite popular among Parisians - in the summer they have picnics right on the bridge. And many famous artists, such as, for example, Auguste Renoir and Nicola de Stael, captured this bridge in their paintings. Contemporary artists often exhibit their works here.

The lovers of Paris chose him as the place of a kind of oath of love. They hang their locks on it, and throw the key into the Seine, thus securing their love. Someone does not have a lock, and the desire to fasten love is great, they tie a ribbon or lace, and sometimes more intimate things. But lately there are no problems with this. You can buy a lock here on the bridge from artists or in souvenir shops.
Can you imagine how many keys lie at the bottom of the Seine ?! This tradition creates problems for the Paris mayor's office. More than 1600 "locks of love" were removed from the Pont des Arts during the last "sweep", with the oldest dating back to 2008. The names engraved on them testify to the fact that couples from all over the world love this tradition.

And now we are approaching the New Bridge (Pont Neuf). Despite the name, it is one of the oldest bridges in Paris. It crosses the arrow of the Isle of Cité, and it seems to consist of two parts. The southern part of the bridge has 5 spans, the northern part has 7.

King Henry II planned to build the bridge, but the cost of construction was unbearable at that time. The construction of Henry III began, who laid the first stone in 1578. After a long outage due to the War of the Religions, the New Bridge was completed during the reign of Henry IV, crowned in 1607.
It was the first bridge that did not support houses and also had sidewalks to protect pedestrians from mud and horses. Also, pedestrians could enter the bastions to give way to passing carts.

At the point where the bridge crosses the Ile de la Cité stands a bronze equestrian statue of Henry IV. She was ordered from Giambologna by order of Marie de Medici, widow of Henry and regent of France, in 1614. During the French Revolution, it was destroyed, but restored, and molded into the mold used in the manufacture of the first statue. Inside the statue, the new sculptor François-Frédéric Lemo laid four boxes containing the life story of Henry IV, a 17th century parchment certifying the statue's authenticity, a document on how the new statue was made, and a list of people who made voluntary contributions to make the statue.

The events that took place on the bridge can be considered significant both for Paris and for the country as a whole.
The last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, Jacques de Molay, was burned on a pillar on the Ile de la Cité, near Pont Neuf, on March 18, 1314.
In 1789, the royal ministers were burned, here they beheaded the already dead Concini, the hated adviser of Marie Medici, and during the Terror, carts drove to the right bank of the Seine, which carried the aristocracy to the guillotine.
But despite its sinister history, the bridge is still a favorite meeting place for Parisians. True, for these purposes, and especially for romantic dates, almost all the famous bridges of Paris are suitable.

The Pont de Saint-Michel connects the Saint-Michel square with the Ile de la Cité. The bridge was named after the nearby Saint-Michel chapel. Built in 1378, under Napoleon III, it, like many of the bridges in Paris we have examined, was rebuilt several times, the last time in 1857, and in this form has survived to this day. It is decorated with the emperor's monogram.

Since the bridges are close to each other, we soon approached the Double Pay Bridge. Oh what a name! In Russian, this bridge, which connects René Viviani Square with Notre Dame de Paris, is usually called the Double Pay or Double Denier Bridge. In any case, the essence is the same: for the passage through this crossing, they charged twice as much as usual. Why?

In 1634, when a bridge was erected on this site, on the left bank of the Ile de la Cité there was a Parisian hospital for the poor, Hotel-Dieu ("House of God"). Hotel Dieu - "House of God" in Paris
The bridge was conceived not as a crossing, but as part of a hospital - there were chambers on it. Downstairs, the Augustine nuns from the Hotel Dieu were washing hospital linen in the Seine from morning to evening. A third of the width of the bridge was left for pedestrians and carriages, and local residents began to use it. It was then that the hospital introduced a double transfer fee - to earn money. The Parisians were indignant (they did not like this neighborhood before - the hospital was pouring sewage directly into the Seine), it came to fights and even to the murder of collectors.
In 1709, the bridge collapsed due to bad weather. After that it was rebuilt and reconstructed several times.

It acquired its final appearance in 1882, becoming cast-iron and single-arch. Now it is a short (45 meters long) pedestrian bridge, unique for Parisian bridges of warm copper color. It is located in one of the most beautiful points of Paris - right in front of Notre Dame. The passage through it, of course, is free, but the historical name remains.

Photos from the Internet
The height of the arches of the next, Archbishop's Bridge (Pont de l "Archevêché), is the smallest in Paris. It is named after the building of the Archdiocese destroyed in 1831. The bridge leads from the rear of Notre Dame (from the Ile de la Cité) to the Latin Quarter.
It is also chosen by lovers, here they hang their love locks. It would be interesting to know if this helps to keep love?

This is my photo of 2010, so there are still few locks.

We did not have time to swim under the previous bridge, and before us is the Tournelle Bridge (Pont Tournelle)

It is one of the oldest bridges in Paris. It was erected in 1651 on the site of the wooden bridge of the King, built in 1370, which was demolished during the flood, and connected the Ile Saint-Louis with the left bank of the Seine.
A lot of bridges were built on this site, they were wooden and they were periodically demolished during floods. Then a stone bridge was built, but the same fate befell it. Another construction began in 1923-1928. This time, the structure turned out to be more solid, and the statue of Saint Genevieve, the patroness of Paris, who once defended the city from the attack of the Huns, rises above the bridge. It is not known whether the secret of the strength of this bridge is hidden in engineering subtleties, or if it is connected with saint patronage - in any case, this bridge is much more stable than its predecessors!

So we got to the Sully bridge (Le pont de Sully).

The Sully Bridge in Paris connects the Ile Saint-Louis or Ile Saint Louis to both banks of the Seine. It got its name in honor of the Duke of Sully, who was the head of the French government under Henry IV. If you walk from the Boulevard Saint-Germain along the bridge, and then follow the boulevard Henry IV, you find yourself on the Place de la Bastille.
Like the New Bridge in Paris, this bridge crosses the island's arrow, dividing, as it were, into two sections.

We also pass under the Pont Louis-Philippe bridge, which connects Marais with the arrow of the Saint-Louis island.
Construction began in 1833, the first stone was laid on July 29 by the then monarch, the same Louis-Philippe, after whom this bridge was named, timed to coincide with the start of construction, to the modest three-year anniversary of the July French Revolution of 1830.

During the revolution, it was destroyed, but immediately rebuilt, apparently the revolutionaries realized that they got excited. The only thing they did was rename it Reform Bridge.
In 1852, after the death of the king, the name of the bridge was returned. The French are quick-tempered, but quick-witted., Really profitable 💰💰 Booking.

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Paris began with the Isle of Cité and Saint Louis, and it was here that the first bridges in Paris were built. Each Parisian bridge is unique and distinctive and has its own history. It is especially interesting to admire the Parisian bridges at night, taking a ride on an excursion boat (or on your own yacht, if you have one). There are 36 bridges in Paris. I suggest we get to know some of them better. We will move from the Grand Palais in the direction of the Ile de la Cité, to the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris along the shore where the Louvre is.

The first on our way will be. This is the most elegant and famous bridge for Russian tourists, because it bears the name of our Tsar Alexander III. The history of this bridge is very interesting and deserves a separate discussion. So let's move on.

If you stand with your back to the Ile de la Cité on the Pont Alexandre III, you will see a bridge called the Pont des Invalides. Initially, in 1820, they were going to build a suspension bridge at this place, but something went wrong and the construction was suspended. A few years later, construction was resumed, and only in 1829 a stone bridge was built. But it did not last long, in 1854 it was destroyed. A year later, in 1855 for the opening of the World Exhibition, it was decided to restore it again. They built, built and finally built. Now the modern bridge is 152 m long, 62 m wide, and 18 meters high. The Bridge of the Invalides was built in honor of Napoleon's victories, so a sculpture symbolizing Napoleon's victories is depicted on its central pillar, and the rest of the trophies in the form of the same sculptures.

Bridge of Concord (Concord).

The next bridge on our route is the Bridge of Concord.

After the appearance of the Place de la Concorde in 1787, instead of the crossing, it was decided to build a bridge on this place. The author of the project is Jean-Radolph Perrone.

The arched bridge of Concord or the Pont Concorde was built in 1791 from the stone of the destroyed Bastille fortress, at this time the French Revolution was in full swing. Initially, the bridge was named after Louis XVI, then it was renamed the Bridge of the Revolution, and only in our time it became the Bridge of Concord.

Initially, on the bridge, on the orders of Napoleon Bonaparte, statues of commanders and sailors who died in battles were installed. When the Bourbons came to power, King Louis Philip I ordered the statues to be removed and transported to Versailles, and twelve statues of famous ministers should be installed in their place. But there was a threat that the bridge would not withstand such a load and the statues were removed. Apparently not destiny.

In 1932, the bridge was expanded to increase its capacity.

Solferino bridge.

If you look at the map, you will not find such a name. Now this bridge is correctly called the Leopold Cedar Senghor bridge (the first president of France). And the bridge was named Solferino in honor of the victories of the French army over the Italians near the village of Solferino in 1859. It is not a large pedestrian bridge connecting the Dorse Museum and the Tuileries Park embankment.

The bridge was demolished in 1960, and in 1961 it was restored again, or rather, rebuilt as a pedestrian bridge. Its appearance and design have changed. In 1999, the Solferino bridge got a new life, it was rebuilt according to the design of the engineer Mark Mimram. In this form, he continues to delight Parisians and guests of the city.

Bridge Royal or Royal Bridge.

After the bridge was built in 1632, it did not last long, it suffered the fate of many bridges of that time, it simply burned down. The bridge was made of wood and bore the name of Anna of Austria. In 1685, with the financial support of King Louis XIV, the bridge was rebuilt, but this time a stone bridge was built.

In 1792, during the French Revolution, the bridge was renamed and given the name Pont National. The Emperor Napoleon renamed the bridge and named it the Tuileries Bridge. However, in 1814, King Louis XVIII decided to contribute to the history of the bridge and named it the Royal Bridge.

Bridge Royal (Royal).

Carrousel Bridge (Pont du Carrousel).

This bridge was built in 1831 by decree of Louis-Philippe I. During the construction of this bridge, for the first time, cast iron was used as a material along with wood. The corners of the bridge are decorated with sculptures of female figures representing Industry, Abundance, Paris and the Seine. The modern bridge looks like a stone one, but in fact it is reinforced concrete and only lined with stone. This reconstruction took place in 1906. The bridge got its name from the Arc de Triomphe Carrusel.

The bridge was built at the direction of Napoleon in 1801 and got its name from the former name of the Louvre, which at that time was called the Palace of Arts.

If the New Bridge was the first stone bridge in Paris, then the Pont des Arts became the first metal bridge. It was decorated with flower beds and was paid for. In 1984 the bridge was rebuilt.

Currently, on the Pont des Arts you can go from the French Institute to the Louvre. And the bridge is also known for the fact that lovers hang locks on its fence in honor of eternal love. Quite recently, one of the railings of the New Bridge collapsed under the weight of the locks. This tradition also harms the Seine River by the fact that every day hundreds of keys from the locks are thrown into this place from the bridge.

There are many benches on the bridge, on which it is pleasant to sit and eat a French crisp roll in warm weather. The French are located right on the wooden deck of the bridge.

The most famous bridge on the Isle of Cité and the first on our route is the New Bridge, Pont Neuf. It is a little over 400 years old and was built in the 16th century. The first stone was laid by King Henry III, who on that day mourned the death of a friend. In connection with this sad event, they initially wanted to call the bridge the Bridge of Tears, but by the time the construction was completed, they had already forgotten about it. At that time, there were only four bridges in Paris and they were all wooden, while the New Bridge was built of stone. The completion of the construction took place under King Henry IV.

Although the bridge is called New, it is actually the oldest bridge in Paris. In addition, this is the first building in the city, captured on film. The Parisians immediately fell in love with the new stone bridge and they enjoyed walking along it with the whole family and admiring the Seine. Soon, Parisian merchants, considering that so much free space was wasted on the bridge, decided to arrange trading rows on it. The bridge turned into a small market, but did not last long. The width of the bridge at that time was much larger than some central streets of European capital cities.

Pont Saint-Michel.

The next bridge on the route of our walk connects the Ile de Cité with the Place Saint Michel and is called the same as the area - Saint Michel. The bridge is located on the southern arm of the Seine. Built in 1378. Near the bridge is the Saint Michel metro. There is a plaque on the bridge commemorating the events of 1961.

Cross the Saint Michel bridge across the Ile de la Cité to the northern arm of the Seine and in front of us is another small bridge called the Pont au Change, its length is only 103 meters. What you see was built in 1860. It used to be a wooden bridge and it was built up with houses of several floors, like many Parisian bridges of those times. At that time, the Menyal Bridge was the most populated bridge; according to some sources, 140 houses, many trade shops and workshops were located on it. As a result of such a load, the Change Bridge was repeatedly destroyed and even burned. In 1786, by order of King Louis XVI, all buildings on the bridge were demolished. On this bridge, solemn processions were held at the Royal Mass in Notre Dame Cathedral.

Petit Pont Bridge.

The Petit Bridge has a rich history. The Romans began to build a bridge here in order to be able to move to about. Site. In 886, during a strong flood, the bridge was demolished by streams of water. The bridge stood for a long time. It also housed houses and shops. The bridge was washed away by the floods of the flooded Seine twice more, in 1393 and in 1408. In 1852, the Small Bridge was rebuilt and has not been rebuilt since then.

In 1507, a stone bridge was built in its place, which was also built up with houses. In this case, for the first time, houses are numbered, even numbers on the right, odd numbers on the left. It must have been convenient to live in the house on the bridge in terms of sewage and protection. But it didn’t last long either. In 1786 all buildings were demolished

In 1853, a new stone bridge with five pillars was built, which was later reduced to three due to the frequent cutting into the arches of ships. Even because of this, he was given the name, "devil's bridge". The next and last time the bridge was restored in 1919.

Pont Saint-Louis.

From the Ile de Cité to the Ile Saint Louis we get across the bridge of the same name Saint-Louis. This bridge was built in 1627, and it was then made of wood. Today its length is 67 m, width is 16 m. During its history, this bridge has also been rebuilt several times and acquired its modern look only in 1968. This is already the seventh bridge since the construction of the first.

After a flood swept the wooden bridge in 1795, an oak bridge was erected in its place, which was opened in 1804. This bridge did not last long, due to subsidence of the soil it was dismantled in 1811 and in its place in 1842 a new bridge was built, this time a suspended one. It stood until 1939, and in 1941 a new bridge was built in its place, which resembled a metal cage. The modern bridge that you see now was built in 1968.

Crossing the Saint Louis bridge across the Saint Louis island, we get to the Louis Philippe bridge. The first stone of this bridge was laid by King Louis Philippe himself in 1833.

At this point, we will interrupt our journey. If you are interested in the history of Parisian bridges, you can walk along the Seine on your own and see firsthand the rest, which I specifically did not talk about further.

Bridges of Paris - why are they interesting for residents and guests of the French capital? Photo review of the site "site"

The history of one of the most romantic European cities, Paris, is inextricably linked with the Seine River, or rather, with the numerous crossings that connect its right and left banks. There are 38 bridges in Paris, each with its own unique and amazing history. Everyone, despite their venerable age, looks elegant and romantic. The first bridges in the city were made of wood, then they were converted into stone, but all crossings across the Seine were built in different eras, so they are not alike.

For centuries, the bridges of Paris have inspired people of creative professions - composers, artists, filmmakers: they are described in books, captured in paintings, shown in films. We will tell you about the most famous, most beautiful and romantic among them.

This viaduct crosses the Seine in the center of Paris, connecting the Champs Elysees with the esplanade of the House of Invalids. It is without a doubt the most luxurious bridge in the French capital. The four 17-meter gold-plated columns, made in the Art Nouveau style, sparkle from afar. The bridge is decorated with bronze lamps, figures of nymphs, cupids, winged horses and cherubs. In addition to sea monsters and water spirits, it is crowned with four gilded allegorical statues that symbolize Trade, Art, Industry and Science. At the same time, this 108-meter metal structure is striking in its elegance, because it consists of one span. An interesting fact is that the famous building, which became one of the heroes of Luc Besson's romantic film "Angel-A", has a twin brother. This is the Trinity Bridge in St. Petersburg: it was erected according to the project of French architects at the end of the 19th century simultaneously with the Parisian bridge - the latter was built in honor of the conclusion of a military-political alliance between Russia and France, as a commemoration of the unity of the two peoples. The first stone of the Parisian bridge was laid by Nicholas II himself, and the building was named in honor of his father, Emperor Alexander III. And now the bridge over the Neva is decorated with the same lanterns as the famous crossing of the Seine in Paris.

This viaduct connects the Bourbon Palace on the left bank of the Seine (where the National Assembly now sits) with the Place de la Concorde, which is on the right bank of the river. It is famous for the fact that it was built in 1787-1791 from the stone left after the destruction of the Bastille, and this is the reason for the first name of the unusual structure - the Bridge of the Revolution (in those years it was called upon to bring the citizens the joy of victory over absolutism). By order of Napoleon, the bridge was decorated with sculptures of fallen generals, and during the reign of the Bourbon dynasty, they were replaced with statues of great ministers, generals and navigators. True, the new sculptures turned out to be so heavy that because of them the bridge could collapse, so under Louis-Philippe I they were transported to Versailles. Currently, the Pont Concorde, like many other Parisian bridges, is one of the most important transport arteries for the city: in terms of traffic intensity, it ranks first in the capital, it is one of the busiest bridges in Paris. After a large-scale reconstruction, which lasted from 1930 to 1932, its capacity has doubled.

Only Austerlitz can compete with the Concord Bridge in Paris in terms of traffic intensity. This massive metal structure connects the quays of Austerlitz and Saint Bernard to the Place Mazah. Its construction was completed in 1807, under Napoleon I, and was timed to coincide with the victory of the French army over the Russian and Austrian troops near the village of Austerlitz. The bridge is decorated with a uniquely beautiful ornament; it depicts the names of the French commanders who died in this bloody battle. In 1815, after the fall of Bonaparte's empire, the allies who occupied Paris renamed the Austerlitz Bridge into the Royal Park, but the name did not stick, the Parisians did not accept it. In 1830, the building was returned to its original name. Between 1886 and 1887, the Austerlitz Bridge was expanded (up to 32 m wide), making it one of the most important transport routes for the city on the Seine.

Openwork and light, one of the most beautiful in Paris, the Pont des Arts was laid in 1802, and then rebuilt between 1981 and 1984 by order of Napoleon Bonaparte (the original 9 arches were converted into 7). This structure became the first railway crossing to connect the two banks of the Seine River. It is located between the building of the French Academy and the Louvre, which was formerly called the Palace of Arts, hence the name. Like all of Paris' famous bridges, the Pont des Arts is extremely popular with tourists. People come here to enjoy the views of the capital. In this place, no one will disturb you: the Bridge of Arts is an exclusively pedestrian zone. Passers-by stop to sit on benches, and many tourists, following the example of the townspeople, settle down right on the steps to have a snack or just admire the view of the Seine, which opens up from above: it, like this place itself, has amazing beauty. You can see two river beds, which seems very wide and unusually majestic from this angle, and the charming Ile de la Cité - the cradle of Paris. Many French artists, including Nicolas de Stael and Auguste Renoir, have captured the Pont des Arts in their creations.

One of the oldest in Paris, the Changed Bridge was originally a wooden structure, like most river crossings of that time: it was built presumably in the 9th century, during the reign of Charles the Bald. A stone bridge in place of a wooden one appeared only in the middle of the 17th century, and the structure acquired its present appearance only in the second half of the 19th century. In the Middle Ages, money changers and shopkeepers traded on the Chatelet Bridge (connecting the Châtelet on the right bank of the Seine with the Conciergerie building on the Ile de la Cité). There was a mill, about 140 houses and more than 100 workshops of artisans, trade shops of money changers and goldsmiths, thanks to which the bridge received such an unusual name. It was so densely built up that it looked more like a flea market: while walking along it, the townspeople did not even see the river. For several centuries, the Changed Bridge was the main financial artery for Paris. Houses and shops were demolished only at the end of the 18th century, after which Pont au Change was opened to pedestrians.

This crossing of the Seine, despite its name, is one of the oldest in Paris. The structure, which rests on two islets, Patriarchal and European, consists of two halves: the northern part has 7 spans, the southern part 5. The construction of the New Bridge began in 1578, under Henry III, and ended 30 years later, under Henry IV. In those days, there were only four crossings across the Seine in the city, but they could not cope with the increasing traffic. The construction helped to relieve the busy highways, and for many years it was one of the busiest places in the city. The new bridge is the only one in Paris, which from the first day of its existence was intended only for pedestrian walks: there were no shops or booths on it, which, naturally, aroused indignation of the money changers and merchants, instead of them sidewalks were laid, along which today residents and guests of the French capital like to walk. Until now, romantic dates are appointed on Pont Neuf, because this is one of the main symbols of Paris. He is mentioned several times in the works of famous artists and writers. It was here that the heroine of The Lovers from the Point Neuf Bridge, played by the inimitable Juliette Binoche, suffered.

Devil's bridge"(Pont Notre-Dame)

The Devil's Bridge connects the banks of the Seine with the cradle of Paris - the Ile de la Cité. It is known that in this place ferries existed in ancient times, when the Celts lived on the territory of modern Paris. In ancient chronicles, a bridge is mentioned that under the Romans was a continuation of the central street of Lutetia (as Paris was called in ancient Rome). The modern building, opened in 1919, was designed by Louis-Jean Rezal, the architect who designed the Alexander III bridge. The Notre Dame bridge has undergone several reconstructions: during the last alteration, the central arches were removed, because of which barges collided with the Devil's Bridge: for this reason, it was called that in the common people. The first houses and shops of artisans appeared on the Notre Dame bridge in the 15th century: thanks to them, the structure turned into a lively shopping area. True, at the end of the 18th century, by order of the king, all buildings were demolished. Today, rollers gather on the Notre Dame bridge, and numerous caricaturists, artists and caricatures await guests of the capital, heading to the nearby Notre Dame Cathedral.

The list of the most beautiful bridges in Paris includes the Tournelle Bridge, the Royal Bridge, the O Dubl pedestrian bridge, the modernist Solferino bridge, the Bir-Hakeim two-level bridge, the Lesser Bridge (the shortest in Paris), the Marie bridge, the Sully bridge, the Saint-Michel bridge, the Charles bridge de Gaulle, the Bercy bridge. If it were not for the numerous crossings towering over the Seine, then the river dividing the city into two parts would be a serious obstacle, both for the residents of the French capital and for its guests.

The bridges of Paris are so different ... Unusually beautiful, infinitely romantic, like the city itself, which has forever become their home. You can study them for a long, long time, and our journey has come to an end. It is much more pleasant to admire the pearls of Paris live. Let it happen to you as soon as possible!