As you know, Paris was born on a small island on the Seine River and it was from here that it began. Therefore, the first crossings in Paris connected the island of Cite with the right and left banks of the Seine. At first they were built of wood, but later they were converted into stone, and many were even built with buildings. The history of inhabited bridges in Paris is not simple. The first shops of artisans and merchants appeared already in the 12th century, and by the 15th century the first residential buildings and shops could be seen on the Notre-Dame Bridge (Pont Notre-Dame). Thanks to them, he quickly became shopping mall cities. However, by order of the king in 1786, all buildings were demolished from the bridge.
New bridge (pont Neuf) is in fact the oldest surviving one. Its construction began at the end of the 16th century, when Paris already had 4 river crossings, but they could not cope with the ever-increasing traffic. He was needed in order to defuse the situation on Memenalny and the Notre Dame Bridge. The peculiarity of this viaduct at that time was that there were no buildings on it.
This, in turn, caused indignation among merchants who were accustomed to seeing bridges in Paris built up with shops and residential buildings. Undoubtedly, this building is one of the symbols of the city, for which it was repeatedly mentioned in the works of artists and writers.
Bridge of Changes (Pont de Change), on its site, like on the site of most crossings in the center of Paris, there was originally a wooden structure in the 9th century. Subsequently, around 1638, a stone bridge was built, on which there were about 140 houses and more than 100 money changers, for which it was named so.
The royal development agreement stated that all buildings must correspond and fit together, all structures must be made of the same material and be on the same level. As a result, all the buildings on the bridge looked like two rows of identical houses with shops and shops on the ground floor, which overlooked the narrow street between them.
By the time the first iron appeared in Paris Pont des Arts, inhabited bridges already had a reputation as unsanitary, dangerous and unsightly structures. This viaduct, built in 1801-1804 by order of Emperor Napoleon, is now pedestrian.
Therefore, many passersby stop here just to have a snack or sit on a bench, because the view from the building and the place itself are of extraordinary beauty. This crossing also connects the French Academy, and since the Louvre was previously called the Palace of Arts, the bridge began to be called accordingly.
Bridge Alexandra III(Pont Alexandre III) is directly related to Russia. It was built in 1896-1900 in honor of the conclusion of a military alliance between France and Russia. And it was named after the father of Emperor Nicholas II, Alexander III, who, during construction, himself laid one of the stones at the foundation of the structure.
Many consider this the most luxurious in Paris. And indeed, even from afar, the structure sparkles with gilded figures located on four 17-meter columns and at the same time amazes with its lightness, because the bridge is single-span.
Bridge of Concorde (Pont Concorde) It is known for being built from the stone remains of a destroyed bridge, and in honor of this it was first called the Bridge of the Revolution.
Now it bears the name on the right bank of the Seine, which it connects with the Bourbon Palace on the left bank. Today, this bridge in Paris ranks first in terms of traffic intensity.
So, the history and development of Paris is inextricably linked with its bridges, of which there are 38 only within the boulevard rings. And any tourist can happily spend more than one day studying and contemplating the bridges of paris.
Bridges of ParisAlexander III Bridge
The Pont Alexandre III is a single-arch bridge spanning the Seine in Paris between Les Invalides and the Champs-Élysées. The length of the bridge is 160 meters. In order not to obscure the panorama of the Champs Elysees, the height of the structure does not exceed six meters, which at the time of its creation was considered an amazing achievement.
The bridge was founded to commemorate the Franco-Russian Union by Emperor Nicholas II in October 1896 and was erected in four years. Named in honor of his father, Emperor Alexander III. It opened on the eve of the World Exhibition of 1900 (the grand prize of which went to the project of a bridge across the Yenisei in Krasnoyarsk) in the presence of the Russian ambassador L.P. Urusov. Since 1975, the bridge has been protected by the state as a historical and architectural monument.
Many guidebooks describe the Pont Alexandre III as the most elegant in Paris. The decorative decoration of the bridge, with figures of pegasi, nymphs and angels, is a striking example of the Beaux Arts style and has much in common with the design of the Grand Palais on the right.
On the sides of the entrance to the bridge there are 17-meter lampposts, above which bronze figures hover, symbolizing Science, Art, Industry and Battle. In the center of the bridge arches are a nymph of the Seine with the coat of arms of France and a nymph of the Neva with the coat of arms of Imperial Russia, both made in copper by Georges Recipo.
La France de Charlemagne by Alfred-Charles Lenoir
La France moderne by Gustave Michel
The Alexander III Bridge has a “sister” in St. Petersburg - the Trinity Bridge across the Neva, designed by the French. It was built at the same time as the bridge over the Seine, and its construction also emphasized the cultural and political closeness of the two countries: French President Felix Faure was present at the groundbreaking ceremony.
La France de la Renaissance by Jules Coutan
Statue la France de Louis XIV sur le pont Alexandre III
Bridge of Arts
Pont des Arts - the first iron bridge Paris across the Seine River, now pedestrian, connecting in a straight line the Institute of France (of which the famous French Academy is a part) and the square courtyard of the Louvre Palace, called the “Palace of Arts” in the era of the First Empire.
Bridge length: 155 m; width: 11 m.
Construction: the bridge consists of seven arched spans approx. 22 m, standing on 6 supports made of reinforced concrete with stone cladding.Location: Pont des Arts connects the 1st (right bank) and 6th arrondissement (left bank).Metro: line 1, Louvre - Rivoli station or line 7, station Pont Neuf.
Alma Bridge
The Pont Alma is a 150-meter arched bridge over the Seine in Paris, named after the French victory over the Russians at the Battle of Alma in the Crimean War. It was opened near Place Alma by Emperor Napoleon III on April 2, 1856, and for the World Exhibition of 1900 its length was doubled by adding a pedestrian bridge.
Each of the four abutments of the bridge was once decorated with statues of soldiers - a zouave, a grenadier, an artilleryman and an infantryman. These statues were convenient for determining the level of the Seine: when the water covered the soles of the Zouave’s feet, the public’s access to the river was blocked by the police, and when the water reached hip level, river navigation was closed.
"Grenadier"
In 1970-1974 ancient bridge was replaced by a modern one in order to expand for the needs of road traffic. Currently, of the four statues on the bridge, only the figure of the Zouave has been preserved. The rest were taken outside of Paris: for example, the “Infantryman” stands in the Vincennes Fort Gravel.
"Infantryman"
Having been refused permission to exhibit his paintings at the official Salon, the artist Edouard Manet built a barracks near the Pont Alma to display them. The action of Remarque's novel “The Arc de Triomphe” begins on this bridge.
At the entrance to the bridge in 1999, a copy of the flame of the torch of the Statue of Liberty, known as the “Flame of Liberty,” was installed. After the English Princess Diana died in the tunnel near the Alma Bridge, this sculptural composition was reinterpreted as a monument in her honor.
Arcolsky Bridge
- a bridge in the center of Paris, connects the island of Cité with the right, northern bank of the Seine and the square in front of the capital's city hall, the former Grevsky.
The current bridge was installed in 1856; This is the second bridge on this site; the original one was a suspension and pedestrian bridge (1828) and was simply called Grevsky. The current name was given by Napoleon III in honor of his uncle's victory in the Battle of Arcole.
The Arcole Bridge is the very first metal bridge in Paris; made of cast iron; bridge width 20 meters; It is a metal structure in the form of an arch with a span of 80 m, supported by stone supports. Installed in 1856 under the direction of engineer Alphonse Oudry (1819-1869); the work was completed in short term, in just 3 months.
Archdiocese Bridge The Archdiocese Bridge is a bridge in the center of Paris that connects the Ile de la Cité with the left south coast The Seine and, administratively, the 4th arrondissement of the capital with the 5th arrondissement. Stone bridge 68 m long and 11 m wide; a three-arch bridge with openings of 15, 17 and 15 m. Low arches have always prevented the passage of high river traffic, but, despite the decision made in 1910, the bridge has never been replaced.
Since 2010, the Archdiocese Bridge has been a symbolic place for loving people to attach metal locks to it as a sign of their love.
Named after the archdiocese located nearby, standing on the southeastern side of Notre Dame, between cathedral and Senoy. The archdiocese building was demolished after anti-clerical riots on February 14 and 15, 1831, when it was looted and destroyed.
The Archdiocese Bridge is hung with metal locks. Built in 1828 by the engineer Plouard for the Invalides Bridge Society after the demolition of the suspension bridge at the Invalides. The existing toll station for crossing the bridge was purchased by the city authorities in 1850.
Debilly Bridge
View from the Jena Bridge to the Debilly Bridge
Pont Debilly is a bridge in Paris over the Seine, connecting the embankment New York on the right bank from the Quai Brenly near the Eiffel Tower on the left bank of the Seine.
The bridge was conceived as a temporary structure in the alignment of Avenue Albert de Mun only for the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris. It was supposed to provide quick pedestrian access from the Army and Navy pavilions to the exhibition recreating old Paris. Initially it was called the Military Exhibition Bridge or the Magdeburg Bridge, and only in 1908 it was named after the French general Jean Louis Debilly, who died in 1808. In 1906, the bridge was moved to a new permanent location opposite Rue Monutuncion.
The pedestrian bridge is built on a metal frame supported by two stone piers on the banks of the river, and decorated with dark green ceramic tiles to create the impression of waves. Along with Eiffel Tower, this is the second metal structure that characterizes engineering achievements of his era. However, in 1941 pedestrian bridge Debilly was in danger of disappearing when the president of the architectural society described it as a forgotten accessory of a bygone event. Fortunately, like its contemporaries Pont Alexandre III and the Austerlitz Viaduct, the Debilly Bridge was included in the supplementary register of historical monuments in 1966.
Bridge of Invalides The Pont des Invalides is an arched bridge in Paris over the Seine, located between the Alma and Alexandre III bridges near the Invalides.
The history of the bridge begins in the 1820s. French engineer Claude Louis Marie Henri Navier proposed a suspension bridge project in 1821. In 1824-1826 the bridge was under construction, but was not completed. In 1829, a new bridge with two pillars and three porticoes was opened. But due to wear and tear in 1850, access to the bridge was limited. In 1854, the structure was destroyed and construction began on a more modern bridge, completed a year later in time for the 1855 World Exhibition in Paris.
The constructed bridge is a four-arch bridge (two arches of 34 m each and two of 36 m each). The length of the bridge is 152 m, the height above the water is 18 m (the lowest bridge over the Seine within Paris). The width of the roadway is 14 m, two sidewalks are 2 m each. Since its commissioning, the bridge has been reconstructed several times. In the winter of 1880, two arches were destroyed, but were restored within a year. The last major reconstruction took place in 1956, when the sidewalks were widened.
The figure on the central pillar of the bridge symbolizes Napoleon's victories on land and sea, while the sculpted heads on the other pillars represent war trophies.
Carrousel Bridge
- bridge over the Seine in Paris from the Tuileries embankment to the Voltaire embankment.
The first bridge on this site was called Saint-Pierre since 1831. In 1834, King Louis Philippe I named it the Pont Carrousel because it was opposite the Place Carrousel, which took its name from the military riding demonstration held at this site under Louis XIV from 5 to 7 June 1662 on the occasion of the birthday of his son.
Statue of the "Seine" by sculptor Louis Petitot on the Carrousel Bridge, with the Louvre in the background.
The architect Antoine Remy Polonceau managed to create a design that was innovative in several aspects. On the one hand, it was an arched bridge design instead of the ones accepted at that time suspension bridges. Was applied relatively new material: cast iron with wood. At each corner of the bridge, stone allegorical sculptures in the classical style by Louis Petitot (1846) were erected, symbolizing industry, abundance, the city of Paris and the Seine. The bridge had a length of 169.5 m and a width between railings of 11.85 m. It consisted of three arches of 47.67 m each.
In 1906, after seven decades of use, a major restoration was required: the wooden elements were replaced with iron ones. However, the bridge was too narrow for traffic in the twentieth century. In 1930, its height above the river was considered insufficient for river transportation, and it was decided to abandon it in favor of a completely new structure several tens of meters downstream.
Architects Gaspard, Turri, Gustav Umbendstock and engineer Lang tried to preserve the silhouette of the bridge familiar to Parisians. The new three-arch reinforced concrete bridge, 33 m wide, built in 1935-1939, reaches the right bank opposite the Louvre in a direct line with the Arc de Triomphe Carrousel
Leopold Sédar Senghor Bridge (until 2006 - Solferino Bridge)
- a pedestrian bridge over the Seine in Paris between the Orsay Museum on the left bank and the Tuileries Garden on the right bank of the Seine.
For 100 years, the cast-iron Solferino Bridge, designed for the passage of carriages, connected the Quai Anatole France and the Tuileries Quai. It was created by the authors of the Pont des Invalides, Paul Martin Gallocher de Lagalicerie and Julius Savarin, and opened in 1861 by Napoleon III. The bridge was named after the French victory at the Battle of Solferino. Having lost its strength over time (especially due to collisions with barges), the bridge was demolished and replaced in 1961 by a steel pedestrian bridge, which was in turn destroyed in 1992.
A new pedestrian bridge was built in 1997-1999. under the direction of engineer and architect Mark Mimram. This metal bridge is unique in architecture and is covered with wood from exotic Brazilian Tabebuia trees, which gives it a light and warm look. The strength of the bridge, however, is beyond doubt - the foundations on both sides are concrete columns, buried 15 m into the ground, and the structure itself consists of six 150-ton parts, built by the Eiffel Engineering Company
Small Bridge
- a stone bridge over the Seine in the center of Paris, leading from the left bank to the Ile de la Cité. The bridge is located between the Pont Saint-Michel and the Double Bridge and connects the Quai de Montebello in the 4th arrondissement with the Quai Saint-Michel in the 5th arrondissement.
Bridge Changed The Bridge of Changers (French: Pont au Change) is a bridge in the center of Paris, spanning the Seine River. The Pont de Change is located on the border of the 1st and 4th arrondissements and connects the Ile de la Cité at the level of the Palais de Justice and the Conciergerie with the right bank near the Chatelet theater. The bridge got its name because of the many money changers’ shops that were previously located in the houses that built up the bridge until 1788.
Bridge length: 103 m
Width: 30 m, including two sidewalks 6 m wide each
Type of construction: arch bridge with 3 arched spans 31 m long Architects: Paul-Martin Gallocher de Lagalisserie and Paul Vaudry Construction took place from 1658 to 1660 Metro: lines 1, 4, 7, 11, 14, Châtelet station
The Change Bridge, lined with buildings. 1756 The first wooden bridge, located on the site of the current one, was presumably built under King Charles the Bald in the 9th century after the cessation of attacks on Paris by the Normans.
The bridge was a continuation of the Rue Saint-Denis, leading from Flanders, and led directly to royal palace on the Ile de la Cité, for which it was named Royal (Pont du Roy). To protect the Cité, the Grand Châtelet fortress was built on the right bank in 1130, but after the construction of the city wall under Philip II Augustus, the fortress lost its defensive function and served as a prison until 1802. Now this place is the Chatelet Square.
As was customary in the Middle Ages, the bridge was so densely packed with buildings that it was impossible to see the river. 140 houses and 112 shops and workshops of artisans, as well as a mill, made the bridge an important financial point in Paris. Money and goods were exchanged on the bridge, hence the name of the bridge. Over the next centuries, the bridge changed its name several more times: Grand Pont (1273), pont à Coulons, pont aux Colombes, pont aux Meuniers, pont de la Marchandise, pont aux Marchands and pont aux Oiseaux. The Money Changer Bridge often collapsed and had to be repaired frequently. On this occasion, the 17th century poet Claude Le Petit wrote:
Even if they make you look bad and they’re always fixing you, it doesn’t matter! You are rightly called the Bridge of Changers: After all, you are always changing.
After the royal court moved to the Louvre, the road from the palace to Notre Dame, where the royal retinue went to services, passed along the Changes Bridge, so it was decided to decorate the bridge with sculptures of French kings, including the young Louis XIV. Today these sculptures are exhibited in the Louvre.
Demolition of houses on the bridge changed in 1788 (painting by Hubert Robert)
At the end of the 18th century, all buildings from the bridge were demolished. The bridge acquired its modern appearance during the Second Empire under Baron Osman. In 1860, engineers Romani and Vaudreuil erected a modern bridge during the reconstruction of the entire city. The axis of the bridge is perpendicular to the river, the structure is a continuation of the perspective of Palace Boulevard, the new Chatelet Square and then the Sevastopol and Strasbourg boulevards.
Mirabeau Bridge
The Mirabeau Bridge is a bridge over the Seine in Paris, built in 1895-1897. Since April 29, 1975 it has the status of a historical monument.
The bridge connects the XV (Left Bank) and XVI (Right Bank) municipal districts of Paris. It also connects Rue de la Convention on the Left Bank with Rue Remusat on the Right Bank. On the left bank there is a RER station, line “C” “Gare Javel”, nearby is the metro station “Javel-André Citroën”
The decision to build the bridge was made by the President of the Republic, Sadi Carnot, on January 12, 1893. The bridge was designed by engineer Paul Rabel with the participation of engineers Jean Rezal and Amadeus Albi. The bridge is named after the French politician Honore Gabriel Mirabeau.
The bridge is 173 m long and 20 m wide (12 m for the roadway and 4 m for the sidewalks). The main arch of the bridge is 93 m long, the two side arches are 32.4 m long. The two pylons of the bridge are built in the form of ships, decorated with allegorical statues by the sculptor Jean-Antoine Enjalbert
Bridges of Paris - detailed information with photo. TOP 10 most interesting and beautiful Parisian bridges.
In Paris, 30 beautiful bridges rise over the Seine. The most beautiful is the Alexander III Bridge. The New Bridge is considered the oldest. Romantics have chosen the Pont des Arts. You can see all the bridges by taking a boat ride along the Seine.
The Alexander III Bridge was built at the very beginning of the 20th century in honor of the union of France and Russia. It is considered one of the main attractions of Paris and the most beautiful bridge in the capital of France. From here you can admire the Champs Elysees, the Eiffel Tower, and the Invalides. Located near the Invalides metro station.
2 - Pont Neuf or New Bridge
Pont Neuf is the oldest surviving bridge in Paris. Its construction dates back to the 16th century. The first stone of the building was laid by Henry IV himself. The bridge connects the right and left banks of the French capital and passes through the Ile de la Cité. In the center stands a statue of Henry IV. During the revolution, the sculpture of the French ruler was destroyed, but was subsequently restored. The bridge has wide sidewalks and is especially popular with Parisians. It offers magnificent views of the city and the Seine. Located near Pont Neuf metro station.
Initially, the ancient Marie Bridge was built from wood. In the 17th century, the structure was completely destroyed by flood. The bridge was reconstructed and named after Christophe Marie. Parisians recognize the place as the most romantic bridge of all lovers. According to legend, couples kissing under a bridge while passing by on a boat will be happy forever. The bridge is located near the Pont Marie metro station.
The Pont des Arts is famous for the dates of people in love. Artists create here and musical groups perform. The bridge is for pedestrians only and connects the Louvre and the institute. There is always a festive atmosphere on the bridge. It offers a panoramic view of the main Parisian attractions - the Louvre, museums and the Ile de la Cité. The lovers hung locks on the bridge, but after the fence collapsed, the locks were removed. Located near the Louvre Rivoli metro station.
Bercy Bridge - built in the 19th century, it was reconstructed. At the very beginning he was located outside of Paris. In the old days, a certain amount of money was charged for entering the bridge. The place is mentioned in the famous song “Under the Sky of Paris”. It brought unprecedented popularity to the bridge. Located near Quai de la Gare metro station.
Royal is a royal bridge built in the 17th century. It is an architectural landmark of Paris. The construction was supported by King Louis IV. The ruler allocated funds from the treasury for the construction of the Royal Bridge. The building is located near the Tuileries metro station.
Previously, the bridge was called Solferino. In the 20th century it was renamed in honor of the Senegalese president. The building was erected under Napoleon in the 19th century and was reconstructed. You can get to the bridge from the Tuileries metro station.
The building was opened about 10 years ago. It is the new Parisian bridge and connects the twelfth and thirteenth arrondissements. Intended for pedestrians and cyclists only. The bridge offers a magnificent view of Bercy Park and the library. The structure has an unusual shape - two intersecting arcs. The bridge is located near the metro station quai de la Gare, Bercy.
The structure was built as a sign of France's victory in the Crimean War (Battle of Almina). It was on the Alma Bridge that Princess Diana died. There is an Orthodox Russian church on the shore. From the bridge you can see the Eiffel Tower. The bridge is located near the Pont de l'Alma metro station.
The elegant openwork design of the unique bridge creates the effect of weightlessness. The bridge contains three arches and bronze statues. They symbolize French capital. The place was glorified in the works of the French poet Guillaume Appolinaire. You can get to the bridge from the Javel-Andre Citroën metro station.
Paris began with the islands 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 towards the Ile de la Cité, towards the Cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris along the bank where the Louvre stands.
The first on our way will be. This is the most elegant bridge known to 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 on the Pont Alexandre III with your back to the Ile de la Cité, you will see a bridge in front of you called the Pont des Invalides. Initially, in 1820, they were going to build a suspension bridge at this place, but something went wrong and 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, they decided to restore it again. They built and built and finally built. Now the modern bridge has a length of 152 m, a width of 62 m, and a height of 18 meters. The Pont des Invalides was built in honor of Napoleon's victories, so on its central pillar there is a sculpture symbolizing Napoleon's victories, and on the rest there are military 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 a crossing, it was decided to build a bridge on this site. The author of the project is Jean-Radolphe Perrone.
The arched Bridge of Concorde or Pont Concorde was built in 1791 from the stones of the destroyed Bastille fortress, at which time the French Revolution was in full swing. Initially, the bridge was named in honor of Louis XVI, then it was renamed the Bridge of the Revolution, and only in our time it became the Bridge of Concorde.
Initially, on the bridge, by order of Napoleon Bonaparte, statues of commanders and sailors who died in battles were installed. When the Bourbons came to power, King Louis Philippe I ordered the statues to be removed and transported to Versailles, and in their place twelve statues of famous ministers should be installed. But there was a threat that the bridge would not withstand such a load and the statues were removed. Apparently not fate.
In 1932, the bridge was expanded, which increased its capacity.
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Solferino Bridge.
If you look at the map, you won't find such a name. Now this bridge is correctly called the Leopold Sédar Senghor Bridge (the first President of France). And the name Solferino Bridge was given in honor of the victories of the French army over the Italians near the village of Solferino in 1859. This is not a large pedestrian bridge connecting the Dorsay Museum and the embankment of the Tuileries Park.
The bridge was demolished in 1960, and in 1961 it was restored again, or rather, rebuilt as a pedestrian bridge. His appearance and the design has changed. In 1999, the Solferino Bridge received new life, it was rebuilt according to the design of engineer Mark Mimram. In this form, it continues to delight Parisians and guests of the city.
Pont Royal or Royal Bridge.
After the bridge was built in 1632, it did not stand for long; it suffered the same fate as many bridges of that time; it simply burned down. The bridge was wooden and was named after 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. Emperor Napoleon renamed the bridge and called it the Tuileries Bridge. However, in 1814, King Louis XVIII decided to make his contribution 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 order of Louis Philippe I. During the construction of this bridge, cast iron was used as a material for the first time along with wood. The corners of the bridge are decorated with sculptures of female figures representing Industry, Affluence, 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 received its name from the Arc de Triomphe of Carrousel.
The bridge was built at the direction of Napoleon in 1801 and received its name from the former name of the Louvre, which at that time was called the Palace of Arts.
If the Pont Neuf was the first stone bridge in Paris, the Pont des Arts was the first metal bridge. It was decorated with flower beds and there was a fee to pass through it. In 1984, the bridge was rebuilt.
Currently, you can cross the Pont des Arts from the Institute of France to the Louvre. The bridge is also famous for the fact that lovers hang locks on its fence in honor of eternal love. Just recently, one of the railings of the New Bridge collapsed under the weight of the locks. This tradition also harms the Seine River because hundreds of lock keys are thrown into this place from the bridge every day.
There are many benches on the bridge, where in warm weather it is nice to sit and eat a French crispy bread. The French are located directly on the wooden deck of the bridge.
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Most famous bridge the island of Cité and the first on our route - 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 construction was completed, this had already been forgotten. At that time there were only four bridges in Paris and they were all wooden, but the New Bridge was built of stone. The completion of construction took place under King Henry IV.
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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 set up shopping malls on it. The bridge turned into a small market, but did not last long. The width of the bridge at that time was significantly larger than some central streets of capital European cities.
Bridge Saint-Michel.
The next bridge on the route of our walk connects the Ile de la Cité with Place Saint Michel and it has the same name as the square - Saint Michel. The bridge is located on the southern branch of the Seine. Built in 1378. Next to the bridge is the Saint Michel metro station. There is a plaque on the bridge commemorating the events of 1961.
Along the Saint Michel Bridge we cross the Ile de la Cité to the northern branch 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. Previously, it was a wooden bridge and it was built with houses on several floors, like many Parisian bridges of that time. At that time, the Change Bridge was the most populated bridge; according to some sources, there were 140 houses, many shops and workshops on it. As a result of such a load, the Menen Bridge was repeatedly destroyed and even burned. In 1786, by order of King Louis XVI, all buildings on the bridge were demolished. Solemn processions passed across this bridge to royal masses at Notre Dame Cathedral.
Petit Pont.
At the Petit Bridge rich story. The Romans began to build a bridge here in order to be able to cross to the island. Sieve. In 886, during a severe 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 flooded Seine twice more, in 1393 and 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. At the same time, for the first time, the houses are numbered, even numbers on the right, odd numbers on the left. It must have been convenient to live in a house on the bridge in terms of sewerage and protection. But this also did not last long. In 1786 all buildings were demolished
In 1853, a new stone bridge was built with five supports, which were later reduced to three due to frequent crashes into ship arches. Because of this, they even gave it the name “devil’s bridge.” The next and last time the bridge was restored was in 1919.
Pont Saint-Louis.
From the Ile de la Cité to the Ile Saint-Louis we reach the Saint-Louis bridge of the same name. This bridge was built in 1627, and it was made of wood then. Its length today is 67 m, width 16 m. During its history, this bridge has also been rebuilt several times and modern look acquired only in 1968. This is already the seventh bridge since the construction of the first.
After the wooden bridge was demolished by a flood in 1795, an oak bridge was erected in its place, which was opened in 1804. This bridge did not stand for long; due to ground subsidence, it was dismantled in 1811 and in its place in In 1842, a new bridge was built, this time a suspension bridge. It stood until 1939, and in 1941 a new bridge was built in its place, which resembled a metal cage. The modern bridge you see now was built in 1968.
Crossing the Saint Louis Bridge over the Saint Louis Island we find ourselves on 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 take a walk along the Seine on your own and see with your own eyes the rest, which I deliberately did not talk about further.
Paris, the world capital of fashion, fragrance, wine, the most delicious pastries and cheeses, was founded on the Seine River. From time immemorial, bridges have been built across the Seine. At first they were wooden, later stone, and even built up with buildings (commercial and residential). The development of the city is inextricably linked with bridges, of which there are about 38 today.
Initially, it was a wooden structure that arose in the 9th century as a crossing for the central part of Paris. Later, in the 17th century, the bridge (viaduct) was replaced with a stone one. A characteristic feature of this structure was the presence of about 140 residential buildings and over 100 shops of traders and money changers, for which the bridge received its name. This viaduct is very well described in the work of P. Suskind “Perfume”. 
This is one of the oldest architectural monuments city, which was founded in the 16th century by King Henry III. The main purpose of this structure was to relieve congestion on the Bridge of Changes and Notre Dame. This viaduct is considered a unique symbol of the decline of the Middle Ages, and no additional buildings are provided on it. 
This crossing is also quite ancient. The project of the wooden building was developed in 1605 by the architect Christophe Marie. Later the bridge was named after him. But as a result of the flood of 1658, the crossing was practically destroyed; it was rebuilt from stone and this building has survived to this day. 
Royal Bridge (Royal)
One of the three oldest bridges in the city. The construction of the crossing took place from 1685 to 1689 under the patronage of King Louis XIV.
When, at the beginning of the 19th century, wooden and stone bridges were recognized as unsanitary, dangerous to human life and unaesthetic, the first iron bridge was built by order of Napoleon. This crossing connected the French Academy and the Louvre Museum (formerly the Palace of Arts), hence its name. is pedestrian: from here you can enjoy the beauty of the city, as well as relax on a bench, or have a snack in a small snack bar. And couples in love also consider it the most romantic place in Paris, so they come here to install locks as a symbol of their love. 
This structure is considered very symbolic: it was built from the remains of the stone Bastille. At first the bridge was named Revolution, but was later renamed in honor of one of the city squares. Today it is one of the most frequently used crossings in Paris. 
The Bercy crossing was originally built in 1832. At that time it was located outside the city limits, and crossing it was subject to tax. In 1864, a new bridge was erected, which largely repeated the design of the old one, but large sizes, reinforced supports and fastenings. 
In the original, the crossing was called Solferino and was built in honor of the victory of the allied forces of France and Italy over Austria. The bridge was opened in 1861 by Emperor Napoleon III. But over time, the building collapsed, and a new viaduct was erected in its place, which was named after the first president of Senegal. 
This is another symbolic building of Paris. It coincided with the victory of the French and their allies over Russia in the Battle of the Alma River (Crimean War). The bridge is also famous for a tragic event: Princess Diana died in a car accident in the tunnel under it. The “Flame of Freedom” torch is located there, which since that sad moment has become a kind of memorial to the princess and a place of pilgrimage for many of her fans. 
This pedestrian bridge, built in 2006, connects the 12th and 13th arrondissements of Paris. This crossing is considered an ingenious technical structure because it is shaped like an eye. 
This crossing, thanks to its openwork metal structures, has a very elegant shape. Three arches are harmoniously connected to each other, and they are decorated with 4 statues cast in bronze (one of them symbolizes Paris, the second - Navigation, the third - Commerce, and the fourth - Abundance). The poet Guillaume Apollinaire dedicated one of his works to this bridge. 
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